Application Support Analyst
3 days ago
City of London
French speaking Trading/front office environment 3/4 years experience Contractor £300 - £350pd inside IR35 Location: London / European Office Department: Front Office IT / Trading Support Reporting to: Head of Application Support / Trading IT Lead ⸻ Role Overview We are seeking a highly motivated Application Support Analyst to join our Front Office IT team within a leading European bank. The successful candidate will provide day-to-day support to traders and front office users, ensuring the stability, performance, and reliability of trading applications. This role requires a strong combination of technical expertise and functional understanding of financial markets, particularly in a fast-paced trading environment. ⸻ Key Responsibilities Front Office Support • Provide real-time support to traders, sales, and front office users, • Act as the first point of contact for trading-related application issues, • Ensure minimal disruption to trading activities by resolving incidents quickly Incident & Problem Management • Monitor trading systems and proactively identify issues, • Manage incidents in line with SLA/KPI targets, • Perform root cause analysis and implement long-term fixes, • Escalate critical issues appropriately and communicate effectively with stakeholders Application & System Support • Support a range of trading applications (OMS, EMS, pricing tools, risk systems), • Troubleshoot issues across:, • Trade lifecycle (capture, validation, booking), • Market data feeds, • Pricing and risk calculations, • Perform application deployments, releases, and environment checks Technical Support • Analyse logs, system performance, and data flows, • Work with technologies such as:, • SQL / databases (Oracle, SQL Server, etc.), • Linux/Unix and/or Windows environments, • Scripting (Python, Shell, PowerShell), • Interface with infrastructure teams (network, cloud, middleware) Business Interaction • Build strong relationships with traders and desk heads, • Translate business issues into technical solutions, • Provide functional guidance on system usage and workflows Continuous Improvement • Identify opportunities to automate repetitive tasks, • Improve monitoring, alerting, and documentation, • Contribute to system enhancements and projects ⸻ Required Skills & Experience Technical Skills • Strong knowledge of:, • SQL (query writing, data analysis), • Linux/Unix commands, • Scripting (Python, Shell, or similar), • Understanding of system architecture (APIs, messaging, batch processes), • Experience with monitoring tools (e.g., Geneos, Splunk, AppDynamics) Functional / Business Knowledge • Solid understanding of:, • Financial markets (Equities, Fixed Income, FX, or Derivatives), • Trade lifecycle, • Front office workflows, • Experience supporting trading desks is highly desirable Soft Skills • Excellent communication skills (ability to interact with traders under pressure), • Strong problem-solving and analytical mindset, • Ability to work in a high-pressure, real-time environment, • Proactive and ownership-driven attitude ⸻ Education & Experience • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Finance, Computer Science, Engineering, or related field, • 2–5+ years experience in Application Support within a financial institution, • Experience in a Front Office / Trading floor environment is essential ⸻ Nice to Have • Knowledge of:, • FIX protocol, • Market data platforms (Bloomberg, Reuters), • DevOps tools / CI-CD pipelines, • Prior experience in investment banking or asset management