What does a trade analyst do?
A trade analyst specializes in studying the stock market and its related fields. Utilizing their expertise in the market, they are responsible for determining the stocks to be bought or sold based on factors such as financial data and market status. It is also their responsibility to analyze and assess consumer and sales data within the company, coordinate with other analysts and trade managers, develop business plans and forecasts, and keep abreast of the government regulations.
Trade analyst responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real trade analyst resumes:
- Design spreadsheets, pivot tables and macros to automate the workflow.
- Manage day to day operations including swap pricing, P/L responsibilities, trade booking and reconciliation.
- Provide market recommendations & manage dealer inventories base on industry data, dealer sales history, & ROI.
- Lead in the global tactical asset allocation analysis for the $100,000 fund, focusing on multi-asset classes.
- Manage project team meetings using SharePoint calendars.
- Conduct analysis of transactions in municipal and corporate fix income securities.
- Execute equities trades during high volume periods.
- Provide client application, HTS classification process/procedures, and U.S.
- Handle and monitor all shipments issues with carriers and forwarders.
- Perform surveillance of sales and trading activities with a focus on equities and options.
- Process referrals create by various freight forwarders to assist in the release of shipments.
- Monitor bid/ask spreads on internal platform ensuring markets coincide with overall TBA monitor (Bloomberg).
- Create and optimize daily P/L reporting process by collaborating with multiple functions front to back offices.
- Design an automate tool for pricing and creating tickets for total return swap reset payments using VBA.
- Maintain accounting records and calculate NAV's and daily dividend factors for domestic and global investment products.
Trade analyst skills and personality traits
We calculated that 7% of Trade Analysts are proficient in Portfolio, Securities, and Process Improvement. They’re also known for soft skills such as Computer skills, Detail oriented, and Math skills.
We break down the percentage of Trade Analysts that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Portfolio, 7%
Created several key reports that were needed by upper management to track portfolio performance and evaluate department growth and profitability.
- Securities, 6%
Performed comprehensive surveillance of equity options trading while monitoring for violations of securities regulations.
- Process Improvement, 5%
Develop and direct business process improvements as well as provide tactical support to implement processes and procedures for new international activity.
- Risk Management, 5%
Utilized derivatives and various investment risk management techniques to facilitate the pricing and trading of energy commodity contracts.
- Derivative, 4%
Directed the risk valuation program (VaR) development and implementation to evaluate and monitor trading activities in commodity derivative instruments.
- SQL, 4%
Created series of SQL queries and Excel (VBA) macros to analyze usage of new FX trading platform.
Common skills that a trade analyst uses to do their job include "portfolio," "securities," and "process improvement." You can find details on the most important trade analyst responsibilities below.
Computer skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a trade analyst to have is computer skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "financial analysts must be adept at using software to analyze financial data and trends, create portfolios, and make forecasts." Trade analysts often use computer skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "implement general ledger computer systems. "
Detail oriented. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling trade analyst duties is detail oriented. The role rewards competence in this skill because "financial analysts must pay attention when reviewing a possible investment, as even small issues may have large implications for its health." According to a trade analyst resume, here's how trade analysts can utilize detail oriented in their job responsibilities: "performed trade instruction due diligence for multiple derivatives products to ensure proper receipt of integral trade details. "
Math skills. trade analysts are also known for math skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to trade analyst responsibilities, because "financial analysts use mathematics to estimate the value of financial securities." A trade analyst resume example shows how math skills is used in the workplace: "trade execution and application support for algorithmic trading of foreign exchange based on statistical quantitative models using ms sql server. "
Analytical skills. A big part of what trade analysts do relies on "analytical skills." You can see how essential it is to trade analyst responsibilities because "financial analysts must evaluate a range of information in finding profitable investments." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical trade analyst tasks: "developed reuters and bloomberg live-market data excel models using vba, and also created models using in-house live market data feeds. "
Communication skills. Another crucial skill for a trade analyst to carry out their responsibilities is "communication skills." A big part of what trade analysts relies on this skill, since "financial analysts must be able to clearly explain their recommendations to clients." How this skill relates to trade analyst duties can be seen in an example from a trade analyst resume snippet: "coordinate the follow-up communication with vendor contacts to guarantee vendor attestations have been received and completed using sharepoint. "
The three companies that hire the most trade analysts are:
- Deloitte200 trade analysts jobs
- Citi27 trade analysts jobs
- JPMorgan Chase & Co.25 trade analysts jobs
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Compare different trade analysts
Trade analyst vs. Investment associate
An investment associate's primary role is to review a company's financial data, recommend investment strategies, oversee the distribution of stocks, and calculate possible risks for business mergers. They also serve as a mediator during agreements between companies during takeovers, monitors stock inventory, sell stocks, and details all financial transactions. In the course of these responsibilities, an investment associate provides administrative support and timely response to client requests as needed, acting as an additional point of communication for clients.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a trade analyst are more likely to require skills like "portfolio," "process improvement," "risk management," and "sql." On the other hand, a job as an investment associate requires skills like "powerpoint," "customer service," "client service," and "due diligence." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Investment associates tend to make the most money working in the technology industry, where they earn an average salary of $117,651. In contrast, trade analysts make the biggest average salary, $93,946, in the finance industry.The education levels that investment associates earn slightly differ from trade analysts. In particular, investment associates are 0.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a trade analyst. Additionally, they're 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Trade analyst vs. Financial analyst internship
A financial analyst intern is responsible for supporting an organization with financial activities and tasks. Typical duties and responsibilities may include creating and analyzing financial reports, preparing financial statements, and helping with audits. You may be asked to perform some administrative tasks while observing the various aspects of portfolio management, accounting, and financial reporting. As a financial analyst intern, you are expected to conduct competitive analysis and market research and help prepare reports and recommendations on due diligence. You are also expected to join in on meetings and calls with company prospects.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that trade analyst responsibilities requires skills like "portfolio," "securities," "process improvement," and "risk management." But a financial analyst internship might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "market research," "financial data," "financial statement analysis," and "due diligence."
Financial analyst interns earn similar levels of education than trade analysts in general. They're 1.8% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for trade analysts in the next 3-5 years?
Brenden Mason
Assistant Professor of Economics, North Central College
Trade analyst vs. Analyst internship
An analyst internship is a student program where an intern is assigned to assist analyst professionals by analyzing business goals, objectives, and needs. Analyst interns assist in the planning and designing of business processes and suggest recommendations for improvement. They conduct research and analysis to support business operations and resolve issues using systems and data. They also help estimate the costs and benefits of multiple business actions and help the business organization launch new initiatives.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, trade analysts are more likely to have skills like "portfolio," "securities," "process improvement," and "risk management." But a analyst internship is more likely to have skills like "financial statements," "management system," "python," and "data entry."
Analyst interns earn the highest salary when working in the professional industry, where they receive an average salary of $41,723. Comparatively, trade analysts have the highest earning potential in the finance industry, with an average salary of $93,946.When it comes to education, analyst interns tend to earn similar degree levels compared to trade analysts. In fact, they're 2.1% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.2% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Trade analyst vs. Investment banking analyst
An Investment Banking Analyst reviews and analyzes data for investment banking portfolios. They work with individuals and businesses to suggest potential investments for their clients.
Types of trade analyst
Updated January 8, 2025
