VP, ABS Trader

Conning•Hartford, CT

About The Position

Conning is a leading global investment management firm with a long history of serving the insurance industry. We develop customized investment strategies that address our clients’ unique objectives, requirements and tolerance for risk. We develop solutions by leveraging Conning’s risk management tools and utilizing a highly disciplined investment process that relies on fundamental analysis. The Mortgage-Backed Securities (MBS) Trader will be an integral part of the investment team and will be responsible for generating, executing, and communicating investment ideas. This individual will track MBS markets to help form views on relative value and investment themes. The individual will execute MBS trades while monitoring primary and secondary market flows. This individual will also discuss MBS markets, macroeconomics, and US rates with portfolio managers, analysts, clients and prospects.

Requirements

MBA and/or CFA designation preferred.
Team oriented individual with ability to work well with diverse groups of traders, credit analysts and portfolio managers.
Existing relationships with sell side traders and/or salespeople with the ability to effectively communicate with the broker/dealer community preferred.
Experience with investment systems, including Bloomberg and YieldBook.
Excellent communication and analytic skills.
Ability to work under pressure and time constraints.
Strong aptitude for handling multiple tasks simultaneously.
Experience with analysis, structure and/or trading MBS.
0-3 years of trading experience.
Applicants must exhibit a strong commitment to meet compliance obligations reflecting Conning's core values of honesty and integrity; must accept responsibility for compliance in each role and comply with all applicable rules, regulations, and legal requirements.

Nice To Haves

MBA and/or CFA designation preferred.
Existing relationships with sell side traders and/or salespeople with the ability to effectively communicate with the broker/dealer community preferred.

Responsibilities

Evaluate, develop and present ideas / execute MBS trades. Maintain up to date knowledge of market conditions, flows, dealer axes, secondary BWICs across MBS. Develop and maintain relationships sell side traders and sales to ensure access to issuance, ideas and market information flow. (40%)
Provide market commentary for internal and external uses. Provide market information, trends, and recommendations to trading and portfolio management groups on the MBS market. (25%)
Provide sector expertise and knowledge base required to service existing clients as well as prospective clients via conference calls, meeting presentations, and other documentation. (15%)
Represent Conning in client and prospective client meetings. (10%)
Serve as a backup to the non-agency RMBS trading function. (10%)
Initial coverage includes TBA, specified pools, CMOs, derivatives.