Middle Office Associate

Role Overview

This position is based in Dubai and focuses on post-trade support for the firm’s MENA business. The associate will help run the operational workflow for equities and fixed income activities across the GCC and the wider Middle East and North Africa region. The role sits at the intersection of trading, operations, and client service, with responsibility for helping transactions move smoothly from execution through settlement.

The successful candidate will work closely with front office teams in Dubai, the London operations group, and external market participants. The job is part of the continued expansion of the regional platform and is suited to an operations professional who wants to contribute to the build-out of a growing international investment bank.

Equities Operations

• Oversee trade confirmation, matching, and settlement for equity trades across GCC markets.
• Work with custodians, prime brokers, and executing brokers to investigate and clear settlement problems.
• Make sure Investor ID information is entered correctly on orders in line with local exchange rules.
• Check internal trade records against counterparty confirmations and resolve any mismatches.
• Track failed settlements and take action to reduce settlement risk.
• Prepare client updates covering trade status, settlement progress, and operational exceptions.
• Handle corporate action processing, including dividends, rights issues, and bonus share distributions.
• Assist with block trade allocation and give-up processing.
• Keep settlement instructions and counterparty reference data current.
• Coordinate with the London operations team to keep procedures aligned across regions.

Fixed Income Operations

• Support confirmation and settlement for GCC sovereign bonds, sukuk, and corporate credit products.
• Coordinate settlements through Euroclear, Clearstream, and local central securities depositories.
• Manage coupon processing, accrued interest calculations, and redemption activity.
• Carry out daily position reconciliations with custodians.
• Assist with repo and financing activity as the business grows.
• Support regulatory reporting linked to DFSA requirements.
• Provide back-office support for debt capital markets transactions, including allocation and settlement of new issues.
• Track bond maturities, call dates, and sukuk dissolution events.
• Liaise with paying agents and trustees on income events and corporate actions.

Operational and Business Support

• Serve as the main post-trade contact for the Dubai Sales & Trading desk.
• Contribute to the development of the firm’s MENA operational platform.
• Work with Technology, Compliance, and London Operations on system upgrades and process refinements.
• Create and maintain procedures, controls, and operational documentation.
• Manage onboarding for new counterparties, custodians, and market infrastructure, including KYC and account setup.
• Take part in user acceptance testing for new systems and enhancements.
• Support operational risk management and incident reporting within the control framework.

Experience and Skills

This opportunity is intended for an experienced middle office, trade support, or operations professional from an investment bank or broker. Strong knowledge of GCC equity and/or fixed income markets is important, along with a solid understanding of the trade lifecycle, settlement, and reconciliation processes. Familiarity with regional market infrastructure, custodians, and settlement customs will be valuable, as will experience with Investor ID requirements across GCC exchanges.

Exposure to OMS platforms such as Fidessa or Hydra, or similar systems, would be a plus. The role also calls for careful attention to detail, strong organisation, the ability to work under pressure and to market deadlines, and clear communication skills that support effective relationships with internal teams and external counterparties. A proactive mindset and commitment to continuous improvement are also important.

Why This Role

Joining the team offers the chance to work inside a global investment bank with an expanding presence in the Middle East. The position provides exposure to a broad range of products and markets, while also giving the opportunity to help shape operational processes in a growing regional business. As the platform develops, there is scope for greater responsibility, professional growth, and involvement in strategic initiatives.