We are seeking a seasoned and results-driven Application Manager with extensive experience in managing and supporting business-critical applications in the trading and stocks domain. The ideal candidate will have a strong technical background combined with hands-on expertise in the financial markets, including trading systems, stock market data, and trading platforms. The Application Manager will lead and oversee the performance, security, and operational integrity of all applications, ensuring optimal functionality in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment.
Key Responsibilities:
Application Management:
- Lead the end-to-end management of critical trading and stock-related applications, ensuring high availability, scalability, and performance.
- Ensure timely resolution of issues impacting system performance or operational efficiency.
- Collaborate with business teams to understand trading and stock application needs, translating them into technical specifications and solutions.
- Trading and Stock Market Knowledge:
- Leverage in-depth knowledge of trading systems, algorithms, and financial markets to support application needs.
- Monitor and analyze stock trading data, trends, and market activities to ensure alignment of applications with market requirements.
- Stay updated with the latest trends in the trading and stocks industry, incorporating relevant advancements into the application ecosystem.
- Team Leadership & Collaboration:
- Manage a team of application support and development professionals, providing leadership, mentoring, and performance reviews.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams including development, IT infrastructure, and business stakeholders to ensure seamless integration and performance of trading applications.Performance Monitoring & Troubleshooting:
- Monitor application performance metrics, identify bottlenecks, and implement strategies for improvement.
- Proactively identify potential risks and issues with trading applications and develop mitigation strategies.
- Lead root cause analysis (RCA) efforts in case of outages or performance degradation.
- Vendor & Stakeholder Management:
- Act as the main point of contact for vendors supplying trading platforms, financial data, and stock market-related solutions.
- Negotiate with third-party vendors for software licenses, updates, and support services.
- Provide regular updates and reports to senior management regarding the application’s performance, issues, and improvements.
- Regulatory & Compliance:
- Ensure all trading and stock-related applications comply with financial regulations and industry standards.
- Collaborate with compliance teams to align application functionality with regulatory requirements.
- Project Management:
- Oversee and manage the lifecycle of trading-related application projects from inception to deployment.
- Coordinate with project managers and business teams to ensure the timely delivery of application enhancements and upgrades.
Qualifications:
- Education:
- Bachelor’s or Master's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Finance, or related field.
- Experience:
- A minimum of 10 years of experience in application management, with 5+ years in managing trading or stocks-related applications.
- Proven track record of managing high-performance trading systems and platforms in a fast-paced, regulated environment.
- Technical Skills:
- Strong understanding of trading systems and platforms (e.g., FIX Protocol, Algorithmic Trading, Market Data Feeds, etc.).
- Experience with financial market data providers and trading platforms (e.g., Bloomberg, Reuters, Eikon, TradingView, etc.).
- Familiarity with relevant programming languages and tools (e.g., Python, Java, SQL, etc.).
- Hands-on experience with databases (e.g., Oracle, SQL Server, etc.) and application performance monitoring tools.
- Industry Knowledge:
- Deep understanding of capital markets, equity trading, derivatives, and financial instruments.
- Familiarity with financial regulations (e.g., MiFID II, Dodd-Frank, etc.) and their impact on trading systems.
- Soft Skills:
- Strong leadership and team management skills.
- Excellent problem-solving, critical thinking, and troubleshooting abilities.
- Exceptional communication skills with the ability to present technical information to non-technical stakeholders.
- Certifications (Optional):
Certifications in ITIL, PMP, or relevant financial trading systems are a plus.