Jay Rahman is part of the Client Services team at Finalto’s London office. We spoke with Jay about a day in the life of a Trading Solutions Analyst, from working with cutting-edge technology to offering proactive support and helping investors navigate challenges.
Tell me a bit about your background and how you came to work at Finalto
I began my career in retail banking, gaining valuable experience in both front and back-office roles, with a strong focus on KYC, AML, and Payments in a highly regulated environment. Over the past four years, I transitioned into the retail trading sector, where I held roles in both operations and client-facing positions. This experience provided me with a diverse skill set and deep insight into the nuances of the trading space.
More recently, I made the move to Finalto, which, as an institutional trading house, marked a significant shift in my career. The transition has been both exciting and challenging, offering a unique opportunity to leverage my previous experience while adapting to the distinct dynamics of institutional trading.
What does your day to day look like?
Every day at Finalto brings new challenges and opportunities. Much like the markets themselves, our roles are always evolving. Whether we’re addressing client trade issues or streamlining internal processes, there’s always something dynamic to focus on.
Our clients often have bespoke setups, so it’s crucial that we tailor our services to meet their unique needs. From monitoring systems and conducting trade investigations to serving as the first point of contact for clients, we play a pivotal role in ensuring a seamless experience. Ultimately, we’re not just providing a service, we’re representing the Finalto brand and embodying its values in every interaction.
What sets our client service team apart is our commitment to taking full ownership of every task and seeing it through to completion. We actively manage each cycle from start to finish. For instance, when a trade issue arises, we take the initiative to communicate directly with the client, thoroughly investigate the problem on our end, and then provide the client with a detailed resolution. This hands-on approach ensures that we’re not only solving problems but also building trust with our clients through transparency and follow-through.
Was there a steep learning curve?
At Finalto, one of the biggest challenges we faced was the sheer number of systems and providers we work with. In the trading technology sector, clients rely on a wide variety of third-party platforms for pricing and execution. We actively ensure that we are equipped to support all these platforms so we can deliver a bespoke service to each client.
There is a significant difference between the retail and institutional trading sectors, and I was initially surprised by the complexity of the technology involved.
By deploying advanced technology, we’re better positioned to provide clients with the best possible prices, while enabling us to manage our relationships with our network of liquidity providers. However, the tech naturally adds another layer of complexity. Fortunately, with the continued support of my colleagues, I was able to adapt quickly and deepen my understanding of the institutional landscape.
Do you ever work with other departments in the London office, or across Finalto’s other offices?
One of the greatest joys of working in Client Services is the opportunity to collaborate with nearly every team across the organisation. This exposure allows for continuous learning and growth, as I gain insights into various aspects of the business, from compliance and onboarding to working closely with liquidity and risk teams to ensure competitive pricing and the customisation of services for clients.
As part of a global organisation, our team operates 24/5. That means we’re always working in tandem with international teams in locations like Singapore, Europe, UAE and the US. This collaborative approach ensures that our clients receive a seamless service, no matter where they are, and that inquiries are handled efficiently, even through shift changes.
What are some of the common issues clients’ face?
Across financial markets, investors often encounter challenges in trade execution, such as slippage, pricing discrepancies, and delayed execution. At Finalto, we take best execution seriously, ensuring clients receive competitive pricing and trades are executed at the best possible price.
We address these challenges by leveraging top-tier liquidity providers, low-latency technology, and smart order routing to minimise slippage and ensure fast, reliable execution. Our dedicated team continuously monitors performance to maintain execution quality and respond quickly to any issues.
How do you anticipate client requests before they make them?
We monitor our systems closely to identify and mitigate risks quickly and efficiently. By proactively tracking errors, such as trade rejections, we can rapidly pinpoint the root cause of any issues.
Most client requests are market-driven. During periods of high volatility, we typically see an increase in price-related queries, and our team is well-prepared to respond swiftly and accurately.
And finally, you set a high sartorial standard for the office. Any advice for your colleagues?
When you look good, you feel good!
All opinions, news, research, analysis, prices or other information is provided as general market commentary and not as investment advice and all potential results discussed are not guaranteed to be achieved. The information may have been derived from publicly available sources, company reports, personal research, or surveys. Past performance is not indicative of future performance. Trading carries risk of capital loss. Service available to professional clients only.
