Associate, Trade Operations

Oaktree Capital Management, L.P.•Chicago, IL

1d•$115,000 - $140,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Associate position within Trade Operations serves as a critical operational partner to both the Oaktree and Brookfield PSG investment teams, providing comprehensive end-to-end trade processing support across both business lines. The candidate will be responsible for ensuring all trade activity is entered, allocated, confirmed, communicated, and settled with accuracy and timeliness in accordance with established standards. In addition to day-to-day operational execution, this role carries strategic responsibility for leading initiatives to enhance straight-through processing (STP) capabilities, streamline operational workflows, and evaluate technology-driven solutions that support the ongoing integration of Oaktree and Brookfield PSG operations. The position will collaborate cross-functionally and partner closely with the technology team to design, develop specifications, test, and deliver new system functionality and enhancements.

Requirements

5-7 years of relevant investment operations experience, with demonstrated expertise across derivative instruments, collateral management, regulatory reporting, and multi-asset trade settlement processes;
Proven experience working with industry-standard trade utilities, matching platforms, and communication protocols, including CTM, ALERT, SWIFT, FIX, and VCON, as well as familiarity with relevant market agreements and regulatory frameworks;
Strong quantitative and analytical capabilities, with the ability to assess complex operational data, identify trends and root causes, and recommend and implement data-driven process improvements.
Exceptional interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, with the ability to convey complex operational concepts clearly and effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences;
Highly motivated self-starter with a strong sense of initiative and a demonstrated track record of operating independently, exercising sound judgment, and delivering results with minimal oversight;
Demonstrated ability to manage and prioritize multiple concurrent responsibilities in a fast-paced, time-sensitive environment, maintaining accuracy and composure under pressure;
Adaptable and collaborative team player who leads with integrity and professionalism, and thrives in a dynamic, cross-functional environment spanning multiple business lines and organizational teams.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary trade operations point of contact for multiple Oaktree credit strategies, encompassing the staging, booking, and allocation of fixed income, equity, and bank debt transactions across a diverse portfolio of accounts, funds, and special purpose vehicles, in strict adherence to allocation guidelines established by the respective Portfolio Management and Trading teams;
Deliver dedicated operational support across Brookfield PSG trade processing workflows, while actively contributing to strategic integration initiatives aimed at harmonizing trade operations processes and systems across the Oaktree and Brookfield PSG business lines;
Facilitate proactive communication and issue resolution across traders, accounting, reconciliation teams, and other key stakeholder groups to address and remediate trade processing discrepancies in a timely and effective manner;
Monitor trade lifecycle activity to ensure timely communication of trade details to external counterparties, custodians, and downstream systems, maintaining full compliance with applicable deadlines and settlement obligations;
Manage the end-to-end processing of bespoke and privately negotiated settlement transactions, coordinating with all relevant parties to ensure accurate and timely completion;
Lead the resolution of escalated settlement failures and exceptions through direct engagement with custodians, counterparties, and internal teams
Champion and drive continuous improvement initiatives to increase straight-through processing (STP) rates across both Oaktree and Brookfield PSG, identifying operational inefficiencies and implementing scalable solutions that support the combined organization’s growth objectives;
Adhere to and reinforce established escalation protocols to ensure operational risks and exceptions are surfaced, communicated, and resolved in accordance with firm policies and risk management standards;
Provide cross-coverage and operational support for team members as required, ensuring continuity of trade processing functions across both Oaktree and Brookfield PSG business lines without disruption to service levels;
Partner with the technology team to define business requirements, design functional specifications, and participate in the development, testing, and deployment of new system capabilities and platform enhancements that support trade operations across both business lines;
Author and maintain comprehensive operational procedures and workflow documentation, and provide structured training and knowledge transfer to team members as processes evolve or new responsibilities are onboarded;
Cultivate and maintain effective working relationships with a broad network of internal and external stakeholders, including investment teams, technology, finance, compliance, custodians, and counterparties, fostering a collaborative environment that supports operational excellence across the firm.