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Trade analyst skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted experts

David M. Lang,

Dr. Robert P. Eyler

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical trade analyst skills. We ranked the top skills for trade analysts based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 7.0% of trade analyst resumes contained portfolio as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a trade analyst needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 trade analyst skills for your resume and career

1. Portfolio

Here's how trade analysts use portfolio:

Created several key reports that were needed by upper management to track portfolio performance and evaluate department growth and profitability.
Modeled hedged option portfolio dynamics for a market maker under varying volatility conditions and presumed real-time assumptions.

2. Securities

Here's how trade analysts use securities:

Performed comprehensive surveillance of equity options trading while monitoring for violations of securities regulations.
Conducted analysis of transactions in municipal and corporate fixed income securities.

3. Process Improvement

Here's how trade analysts use process improvement:

Develop and direct business process improvements as well as provide tactical support to implement processes and procedures for new international activity.
Implemented work instructions and process improvements.

4. Risk Management

Risk management is the method of recognizing, evaluating, and managing risks to an organization's resources and profits. Financial insecurity, regulatory liability, strategic management mistakes, incidents, and natural hazards are just some of the challenges or dangers that could arise. For digitalized businesses, IT security vulnerabilities and data-related threats, as well as risk management techniques to mitigate them, have become top priorities.

Here's how trade analysts use risk management:

Utilized derivatives and various investment risk management techniques to facilitate the pricing and trading of energy commodity contracts.
Supported trading team's risk management efforts by documenting outstanding Argentinean peso trades after abandonment of currency board.

5. Derivative

Here's how trade analysts use derivative:

Directed the risk valuation program (VaR) development and implementation to evaluate and monitor trading activities in commodity derivative instruments.
Conducted financial evaluation of derivative products, volatility and implied volatility of assets, and hedge strategy.

6. SQL

Here's how trade analysts use sql:

Created series of SQL queries and Excel (VBA) macros to analyze usage of new FX trading platform.
Created using MS Access (heavy use of SQL), VBA, and Bloomberg.

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7. Continuous Improvement

Continuous improvement is an ongoing process of improvement of products, services, and processes with the help of innovative ideas. It is an organized approach that helps an organization to find its weaknesses and improve them.

Here's how trade analysts use continuous improvement:

Championed continuous improvement efforts, including integration of DCMR entry automation and other critical projects.

8. Fixed Income

Here's how trade analysts use fixed income:

Conducted three way reconciliation for emerging market, foreign fixed income and international equity trading.
Support daily functionality regarding fixed income trade settlements and oversee the reconciliation of failed trades.

9. Data Analysis

Here's how trade analysts use data analysis:

Research assignments included tick-level data analysis on actively traded strategies.
Reconciled accruals and performed data analysis on promotional event shifts.

10. Cash Management

Here's how trade analysts use cash management:

Investigate and reconcile cash and settlement discrepancies and ensure accurate overnight funding notification to cash management personnel.
Performed budgetary, cash management, and dividend plan activities for government contracts and international operations.

11. VBA

Visual Basic for Applications or, as it is commonly shortened to, VBA is a certain method of using Microsoft's event-driven programming language known as Visual Basic.

Here's how trade analysts use vba:

Automated formatting functionality using VBA.
Designed an automated tool for pricing and creating tickets for total return swap reset payments using VBA.

12. HTS

Here's how trade analysts use hts:

Performed analysis and documentation for HTS classifications.
Used both US and Mexican HTS books extensively.

13. Financial Analysis

Here's how trade analysts use financial analysis:

Performed financial analysis to maintain costs and enhance profitability of assigned trade lanes.
Led financial analysis and support of trading operations for regional power traders.

14. Equities

Here's how trade analysts use equities:

Calculated Total Return Swaps on equities futures and commodities specialized for risk purposes implemented for trade processing and settlements.
Supported Investment research & reporting numerous financial instruments such as Equities, OTC Derivatives, MBS & Equities.

15. Macro

Here's how trade analysts use macro:

Optimized routine reporting through use of Excel Macros and increased use of pivot tables.
Created and maintained Excel spreadsheets and an Access database both with extensive macros.

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What skills help Trade Analysts find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What trade analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

David M. Lang

Professor, California State University - Sacramento

The job market will reward people that require as little supervision and training as possible. Our pandemic times and likely, our post-pandemic times will involve a fair amount of remote working. As such, employers will want to make sure that the individuals they hire are self-motivated, quick learners who can hit the ground running without a lot of hand-holding. If taking a year off, I would make sure that job applicants devote some time to learning about the industry standards in which they plan to work. Does the industry use a particular software? Start learning about how to use that. Does the occupation use specific data or require coding? Devote some time to learning the basics of that as well. As always, don't forget the soft skills of communication (orally and written) and interpersonal relationships.

What type of skills will young trade analysts need?

Dr. Robert P. Eyler

Professor, Sonoma State University

There is not much change from pre-COVID, probably more a ramp-up of skills, especially in the STEM space: coding, general analytical skills. There may be more acute health care worker demand. Still, health care is shifting a bit due to the roller-coaster opening and closing of outpatient facilities versus emergency room demand. Most of those are a short-term phenomena. For BA degree holders, having a major with computer and analytical skills are a key differentiator.

What soft skills should all trade analysts possess?

Keith Gilsdorg Ph.D.

Professor of Economics, Augsburg University

Decision-makers have limited time, and it is valuable. In my professional experience, the ability to clearly and concisely communicate complex ideas that respect the time and expertise of your audience is critical. If not, your argument or position may not be accepted or receive proper consideration. One of the most challenging tasks for an analyst is to avoid jargon and language a non-economist will not understand. This advice applies to both written and oral communication. Again, presenting at an undergraduate research conference or symposium provides some experience in this regard. As a side note, taking a course in public speaking may be an excellent way to help develop these skills.
Another key skill involves working with others as a team and under time constraints, especially if you are employed in the private or public policy sector. The pandemic has created even more challenges in this regard as more people work remotely. Internships and joint faculty/student research experiences help build and showcase those skills.

What hard/technical skills are most important for trade analysts?

Keith Gilsdorg Ph.D.

Professor of Economics, Augsburg University

Understanding and applying mathematical and statistical concepts is key here. Economics majors should take calculus and, honestly, as many statistics and research-oriented methods classes that they can. These skills are becoming even more valuable as technologies evolve to collect and analyze greater amounts of increasingly detailed data. In addition, the economics literature is highly mathematical, and economics majors will need that math background to read papers and articles relevant to their work.

Do you want to know more?

List of trade analyst skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a trade analyst resume and required skills for a trade analyst to have include:

Portfolio
Securities
Process Improvement
Risk Management
Derivative
SQL
Continuous Improvement
Fixed Income
Data Analysis
Cash Management
VBA
HTS
Financial Analysis
Equities
Macro
Capital Markets

Bloomberg
Commodities
Export Compliance
Treasury
ITAR
Government Agencies
Forwarders
ECCN
Customer Accounts
P/L
Swaps
Customs Brokers
Institutional Clients
ROI
Bonds
Foreign Trade

CBP
ERP
MBS
US Customs
FDA
Foreign Exchange
Market Trends
Trade Promotions
Tariff Schedule
NYSE
International Traffic
ISO
Statistical Analysis
R

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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