Senior Trader

Northern Trust • Chicago, IL

3d • $160,100 - $272,300 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Trader is responsible for the execution and oversight of institutional equity trading activity across the Americas, including single-stock orders, portfolio trades, block executions, index rebalances, and other complex trading strategies. The role requires advanced execution judgment, deep market structure expertise, and the ability to operate autonomously within established best execution, risk, and control frameworks. The Senior Trader serves as a subject matter expert on equity execution practices, market dynamics, and trading workflows while providing trusted guidance to clients, sales teams, and internal stakeholders.

Requirements

• College degree or equivalent experience.
• 7+ years of institutional equity trading experience, including responsibility for executing large and complex equity orders across varying market conditions.
• Strong understanding of equity market structure, liquidity dynamics, execution venues, algorithmic trading strategies, and best execution requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to manage significant trading activity while balancing client objectives, execution quality, risk management, and operational discipline.
• Proven track record of exercising sound execution judgment in fast-moving and volatile market environments.
• Experience analyzing and interpreting transaction cost analysis (TCA), execution metrics, and performance data to improve trading outcomes.
• Strong communication and relationship management skills, with the ability to discuss execution strategy, market conditions, and trading performance with institutional clients and senior stakeholders.
• Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for employment-based visa sponsorship now or in the future. Northern Trust will not sponsor applicants for U.S. work visa status for this opportunity (no sponsorship is available for H-1B, L-1, TN, O-1, E-3, H-1B1, F-1, J-1, OPT, CPT or any other employment-based visa).

Nice To Haves

• Established institutional client and broker relationships are preferred.
• CFA, MBA, or similar advanced credentials are a plus, along with proficiency in leveraging data and analytics to support trading decisions and execution performance evaluation.

Responsibilities

• Execute institutional equity orders across a broad range of strategies, including single-stock, portfolio, block, and index-related transactions, while meeting client instructions and best execution standards.
• Determine the appropriate execution approach, broker strategy, algorithm selection, and venue strategy based on market conditions, liquidity characteristics, and risk considerations.
• Partner closely with key external and internal stakeholders to ensure seamless trade flow, accurate communication, and efficient execution.
• Monitor execution quality and trading outcomes, proactively identify risks, exceptions, or operational issues, and escalate concerns with urgency and sound judgment.
• Operate within trading limits, entitlements, and control frameworks while maintaining compliance with firm policies, client mandates, and regulatory requirements.
• Support audit, compliance, and regulatory reviews through clear documentation of execution decisions, trading rationale, and outcomes.
• Utilize pre-trade and post-trade transaction cost analysis (TCA) to inform execution strategy, evaluate results, and assess broker and venue performance.
• Contribute to the ongoing enhancement of trading workflows, technology platforms, execution processes, and control frameworks to improve efficiency and execution quality.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with institutional clients, brokers, and market participants, serving as a trusted advisor on execution strategy, market conditions, and trading outcomes.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on equity market structure, execution venues, trading technologies, and best execution practices for clients and internal partners.

Benefits

• retirement benefits (401k and pension)
• health and welfare benefits (medical, dental, vision, spending accounts and disability)
• paid time off
• parental and caregiver leave
• life & accident insurance
• other voluntary and well-being benefits
• discretionary bonus program that may include an equity component

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Associate degree