Middle Office Specialist

Title: Futures Middle Office / Operations Analyst – Top Buy-Side Firm (Chicago)About the opportunityA top-tier global buy-side firm is expanding its futures business, one of its fastest-growing profit centers. The firm is adding new markets, products, and people around the world, and the Middle Office/Operations team is central to that growth.This isn’t a back-office processing seat. You’ll sit close to the investment teams, own processes from start to finish, and help shape how the platform scales. If you’re a futures operations professional who wants more visibility, more ownership, and a team that’s still building, this is worth a conversation.Own daily trade, position, and valuation reconciliations with clearing firms (FCMs), executing brokers, prime brokers, and fund administratorsManage the full trade lifecycle in futures and options, including expirations, exercises/assignments, and physical deliveriesOversee brokerage, give-up, and billing processes, and make sure fees and commissions reconcile accuratelySupport investment teams with analysis and reporting, and become the go-to expert on the firm’s in-house trade capture and reporting toolsBuild and maintain strong day-to-day relationships with counterparties and clearing housesFind gaps across front-to-back workflows and fix them through automation, new technology, and smarter processesContribute to onboarding new markets and exchanges as the business expands globally2-7 years of futures operations or middle office experience at a hedge fund, prop trading firm, FCM, or bankHands-on experience with FCM reconciliations, including same-day trade recs and next-day total equity recsSolid understanding of futures brokerage, give-ups, and billingWorking knowledge of exchange and industry platforms such as CME ClearPort, WebICE, and FIA Tech tools (Atlantis, DOCS); FCR experience is a plusA sharp eye for detail and an instinct to spot problems before they become problemsOwnership mentality: you take on a process and make it better without being askedStrong communication skills and comfort working with traders, brokers, and senior stakeholdersWhy this roleReal exposure to the front office and tradingA growing business where you can take on stretch projects and broader responsibility quicklyA team culture that rewards initiative, people who wear multiple hats, and long tenureInvestment in technology and in continual process improvement