Associate Director, Equites Trading

The Association for Financial Markets in Europe (AFME) is seeking to appoint a full-time Associate Director within the Equities Trading Division of the Capital Markets department. The position offers the candidate an opportunity to work closely with senior individuals at leading investment banks in the UK and European markets, to work on current developments, help influence and shape policy and analyse trends within the equity market.

As an Associate Director, you will have the opportunity to own key strategic projects across the division, in which you will deploy and develop subject matter expertise and work directly with AFME members as well as industry regulators and supervisors.

AFME’s Equities Trading division formulates AFME’s policy on regulation and spearheads industry driven initiatives related to EU and UK equity secondary market structure. These topics are managed through the Securities Trading Committee and its working groups comprised of business-side or legal/regulatory experts at the major banks active in this market. You will have the opportunity to lead these members on regulatory and strategic initiatives of shared interest to AFME’s members designed to shape or illuminate developments in the market.

You will be responsible for analysing proposals from the European Commission and UK government, and relevant authorities for the delivery of outputs such as advocacy letters, position papers, industry practices, publications and events as appropriate. You will actively work with our Advocacy team located in Brussels, Frankfurt and London.

Within AFME you can expect to partner, where their agenda overlaps, into the equities arena, with teams from our other Divisions, these include: FX; Fixed Income; Prudential Regulation; Post-Trade; Compliance; Tax; and Advocacy.

You can also expect to work closely with our Media and Events teams, public policy professionals at our member firms, representatives from European institutions and regulators, and representatives from other trade associations including AFME’s sister associations GFMA, SIFMA and ASIFMA based in Washington, New York and Singapore, respectively, as well as other industry associations.

Key accountabilities

Policy

• Closely monitor and assess equities legislative and regulatory developments, providing updates to members where relevant
• Own and deliver the drafting and submission of regulatory and consultation responses.
• Own and deliver the development of advocacy materials on key member issues.

Projects

• Manage strategic thought leadership projects in equities trading
• Upkeep regular review of ongoing frameworks, such as the Electronic Order Handling Questionnaire, or IOI framework

Meetings

• Support the division in engaging members, running meetings and workshops.
• Manage the Securities Trading Committee and its working groups
• Attend and participate in key committee and WG meetings to build knowledge and relationships.
• Prepare briefing materials and facilitate advocacy and member meetings.

Research

• Monitor equity markets related developments at the UK, European, international and member state level and circulate emails to members updating them on key developments.
• Own and deliver specific deliverables including policy positions and research papers.

Team support

• Support and work in close collaboration with the Managing Director on strategic and ad hoc requests.
• Attend team meetings, and as appropriate, contribute to the running and development of the Capital Markets Division
• Develop and maintain relationships with members and assist with membership queries.
• Develop and maintain relationships with other trade associations.
• Attend and report back on industry forum meetings

Events

• Lead/assist in preparing for and take part in activities for conferences, dinners and webinars, internal and external

Person specification

Essential:

• A bachelor's or advanced professional degree
• At least 3 years of relevant prior professional experience or longer in a financial services capital markets, consulting, or policy development organisation.
• Equities market structure experience
• Good knowledge of EU and UK MiFID regulation
• Basic understanding of UK and EU policymaking processes
• Excellent written and spoken English, including public speaking.
• Intellectually curious and driven.
• Strong analytical, project management and personal organisational skills to keep work streams on track. A willingness and ability to work as part of a team with minimal supervision.

Desirable:

• Understanding of the relationship of primary and post trade equity issues to secondary trading
• Prior work experience in public policy making
• Ability to utilise data analytics software

All candidates are required to have the legal right to work in the UK and travel within the EU.

Job Benefits

The Association for Financial Markets in Europe (AFME) provides an excellent benefits package for employees and their eligible dependents. The benefits package includes:

• Private Medical Insurance
• Cash Plan
• Dental Insurance
• Annual Health Screening
• Employee Assistance Programme
• 30 days Annual Holiday Allowance
• Additional 1 day Birthday Holiday
• Pension Scheme – AFME contributes 10% of an employee’s basic salary
• Life Assurance
• Income Protection
• Travel Insurance
• Season Ticket Loan
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• My Gym Discounts
• 4pm Friday Finish