Fixed Income Operations Analyst

About the role

The owns the end-to-end operational integrity of fixed income managed accounts for external clients, ensuring precise workflows and robust internal controls. This role serves as the primary operator responsible for resolving issues from initial intake to final confirmation, driving reliability in client holdings data. The position demands hands-on engagement with proactive collaboration across internal technology and operations teams as well as external partners to maintain seamless processes. Success in this role directly supports the delivery of accurate and timely fixed income operations for clients. The work involves detailed, process-driven tasks that require diligence and a commitment to data accuracy. You will be instrumental in managing the lifecycle of fixed income operations from onboarding through ongoing support. This role is critical in mitigating risks associated with settlements and discrepancies. The position is designed for a self-starter who balances independence with strong collaborative skills.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Execute the configuration of new fixed income manager profiles and client accounts to ensure operational processing accuracy.
• Conduct detailed account-level verifications covering cash movements, security positions, transaction history, and tax lot tracking to validate completeness and correctness.
• Monitor open positions within the settlement pipeline to identify potential fails and drive resolution activities that mitigate risk and prevent penalties.
• Investigate root causes of unsettled trades, track outstanding items, and implement corrective actions to address buy-in risks and fee exposures.
• Act as the central point of contact for resolving discrepancies with executing brokers, portfolio managers, custodians, and internal departments.
• Oversee the lifecycle of fixed income corporate events including interest payments, maturities, redemptions, and calls to ensure timely and accurate handling.
• Contribute to special initiatives focused on optimizing platform capabilities, refining procedural workflows, and executing system upgrades.
• Facilitate the smooth integration of new clients and fixed income managers ensuring all operational structures are established correctly for seamless workflow entry.
• Maintain rigorous standards for data accuracy across all fixed income securities and facilitate clear communication among cross-functional partners to clear operational hurdles.
• Perform reconciliation tasks to verify that positions and transactions align with external records and internal reports.
• Support the testing of new features and system changes within the fixed income operational environment to ensure functionality and compliance.
• Document processes and procedures to create clear guidelines for current operations and future scalability.
• Assist in the preparation of operational reports that provide visibility into fixed income account health and performance.
• Engage in continuous learning to stay updated on fixed income market practices and operational tools.
• Provide backup support for other operational functions as required by business needs.
• Ensure adherence to internal policies and regulatory requirements in all fixed income operational activities.
• Participate in root cause analysis sessions to identify trends and implement preventative controls.

Requirements

• Possess 2 to 4 years of professional experience within managed accounts or investment operations environments.
• Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of the fixed income spectrum including but not limited to Treasuries, corporate bonds, municipal bonds, agency securities, MBS/ABS, and money market instruments.
• Show a thorough understanding of the complete trade journey from initial execution and allocation through confirmation, settlement, and post-trade reporting.
• Be fluent in the mechanics of settlement market infrastructure including the roles of custodians, clearing houses, and depositories.
• Exhibit a proven capacity to negotiate and resolve issues with brokers, portfolio managers, custodians, and internal stakeholders.
• Thrive in a team setting while also operating effectively with sound judgment when working autonomously.
• Have hands-on experience with Separately Managed Account (SMA) structures, associated workflows, and their specific operational requirements.
• Utilize Microsoft Excel at an advanced level creating pivot tables executing complex lookups and building formulas with VBA scripting experience as a distinct bonus.
• Possess a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree.
• Exercise strong judgment to navigate complex fast-paced scenarios while managing multiple priorities.
• Maintain excellent customer service skills and written communication abilities.
• Have previous interaction with the Vestmark platform as a significant professional advantage.
• Balance independence with collaboration in a hybrid work environment.
• Adhere to strict data integrity standards and confidentiality requirements.
• Demonstrate reliability and ownership in a fast-paced outsourced service setting.

Nice to have

• Previous experience with Vestmark platform operations.
• Advanced Excel skills including VBA scripting.
• Knowledge of fixed income settlement infrastructures.
• Exposure to managed account operations.
• Background in client onboarding for investment operations.

Practical notes

• Hybrid work model based in Wakefield, Massachusetts.
• Compensation range is $72,000.00 - $90,000.00 annually.
• Engagement type is for outsourced service clients in fixed income operations.