Investment Operations Analyst Trade Operations

$82,400 - $123,600/Yr

The Hartford - Hartford, CT

Full-time - Mid Level

Hybrid - Hartford, CT

101-250 employees

Insurance Carriers and Related Activities

About the position

The Investment Operations Analyst position at HIMCO is a critical role within the Business Operations team, specifically assigned to the Trade Operations team. This position is responsible for overseeing the operational support of HIMCO's Investment Operating Platform, which includes the Investment Book of Record (IBOR) and Accounting Book of Record (ABOR). The analyst will engage in various tasks related to trade operations, including the independent verification of executed trades, ensuring accuracy in trade confirmations, and resolving trade settlement failures. The role requires a high level of attention to detail and the ability to work collaboratively with traders, brokers, and custodians to ensure timely resolution of issues. In this position, the analyst will be responsible for confirming key economic terms of fixed income and equity trades, utilizing electronic platforms such as DTCC products CTM, ALERT, and Trade Suite. The analyst will also manage the reconciliation of financial reporting and investment management needs, ensuring that all transactional data is entered accurately and in a timely manner. Additionally, the role involves preparing and instructing high-value cash and asset transfers while maintaining strict confidentiality of client data. The analyst will also be tasked with reconciling derivative positions and confirming the settlement of OTC derivative products, including currency rate swaps and equity options. This position requires the development and maintenance of detailed procedures to support internal controls and fulfill regulatory requirements. The analyst will provide support to various internal clients, including Portfolio Managers and Financial Reporting teams, and will strive for continuous process improvement by collaborating with custodial banks and software vendors. Overall, this role offers a unique opportunity to gain exposure to various sectors within investment management, including trading, compliance, and accounting, while contributing to the growth and success of HIMCO's investment operations.

Responsibilities

• Oversee Trade Operations for fixed income, equity, alternative assets, and OTC derivatives.
• Verify key economic terms of executed trades with brokers to confirm accuracy.
• Identify and resolve trade settlement failures at custodians in a timely manner.
• Ensure timely and accurate entry of transactional data in IBOR and ABOR.
• Reconcile and resolve breaks for financial reporting and investment management needs.
• Prepare and instruct high-value cash and asset transfers while protecting client data.
• Reconcile derivative positions between internal and external brokers.
• Confirm settlement of OTC derivative products and review paper confirms for accuracy.
• Manage transactions for alternative assets including Private Equity and Hedge Funds.
• Develop and maintain detailed procedures and process controls for cross-training and audits.
• Provide timely support to internal clients including Portfolio Managers and Financial Reporting teams.
• Strive for continuous process improvement and collaborate with custodial banks and software vendors.
• Participate in projects within Business Operations as needed.

Requirements

• BS/BA degree in Finance, Business or related field; MBA or CFA is a plus.
• 5+ years of experience in Investment Management Operations or Middle Office roles.
• Broad understanding of securities processing and settlement practices across Fixed Income and Equity asset management.
• Experience with Bloomberg for Public Asset research and Excel for reporting and analytics.
• Familiarity with Investment, Accounting, or Performance Measurement systems; experience with Aladdin, Maximis or Singularity is a plus.
• High degree of initiative and intellectual curiosity, especially in Investments.
• Exceptional analytical skills, detail-oriented, and strong oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to work independently on concurrent tasks and adhere to deadlines with evolving priorities.
• Willingness to take ownership of complex workflows and projects.
• Experience with measuring work volume through detailed metrics, KPIs, reporting, and trend analyses.

Nice-to-haves

• Prior support of Derivatives or Alternative Asset Operations such as Commercial Mortgage Loans, Private Equity, or Private Placement Debt.
• Experience with DTCC ITP products (CTM, ALERT & Trade Suite), MarkitWire, TriOptima or Wall Street Office.

Benefits

• Competitive salary with potential for bonuses and long-term incentives.
• Hybrid work location model for flexibility.
• Comprehensive health insurance coverage.
• 401(k) retirement savings plan with matching contributions.
• Paid time off and holidays.
• Opportunities for professional development and career growth.