Trading Associate

Position Summary:   

The Trading Associate will join Cerity Partners’ centralized Albany trading group, providing trading, rebalancing, and investment management support across the practice’s advisor base. While this position does not directly interface with clients, all trading activity carries fiduciary obligation, and the associate is expected to service clients’ interests in the best manner possible through the quality and accuracy of their work. 

Primary Responsibilities  

• Ensure client portfolios are within assigned investment policy 

• Curate and execute trades — including block trades processed through Eclipse — according to investment allocations, with a strong emphasis on best execution and allocation compliance 

• Perform reconciliation and maintenance of systems and trades 

• Utilize Eclipse to perform ongoing analysis and rebalancing of household accounts as well as individual taxable, tax-deferred, and non-taxable client portfolios 

• Apply tax lot methodology to support tax-efficient trade execution (familiarity a plus, not required) 

• Communicate clearly with advisors on trading-related topics and processes 

• Support the Investment Committee in data collection and analysis, data visualization, and special projects. 

• Act as a back-up for other investment colleagues including providing research support and due diligence on managers and investment allocations 

Required Qualifications:  

• Bachelor's degree required. Candidates with fewer than 12 months of relevant industry experience must hold a degree in Finance, Economics, Business, or a related field; for candidates with more experience, a related degree is preferred but not required  

• 0–3 years' relevant investment experience  

• General knowledge of investment products, asset allocation, and portfolio construction across taxable, tax-deferred, and non-taxable accounts  

• Demonstrated ability to learn and manage software tools for trading and analysis  

• High attention to detail and thoroughness to help minimize trading errors, paired with good written and verbal communication skills 

• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with shifting deadlines and priorities  

• Adaptable and self-directed — able to multitask, wear multiple hats, and shift priorities as business needs change 

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office — expert Excel user preferred; light programming skills a plus   

Preferred Qualifications:  

• Pursuit of further education or professional certification (e.g., securities licensing, CFA, or related credentials) 

• Experience investing for high-net-worth clients  

• Prior experience on a trading desk or in a high-volume trading environment; prior exposure to prime brokerage relationships  

• Familiarity with Eclipse (our trading platform) and/or Orion (our data aggregator) 

• Custodial experience with Fidelity or Schwab 

• Experience processing and performing reconciliation on large amounts of data 

Skills & Competencies: 

• Demonstrate strong and effective communication, organizational and time management skills. 

• Drive to learn 

• Detail oriented 

• Ability to work in a team based/collaborative environment. 

• Must accept and thrive in a fast-paced, changing environment. 

• Adherence to all compliance policies & procedures. 

• Demonstrate the Cerity Partners culture. 

Physical Requirements: 

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer. 

• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times. 

Compensation Range: 

$65,000 - $75,000 

Why Cerity Partners: 

Our people drive our success by working together to deliver exceptional service to our clients. Below is a glimpse of the key elements of our total rewards package: 

• Health, dental, and vision insurance – day 1! 

• 401(k) savings and investment plan options with 4% match 

• Flexible PTO policy 

• Parental Leave 

• Financial assistance for advanced education and professional designations 

• Opportunity to give back time to local communities 

• Commuter benefits