Unlike traders and salespeople, structurers traditionally invent, engineer and market new products that address the investment needs of clients as never before. Structurers work very closely with salespeople and traders and are generally based on the trading floor.
Structurers may create new products based on any underlying securities including stocks, bonds, options, commodities, foreign exchange and derivatives or any combination of these and aim to tailor the risk profiles of these securities to suit client needs. Clients include every variety of institutional money managers, from pension funds to hedge funds, to the investment arms of non-finance companies.
Like traders, structurers need to have an intimate understanding of the mechanics of an instrument and like salespeople, they have to be in touch with the investment goals of their clients. In addition to creating these products, structurers are also responsible for pricing and marketing (in collaboration with the salesforce) these complex financial instruments and executing the transactions in partnership with the legal, compliance and operations divisions.
Programme requirements
- On track for a 2.1 or above
- Minimum 'BBB' at A level (or equivalent in UCAS points)
- No specific degree subject is required
- Broad knowledge of the finance industry is required
- Excellent quantitative and analytical skills. Structurers specialising in product development usually have advanced qualifications in technical subjects such as engineering and mathematics
- Ability to innovate and very good attention to detail
- Strong communication, marketing and relationship skills
