Operations Analyst Trading Support
Portland Investment Counsel Inc. (Portland) is a premier Canadian investment counsel firm based in Burlington, Ontario, specializing in high-conviction active management and truly differentiated thematic investing. Under the leadership of Executive Chairman Michael Lee-Chin, we focus on building and preserving wealth through long-term, owner/operator perspectives on quality businesses - particularly founder-led companies and innovative themes such as precision oncology (via our Life Sciences Alternative Fund) and the replacement of fossil fuels including nuclear energy (via our Replacement of Fossil Fuels Alternative Fund).
We provide sophisticated clients, institutions, advisors, and active DIY investors access to high-quality private and alternative investments, complemented by award-winning public equity and private debt strategies (including existing mutual fund products and forthcoming exchange-traded products accessible via online brokerages) that emphasize durable competitive advantages, low turnover, and intrinsic value. Our brand stands out for its commitment to transparency, deep operational insight, and democratizing access to opportunities typically reserved for the ultra-affluent and institutions.
Essential Functions
- Support the end-to-end trade lifecycle across equities, foreign exchange, options, and other asset classes, from order creation and execution through allocation, confirmation, settlement, reconciliation, and accounting.
- Support ETF creation and redemption orders activity, basket and portfolio composition files.
- Support international payment and settlement workflows, including SWIFT instructions, correspondent bank details, beneficiary information, value dates, payment cut-offs, and exception resolution.
- Coordinate and execute User Acceptance Testing for new systems, vendor releases, interfaces, data feeds, workflow changes, and process enhancements
- Create, maintain, and troubleshoot Excel and VBA tools for trade tracking, reconciliation, controls, data validation, exception reporting, cash forecasting, and management reporting.
- Act as an operational contact for OMS/EMS integrations, broker and counterparty connectivity, data transmissions, and downstream system interfaces.
- Prepare recurring and ad hoc reports and support new fund or account launches, broker and custodian onboarding, SSI maintenance, and new products or markets.
- Technical Skills & Experience:
- 5+ years of relevant experience in trading operations, investment operations, middle office, trade support, custody, prime brokerage, or a comparable capital-markets environment.
- Strong understanding of the end-to-end trade lifecycle, including order and trade capture, validation, allocation, confirmation, settlement, reconciliation, exception management, cash and position impacts, and accounting or reporting hand-offs.
- Hands-on experience with SWIFT payment and settlement messaging, including international wire processing, SWIFT MT/ISO 20022 (MX), payment instructions, standing settlement instructions, and exception troubleshooting.
- Practical UAT experience.
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and practical VBA development experience, including building or maintaining macros and automated operational tools.
- Experience with OMS/EMS, portfolio management, custody, market data, or trading platforms such as LSEG AlphaDesk, Bloomberg, LSEG Workspace, FXall, Interactive Brokers TWS, Instinet Newport, Toogood Evolution, Ultumus/Cosmos, or comparable systems.
- Strong analytical, organizational, documentation, and communication skills, with high attention to detail and the ability to manage competing priorities independently.
Competencies:
- Achievement Orientation - A concern for working well or surpassing a standard of excellence
- Analytical Thinking - Understanding a situation or problem by breaking it into smaller pieces
- Business Acumen - Understanding the business implications of decisions and improving organizational performance
- Concern for Order - A drive to reduce uncertainty through accuracy, controls, and discipline
- Initiative - Identifying problems or opportunities and taking timely action
- Self-Control - Remaining composed and effective under pressure
- Teamwork - Working cooperatively with internal and external partners
Education
- Bachelor's Degree/College Diploma
- Canadian Securities Course
- Conduct and Practices Handbook
- Trader Training Course
Work Experience
- 5+ years of relevant experience in trading operations, investment operations, middle office, trade support, custody, fund administration, prime brokerage, or a comparable capital-markets environment.
- Demonstrated experience with trade lifecycle support, SWIFT/international payments, UAT, and Excel/VBA automation.
We thank all applicants in advance, however, only those individuals selected for an interview will be contacted.
At Portland, we support diversity and equity. We strive to provide a workplace that is recognized as inclusive for all, regardless of ethnic origin, nationality, language, religious beliefs, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, family status, physical or mental disability.
We respect the dignity and independence of persons with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. If contacted for an interview, please inform us should any accommodation be required.
Your application will be reviewed by a member of the hiring team - AI is rarely used in the screening, assessment or selection of candidates. Every hiring decision is made by real people who care about finding the best addition to our team.
The base salary range for this position is $100,000 to $125,000. In addition, we provide a discretionary performance bonus, group health benefit plan, RSP matching, on-site free underground parking, as well as social and wellness events.
This posting is required to fill an immediate vacancy.
