Sr. Trading Specialist

ABOUT US:
Come join the dynamic team at Kestra Financial Kestra Financial provides a leading independent advisor platform that empowers sophisticated, independent financial professionals, including traditional and hybrid RIAs, to prosper, grow, and provide superior client service. With a culture rich in reinvention and advisor advocacy, Kestra Financial has developed integrated business management technology that, combined with its personalized consulting services, offers exceptional scale and efficiency. Kestra Financial supports independent financial advisors in delivering comprehensive securities and investment advisory services to their clients.

SUMMARY:

Kestra Financial is seeking a dynamic and motivated Senior Trading Specialist to join our Trading Operations team. In this role, you will be responsible for assisting our Financial Professionals by helping them with any trade related, operational needs while mitigating firm and client risk. The ideal candidate is detail oriented, has a service mindset, and understands how the markets work. The ideal candidate is eager to contribute to our mission of Powering Financial Independence by having a serve, make it happen, and one team mentality.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Comply with all regulatory rules, written desktop procedures/standard operating procedures and company policies.
• Identify and monitor exceptions, measures, procedures and systems for quality and risk control; bring to the attention of and work with Management and Compliance on exceptions, additions and changes to systems, policies and/or procedures.
• Demonstrate a thorough operating knowledge of all high networth offerings that fall within Trading Operations purview and be able to competently explain processes to financial professionals, including best practices.
• Identify needs of the financial professionals and give suggestions based on known information. Ask clarifying questions to help financial professionals determine best fit for their clients when choosing between different partners.
• Assist our financial professionals, clearing firm, and external and internal partners with general and complex transactions, correcting trade breaks, trade corrections, research/inquiries, adherence to agreements and/or policies, and reconciling expense/income anomalies (and other functions assigned to the team).
• Maintain accurate and timely daily trade logs, blotters, trade correction documentation, and report review.
• Assist with new team member training/quality control, management with trade blotter review, and handle first level escalation of department issues; including assisting junior traders with market corrections.
• Assist the Sr. Operations Principal with monthly or quarterly status meetings on regulatory trade reporting statistics including actions taken to remedy reporting issues.
• Other responsibilities as assigned.
• Commitment to culture requires a demonstration of professionalism, accountability, customer/client focus, and teamwork.

SKILLS:

• Must understand the operational and regulatory aspects of trading various security types through a 3rd party custodian like Fidelity/NFS.
• Working knowledge of National Financial Services (NFS) is preferred
• Experience with Salesforce and Laserfiche is preferred
• Ability to interact well with internal and external customers
• Must be able to perform duties accurately and timely.
• Must be recognized as a go-to person for questions and escalations.
• Must exemplify corporate mission statement and advisor first culture.
• Must be proficient with Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel. Must have basic knowledge of Power Point.
• Must be able to read, analyze and reconcile trading reports.
• Must become proficient with the use of clearing firm, vendor(s) and internal programs and software within 30 days of hire including but not limited to Salesforce.
• Must possess good analytical skills, problem solving skills and good communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Must have good attention to detail.
• May be required to work overtime, as necessary.

SUPEVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Supervision of department personnel during department manager's absence.
• Principal review supervisory responsibilities.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• High School Graduate required
• College degree strongly preferred
• 3+ years equivalent industry related experience strongly preferred

CERTIFICATIONS:

• Must hold the Series 7, 63 (or 66) licenses.
• Ability to obtain the Series 24 license within 120 days of hire.
• Ability to obtain the Series 4 and 53 licenses within 12 months of hire.
• Other licenses may be required as the industry evolves

INTERNAL APPLICANT POLICY:

Internal applicants must be in good standing and have a minimum of 1 year of service with Kestra. Internal applicants must also have a minimum of 1 year service in current role unless approved by EVP.

BENEFITS:

Full health, vision, dental. 401(k) plans along with a host of voluntary plans such as car insurance, legal services and more (applicable to full-time, permanent employees).

DISCLOSURE

By applying to a job at Kestra Financial, Inc., you are agreeing to the following statements:

• You acknowledge that if hired, Kestra Financial, Inc. may, obtain and use background information concerning your credit, character, general reputation, personal characteristics, work habits, performance and experience for evaluation for your potential employment.
• It is the policy of Kestra Financial to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, identity or expression, age, disability, marital status, citizenship, national origin, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. Kestra Financial prohibits any such discrimination or harassment.

KESTRA VALUES:
Our Mission is Powering Financial Independence, enabling the growth and success of investing clients and the advisors who serve them. We do that by living our values: SERVE, MAKE IT HAPPEN, and ONE TEAM.