Quantitative Analyst Job Description Template

The quantitative analyst applies statistical and mathematical methods to trading, pricing and risk problems. The remit varies by firm, spanning strategy analysis, model implementation, pricing support and portfolio analytics, but the common thread is turning a financial question into something that can be measured. It is a role that rewards precision and the willingness to chase a discrepancy until its cause is understood.

Typical Duties and Responsibilities

• Build and maintain quantitative models supporting trading and risk decisions
• Analyze strategy performance, attribution and exposure
• Develop pricing and valuation tools for the instruments the firm trades
• Investigate anomalies in profit and loss, pricing or risk output
• Prepare analytics and reporting for portfolio managers and traders
• Validate data sources and monitor their ongoing quality
• Support model documentation and internal review requirements
• Automate recurring analysis to reduce manual work
• Collaborate with developers on production implementations
• Research improvements to existing models and quantify the benefit

Education

• Master’s degree in a quantitative field, or a Bachelor’s degree with equivalent experience

Required Skills and Experience

• 2+ years in a quantitative role in finance
• Strong mathematics, statistics and numerical methods
• Proficiency with Python and SQL
• Understanding of derivatives pricing or portfolio analytics depending on focus
• Ability to trace a numerical discrepancy to its source
• Clear communication of technical results to non technical colleagues
• Careful documentation of assumptions and limitations
• Comfort working alongside traders under time pressure

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with C++ or another compiled language
• Knowledge of stochastic calculus and derivatives theory