Global Markets Platform Lead at Merchant Bank

The Platform Lead for Digital Markets will be responsible for two teams: The Digital Channels & Execution Services team and the Digital Pricing & Market Making team. These teams consist of developers, application support and business analysts that implement and provide support for the applications within their respective teams. The role will be delivery and management focused.
Overview of the Position

The role will report directly to the Markets CIO – Digital & Data

The key responsibilities of the role are:

•     Team Leadership and management
•     Platform leadership and management
•     Delivery of business value through an agreed platform roadmap
•     Stakeholder relationship management & partnership
•     Technical analysis and design of solutions to delivery on the defined roadmap
•     Overall responsibility for software lifecycles / dev & deployment processes covering both vendor and in-house systems

Overall responsibility for effectiveness of teams and the processes that they adopt

•     Ensuring the sustainability of the platform through the establishment of proper support & technical monitoring
•     Collaboration with business managers to ensure clear business prioritisation of work
•     Collaboration with the Flow, Structured and Electronic trading areas of the business
•     Coordination of work across both teams to ensure smooth handoffs and coordinated delivery
•     Vendor relationship management

 
Key Focus Areas
Management and Leadership

•     Responsible for resource management and the allocation of work based on priorities for the platform as a whole (i.e. run and change work)
•     Performance management and career development of team members
•     Providing clear technical leadership across both teams that is aligned to a future state and the needs of the business
•     Ensure that the requirement for technology improvements to existing platforms and toolsets are prioritized e.g. Upgrades and Maintenance tasks
•     Liaise and maintain healthy working relationships with key areas across the FirstRand Group
•     Develop a partnership with the various business owners and business managers, thereby ensuring alignment of expectations, delivery and value creation.

Qualification and Experience

•     A graduate qualification in an Engineering, Financial Engineering and/or Computer Science degree
•     10+ years’ experience in Capital Markets in a variety of technical roles preferably within an e-trading environment
•     Strong understanding of multiple asset classes and how they are traded as well as the trade lifecycle.
•     Good understanding of integration, messaging (FIX protocol), architecture and project management.
•     Strong technical background
•     Strong vendor and stakeholder management skills

Technical Analysis and Design

•     Have an excellent understanding of the exchange trading and electronic OTC environment for Capital Markets from both a business, process and technical perspective
•     Previous exposure to Reuters, Bloomberg, FIX, ECN’s and LP’s required
•     Strong technical knowledge of high-volume low-latency messaging and trading environments
•     Full stack exposure

General Requirements

•     Proven track record in delivery of projects and in managing teams
•     Ability to supervise and where necessary course correct implementations
•     Good teamwork and motivation skills
•     Strong interpersonal skills to drive strong stakeholder and vendor engagement
•     Is abreast of evolutions within the e-trading environment and can assist with impact analysis on the platforms you and your teams support. Adapt and/or recommend solutions that cater for these changes. Create a strategy to support the further enablement of e-trading

Behavioural Skills

•     Have the ability to lead a cross functional team
•     Influence people and resolve conflicts
•     Building and maintain relationships
•     Have a collaborative mindset
•     Adopt a broad, long-term perspective
•     Have a strategic mindset when designing solutions that enable standardization and efficiency
•     Contribute to the success of the team; co-operate with other employees to improve personal and team performance
•     Mentor and guide team members

Competencies

•     Strong analytical thinking and problem solving
•     Solid understanding of applications, domains, toolsets and processes in the e- trading domain
•     Ability to make decisions and initiate action
•     Ability to effectively plan and organize
•     Ability to present and communicate (verbal and written)
•     Ability to work independently as well as produce results as part of a group
•     Demonstrate sensitivity to, and respect for, a diverse user group
•     Completer / Finisher
•     Commitment to operational and service excellence
•     Keep abreast of changes and trends in systems and relevant technologies