Navigating the dynamic world of trading and financial markets requires a clear understanding of the various roles that drive success. From front-office traders and dealers to mid-office risk analysts and back-office operations specialists, each function plays a vital role in ensuring seamless market activity and client satisfaction.
This page is designed to give you an inside look at the key functions within the trading and brokerage industry, including their daily responsibilities, essential tools, required certifications, and typical career progression paths. Whether you’re just starting out or aiming to advance your career, this guide will help you align your skills and interests with the right opportunities.
Explore the detailed table below to learn about:
- Front-office, mid-office, and back-office functions.
- Daily workflows and typical responsibilities.
- The platforms and software professionals rely on.
- Certifications and skills that employers value most.
- Real-world career progression examples from entry-level to advanced positions.
Use this roadmap to plan your journey confidently and make informed decisions about your future in the trading and financial industry.
- Junior Dealer
- Junior Trader
- Junior Funding Officer
- Junior Payments/Processing Officer
- Junior Trading Platform Administrator
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| Job Title | Junior Dealer |
|---|---|
| Department | Trading / Risk Management |
| Experience | Entry-Level (0-2 years) |
| Education | Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Economics, Mathematics, or a related field |
| Technical Skills | Proficiency in MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) Understanding of financial systems and trading tools Experience with trade analysis and identifying trading patterns Ability to monitor and manage trading platforms Knowledge of liquidity providers and corporate actions (e.g., dividends) Strong data analysis and reporting skills Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) |
| Soft Skills | Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities High attention to detail and professionalism Ability to handle sensitive information securely Strong communication and collaboration skills Proactive mindset with the ability to meet deadlines Ability to work in a high-pressure environment |
| Additional Certifications | CySEC Basic or Advanced Certificate (Mandatory) |
| Duties and Responsibilities | Assist in the management and maintenance of trading platforms, ensuring configurations are updated and system issues are promptly resolved Support investigations related to platform and system issues, collaborating with internal teams for smooth operations Liaise with liquidity providers to perform tests, investigate trades, and manage corporate actions such as dividends Administer trade analysis to detect suspect trading patterns and ensure proper trade execution Prepare reports and extract data as needed for internal and external use Assist in creating internal procedures and client manuals, ensuring documentation is properly maintained Ensure that trading systems and operations comply with internal policies and regulatory requirements |
| Client Interaction Level | Low to Moderate (primarily internal teams and liquidity providers) |
| Job Title | Junior Trader |
|---|---|
| Department | Proprietary Trading |
| Experience | 0-2 years (Performance-Based Entry Role) |
| Education | |
| Technical Skills | Strong market analysis and risk management understanding Ability to develop and execute trading strategies in futures markets Quantitative analysis skills for researching and optimizing trading strategies Programming languages (Python, R, C++, or similar) are desirable Strong Excel proficiency is ideal Trading experience (futures, options, or CFDs) highly recommended |
| Soft Skills | Highly committed, hungry, and driven to succeed in proprietary trading Ability to handle high-pressure environments and maintain focus Willingness to be challenged in a transparent and collaborative team setting Strong adaptability and ability to push beyond comfort zones daily Openness to constructive feedback and a fast-learning attitude Resilience and ability to recover quickly from setbacks Demonstrated discipline and commitment through sports, chess, gaming, or other high-performance pursuits |
| Additional Certifications | |
| Duties and Responsibilities | Build and develop daily trading skills, including planning, executing, and refining trading strategies in the futures markets Analyze market conditions and trends continuously to stay informed of opportunities Perform quantitative research to enhance and develop new trading strategies Follow Axia’s proprietary courses and learning methodologies to improve trading performance Collaborate with other traders to accelerate the learning curve and gain insights Attempt the funding trial to qualify as an Axia-funded trader Maintain discipline and resilience, understanding that the first two years may not generate earnings but are crucial for skill development |
| Client Interaction Level | Low (primarily internal collaboration with other traders and mentors) |
| Job Title | Junior Funding Officer |
|---|---|
| Department | Payments & Finance |
| Experience | No prior experience required (Training provided) |
| Education | Diploma in any field |
| Technical Skills | Basic knowledge of Microsoft Excel and Word Familiarity with payment systems (SWIFT, SEPA, Credit Cards, Wallets) Understanding of transaction reconciliation and payment processing Ability to liaise with bankers and payment service providers Strong attention to detail in handling financial transactions |
| Soft Skills | Strong time management skills Ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks efficiently Positive and solution-oriented mindset Ability to thrive under pressure and meet deadlines High integrity and a strong sense of responsibility Good communication and collaboration skills |
| Additional Certifications | |
| Duties and Responsibilities | Process transactions and prepare payments via SWIFT, SEPA, Credit Cards, and Wallets Collaborate with Sales, Support, and Compliance teams to ensure smooth financial operations Handle internal and external vendor correspondence and provide support to colleagues Reconcile transactions and investigate discrepancies Liaise with bankers and payment service providers for efficient payment processing Manage urgent and manual payment requests as needed Perform monthly and yearly closing activities for financial reporting Assist with audits by providing necessary supporting documentation |
| Client Interaction Level | Low to Moderate (internal collaboration with Sales, Compliance, and banking/payment providers) |
| Job Title | Junior Payments/Processing Officer |
|---|---|
| Department | Payments / Finance |
| Experience | Not specified (entry-level, relevant experience in payments or finance is an advantage) |
| Education | Not specified, but a degree in Finance, Business, Accounting, or a related field would be beneficial |
| Technical Skills | Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Word Experience with CRM systems for updating payment information (preferred) Knowledge of Payment Service Providers (PSPs) and banking operations (advantageous) Understanding of payment processing and financial transactions |
| Soft Skills | Strong attention to detail and accuracy Ability to multitask and prioritize tasks efficiently Strong problem-solving and analytical skills Effective communication and collaboration with internal teams and external payment providers Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment |
| Additional Certifications | Not required but relevant financial certifications may be beneficial |
| Duties and Responsibilities | Monitor deposits to ensure accuracy and timely processing Liaise with banks and third-party payment providers for payment execution and issue resolution Ensure all payment transactions (withdrawals) are processed accurately and on time Update CRM systems with relevant payment details to maintain transaction accuracy Review payment documents for compliance and correctness Prepare financial and transaction reports as requested by management Collaborate with internal teams to support smooth payment operations Build and maintain relationships with banks and PSPs to ensure efficient transaction processing |
| Client Interaction Level | Moderate (coordination with banks, PSPs, and internal departments) |
| Job Title | Junior Trading Platform Administrator |
|---|---|
| Department | Trading Infrastructure / IT Support |
| Experience | Minimum 6-10 months of relevant work experience |
| Education | Not explicitly mentioned, but a degree in Finance, IT, Computer Science, or a related field would be beneficial |
| Technical Skills | Experience with trading platforms administration (MT4/MT5) Understanding of trading infrastructure, security, and failover setups Knowledge of bridge configurations (OneZero, PrimeXM, T4B, FXCubic) Familiarity with SQL queries (advantageous) Understanding of the Forex market and trade execution Ability to troubleshoot system issues and provide technical support for users Experience in configuring trading servers, symbols, groups, and gateways Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, Outlook) |
| Soft Skills | Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting skills Ability to work independently and prioritize tasks Excellent organizational skills with a proactive and efficient mindset Strong numerical and analytical skills Ability to adapt to a fast-paced and regulated environment Strong verbal and written communication skills in English |
| Additional Certifications | |
| Duties and Responsibilities | Ensure the continuous operation and performance of the company’s trading servers and systems Set up and maintain new and existing financial products on the trading platform Troubleshoot system issues and provide technical support to internal users Work closely with the risk team to resolve issues related to the trading platforms Apply best practices for trading infrastructure setup, ensuring security and failover mechanisms are in place Liaise with the IT department to resolve technical issues related to trading platforms Perform MT4 and MT5 configurations, including server settings, symbols, and groups Configure and maintain trading bridges (OneZero, PrimeXM, T4B, FXCubic) Monitor and improve trading environment performance, ensuring reliability and efficiency Test, integrate, and support third-party and in-house software tools and plugins for MQ native systems Assist other departments with technical questions and provide solutions Ensure all technical support tickets related to the trading platform are answered and resolved efficiently |
| Client Interaction Level | Low to Moderate (internal teams, risk management, and IT department collaboration) |
| Job Title | Junior Trading Platform Administrator |
|---|---|
| Department | Trading Infrastructure / IT Support |
| Experience | Minimum 6-10 months of relevant work experience |
| Education | Not explicitly mentioned, but a degree in Finance, IT, Computer Science, or a related field would be beneficial |
| Technical Skills | Experience with trading platforms administration (MT4/MT5) Understanding of trading infrastructure, security, and failover setups Knowledge of bridge configurations (OneZero, PrimeXM, T4B, FXCubic) Familiarity with SQL queries (advantageous) Understanding of the Forex market and trade execution Ability to troubleshoot system issues and provide technical support for users Experience in configuring trading servers, symbols, groups, and gateways Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, Outlook) |
| Soft Skills | Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting skills Ability to work independently and prioritize tasks Excellent organizational skills with a proactive and efficient mindset Strong numerical and analytical skills Ability to adapt to a fast-paced and regulated environment Strong verbal and written communication skills in English |
| Additional Certifications | |
| Duties and Responsibilities | Ensure the continuous operation and performance of the company’s trading servers and systems Set up and maintain new and existing financial products on the trading platform Troubleshoot system issues and provide technical support to internal users Work closely with the risk team to resolve issues related to the trading platforms Apply best practices for trading infrastructure setup, ensuring security and failover mechanisms are in place Liaise with the IT department to resolve technical issues related to trading platforms Perform MT4 and MT5 configurations, including server settings, symbols, and groups Configure and maintain trading bridges (OneZero, PrimeXM, T4B, FXCubic) Monitor and improve trading environment performance, ensuring reliability and efficiency Test, integrate, and support third-party and in-house software tools and plugins for MQ native systems Assist other departments with technical questions and provide solutions Ensure all technical support tickets related to the trading platform are answered and resolved efficiently |
| Client Interaction Level | Low to Moderate (internal teams, risk management, and IT department collaboration) |