Trader, Brokerage

Northern Trust • Chicago, IL

8d • $116,100 - $197,300 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Trader is responsible for executing and overseeing institutional equity trading activity across the Americas. The role requires sound execution judgment, a strong understanding of market structure, and the ability to operate effectively within established best execution, risk, and control frameworks. The Trader works closely with portfolio managers, trading colleagues, and sales traders to deliver high-quality execution outcomes while maintaining a disciplined focus on risk management, operational excellence, and regulatory compliance.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• Approximately 3 to 7 years of institutional equity trading, sales trading, or related buy side or sell side market experience.
• FINRA Series 7, 57, and 63 licenses required.
• Strong understanding of equity market structure, liquidity dynamics, execution venues, and algorithmic trading strategies.
• Demonstrated ability to manage order flow and make sound execution decisions in fast changing markets.
• Proven commitment to best execution, risk management, and operational discipline.
• Strong communication and relationship management skills, with the ability to interact effectively with institutional clients and internal stakeholders.
• Experience utilizing execution analytics and transaction cost analysis to evaluate trading outcomes and support decision making.

Nice To Haves

• CFA, MBA, or other advanced credentials are preferred.
• Experience with trading data, analytics, and execution technology is also preferred.

Responsibilities

• Execute institutional equity orders across market conditions while adhering to client instructions and best execution standards.
• Determine appropriate execution strategies, broker selection, and algorithm usage based on liquidity, market conditions, and trading objectives.
• Partner with portfolio managers, investment teams, and regional trading desks to ensure seamless trade flow and clear communication throughout the trading lifecycle.
• Monitor execution quality, identify risks, market developments, and operational issues, and escalate concerns as appropriate.
• Operate within established trading limits, entitlements, and control frameworks while maintaining compliance with firm policies and regulatory requirements.
• Support audit, compliance, and regulatory reviews through accurate documentation of trading decisions, execution rationale, and outcomes.
• Utilize pre trade and post-trade transaction cost analysis, along with other execution analytics, to inform trading decisions and evaluate execution performance.
• Improve trading workflows, controls, processes, and technology that support execution quality and operational effectiveness.
• Maintain productive relationships with brokers, counterparties, and internal stakeholders to support execution and market intelligence gathering.
• Communicate execution strategies, market insights, and trading outcomes to internal and external stakeholders.

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: Mid Level