Director of Trade Management Operations

tastytrade•Chicago, IL

2h•$150,000 - $175,000•Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Director of Trade Management Operations to lead and transform our back-office function across our Broker-Dealer and non-clearing Futures Commission Merchant (FCM) businesses. This role carries broad ownership of post-trade operations — including trade settlement, clearing, custody, corporate actions, and reconciliation — while spearheading a firm-wide initiative to automate and modernize key back-office processes. The ideal candidate is an operational leader with deep capital markets expertise, a hands-on management style, and a proven ability to drive process improvement and build high-performing teams.

Requirements

6-10 years of progressive experience in back-office operations at a broker-dealer, FCM, prime broker, or clearing firm
Broad operational knowledge spanning settlement, clearing, custody, corporate actions, and reconciliation across multiple asset classes
Familiarity with non-clearing FCM operations, including give-up processing, allocation workflows, and coordination with clearing FCMs
Demonstrated experience managing and developing operational teams
Proven track record leading process improvement or automation initiatives within a financial services environment
Strong working knowledge of DTCC (DTC, NSCC, FICC) settlement processes and exchange-traded derivatives workflows
Familiarity with regulatory requirements applicable to broker-dealers and non-clearing FCMs, including SEC Rule 15c3-3, FINRA rules, and baseline CFTC/NFA obligations
Experience with reconciliation or back-office platforms (SmartStream, Broadridge, Duco, AutoRek, or comparable)
Strong analytical, communication, and organizational skills with the ability to present to senior management and regulators

Nice To Haves

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they have every single qualification. Our team is dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role, but your experience doesn’t align perfectly, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles!

Responsibilities

Recruit, build, and develop a high-performing back-office team spanning reconciliation, settlement, clearing, and custody operations
Define team structure, roles, and responsibilities; establish clear performance standards and career development pathways
Provide day-to-day management, coaching, and mentorship to staff at all levels
Partner with HR on headcount planning, hiring, and workforce development as the business grows
Serve as the primary escalation point for operational breaks, settlement failures, and counterparty disputes
Oversee all post-trade operations across asset classes including equities, options, exchange-traded derivatives, and FX
Manage trade confirmation, settlement, and fail management across custodians, prime brokers, and clearing firms
Coordinate give-up processing and submission workflows between executing brokers and the firm's designated clearing FCM, ensuring accurate and timely allocation of futures and options trades
Supervise corporate actions processing, including voluntary and mandatory events, elections, and entitlement reconciliation
Oversee margin and collateral tracking in coordination with the clearing FCM, Prime Brokerage, and Treasury
Ensure all back-office functions adhere to strict settlement deadlines and operational SLAs
Own end-to-end reconciliation across all business lines, including trade, position, cash, and asset reconciliation
Oversee daily reconciliation of internal books and records against prime broker, custodian, and clearing FCM statements
Manage position and cash reconciliation across exchange-traded products, ensuring alignment between the firm's records and clearing FCM-reported balances
Ensure compliance with broker-dealer customer protection obligations under SEC Rule 15c3-3 and applicable FINRA rules
Drive root cause analysis on recurring breaks and implement sustainable corrective actions to reduce break volumes over time
Lead a strategic initiative to automate back office and reconciliation workflows, reducing manual processing and operational risk across the function
Evaluate, select, and implement technology solutions including reconciliation platforms (e.g., AutoRek GMI, Broadridge) and back-office processing systems
Define the target operating model for a scalable, automated back office and drive execution of the transformation roadmap
Partner with Technology and Data teams to design automated break detection, exception management, and reporting workflows
Establish KPIs and management dashboards tracking settlement efficiency, break aging, fail rates, and STP rates, with regular reporting to senior leadership
Champion data quality and standardization initiatives to improve straight-through processing across the trade lifecycle
Maintain a strong control environment consistent with SEC, FINRA, CFTC, and NFA requirements applicable to a non-clearing FCM
Develop and maintain policies, procedures, and desktop guides for all back-office functions
Partner with Internal Audit, Compliance, and Risk Management on control assessments, regulatory examinations, and audit responses
Monitor regulatory developments impacting back-office obligations and proactively update processes and controls accordingly

Benefits

Performance Bonuses
Stock Purchase Options
401k Plan
Medical/Dental/Vision Benefits
20 Paid Vacation Days (plus an additional paid vacation day the month of your birthday!)
10 Paid Sick Days
Gym Membership Reimbursement
Commuter Benefits
Pet Insurance
Wellness & Mental Health Programs
Charitable Donation Matching
Two Paid Volunteer Days Off
Daily catered lunch when in the office
Full kitchen with snacks and beverages
In-building gym
Shuttle to/from Metra