Jobs › Northern Trust

OTC/FX Associate Specialist, Integrated Portfolio Services

Northern Trust · Chicago, IL · $95,600–$162,400 a year · Full time

Posted Sep 24, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

This role is an escalation point for team members on OTC and FX work. Tell me about a time someone brought you a problem you didn't know how to solve right away.

What they are checking: Whether they stay calm, find the answer through the right channels and close the loop instead of guessing.

You're asked to translate a strategy into an actionable plan. Tell me about a time you turned a vague goal into tasks people could actually execute.

What they are checking: Whether they can break down ambiguous direction into owners, dates and checkpoints that a team follows.

Tell me about a time you stepped in to do work outside your normal job so a client deadline was met.

What they are checking: Whether they will pitch in on the client support model when the team is short, without being asked twice.

What would you do

An FX spot trade for a client is about to miss its settlement cutoff because of a missing instruction. What do you do in the next 30 minutes?

What they are checking: Urgency, knowing who to call, and protecting the client from cost while documenting what went wrong.

Two project initiatives need the same people in the same week. How do you decide which one moves and how do you tell the losing side?

What they are checking: Managing trade-offs openly, using priorities rather than volume of complaints, and keeping stakeholders informed.

How do you surface a risk to leadership when you aren't sure yet how big it is?

What they are checking: Willingness to raise issues early with honest uncertainty instead of waiting until the picture is complete and late.

A client calls upset about an FX rate they received on a trade. How do you handle that conversation?

What they are checking: Ability to research before responding, explain execution clearly and escalate pricing questions to the right desk.

About the work

Walk me through the life cycle of an OTC derivative trade from execution through settlement, as an operations team would see it.

What they are checking: Real understanding of confirmations, collateral, resets and settlement rather than surface familiarity with the terms.

What are the main risks in OTC derivatives servicing, such as valuation, collateral or counterparty, and which do you think gets the least attention?

What they are checking: Whether they think about risk across the trade life cycle and can form a view rather than reciting a list.

How would you track whether a project initiative is on schedule when the people doing the work report to other managers?

What they are checking: Practical methods for monitoring progress across dependencies they don't control, like milestones and status cadences.

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The full job description

As published by Northern Trust.

About Northern Trust As a global leader in innovative wealth management, asset servicing, asset management and banking services, Northern Trust (Nasdaq: NTRS) is proud to guide the world’s most successful individuals, families, corporations and institutions. Since 1889, we have aligned our efforts with our three guiding Principles That Endure: Service, Expertise, and Integrity. Together, they reflect the three cornerstones of business conduct which we strive to instill in our employees, whom we call partners, and to provide to our clients and the communities we serve worldwide. With more than 135 years of financial experience and over 24,000 partners, we serve the world’s most sophisticated clients using leading technology and exceptional service. The OTC and FX Associate Specialist is responsible for the driving implementation and execution of our project initiatives. They will translate strategy into actionable plans, drive execution across our teams, coordinate dependencies and manage trade-offs, monitor progress and surface risks or constraints and reinforce priorities and adjust as needed. In addition, the OTC and FX Associate Specialist is responsible for contributing, executing and reinforcing the strategic priorities, stepping in to assist the team where needed to successfully satisfy the client support model. Major Duties: • Being an escalation point for members of the team and clients • Being an OTC/FX Product SME • Manage team projects or initiatives • Taking lead on an initiative while contributing and executing in others • Oversight of processes within team of: • Manage multiple clients/hedge funds and business lines within a fast-paced, challenging environment • Affirmation/Confirmation of all OTC and FX trades on electronic platforms or on paper where required • Settlement of swap cash flows associated with OTC and FX products, including unwinds, fees, resets, and premiums • Proper operational reflection of OTC and FX trades • Booking corporate actions and dividends/coupons to ensure accurate position and p/l attribution • Efficiently identify and resolve transaction discrepancies between client and swap counterparties. Liaison between trading desk, control groups and counterparties to resolve any economic discrepancies on trades in a timely and efficient manner • Process all aspects of periodic resets for vanilla and exotic IRS, CDS, and Equity OTC products • Ensure timely receipt of OTC and FX confirmations from trading counterparties • Ensure accuracy of transaction agreements and modifications • Prioritize time accordingly to action trade breaks by end of day • Understand and process trade activity in accordance with established operations policies and procedures; understand and minimize risk associated with trade mismatches • Work with IT in the development and enhancement of the trade management system • Must be able to interact with coworkers and clients in a fast-paced trading environment. • Should be intellectually curious, intuitive, and trustworthy and have the highest ethical standards • Effectively address a number of internal and external audiences in a professional manner • Perform other related duties as required • Assists in the training of staff globally. • Operates independently; has in-depth knowledge of business unit / function • As subject area expert, provides comprehensive, in-depth consulting and leadership to team and partners at a high technical level • Carries out activities that are large in scope, cross-functional and technically difficult • Role is balanced between high level operational execution and development, and execution of strategic direction of business function activities • Strategic in developing, implementing and administering programs within functional areas Knowledge/Skills: • Bachelor’s degree strongly preferred • Five plus years of experience in FX or OTC structured and derivatives products operations including: • Experience with the settlement of OTC structured and derivatives products • Experience reviewing documentation for OTC structured and derivatives products • Proficiency with TradeServ, MarkitWire/MarkitTradeManager, and eConfirm platforms preferred • Excellent people skills; ability to dynamically act as knowledgeable point of reference to co-workers domestically and internationally • Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel (ability to create macros), Copilot, Power Automate • Excellent math and analytical skills • Excellent written and oral communication skills • Strong organization skills, meticulous attention to detail • Ability to handle multiple tasks under extremely time sensitive conditions • Understanding of the various transaction types within each asset class beyond ‘vanilla’ trades is preferred (e.g. for IRS, understanding of caps, floors, swaptions, etc. and for CDS, understanding of tranches, recovery swaps, ABS/X, etc.) • Understanding of established guidelines and documents published by ISDA is helpful • OTC Regulatory knowledge across Dodd Frank, EMIR, ASIC, MAS Experience: The successful candidate will be a mature self-starter who has demonstrated the ability to function independently in a fast-paced, dynamic and demanding environment. This person needs to be able to resolve conflict within a short period of time. This person will be intellectually curious, intuitive, trustworthy and have the highest ethical standards. In addition, he/she will be effective addressing a number of internal and external audiences in a professional manner. This person will add value by working on a number of simultaneous tasks with minimal supervision and exemplary follow-through. #LI-HY #LI-CL1 Salary Range: $95,600 - 162,400 USD Salary range is a good faith estimate of base pay. Northern Trust provides a comprehensive benefits package including retirement benefits (401k and pension), health and welfare benefits (medical, dental, vision, spending accounts and disability), paid time off, parental and caregiver leave, life & accident insurance, and other voluntary and well-being benefits. Northern Trust also provides a discretionary bonus program that may include an equity component. Work Authorization Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for employment-based visa sponsorship now or in the future. Northern Trust will not sponsor applicants for U.S. work visa status for this opportunity (no sponsorship is available for H-1B, L-1, TN, O-1, E-3, H-1B1, F-1, J-1, OPT, CPT or any other employment-based visa). Working with Us As a Northern Trust partner, you will be part of a flexible and collaborative work culture, which has a strong history of financial strength and stability. Movement within the organization is encouraged, senior leaders are accessible, and you can take pride in working for a company committed to an inclusive workplace and assisting the communities we serve. Philanthropy is deeply rooted in Northern Trust’s history and is an essential element of our culture. Employees around the world give their time and talent to work for the greater good of their communities. Reasonable Accommodation Northern Trust is committed to working with and providing adjustments to individuals with health conditions and disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please email our HR Service Center at MyHRHelp@ntrs.com , or alternatively you can discuss your individual requirements with the recruiter you are working with.

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