GBM Public, Rates Trader, Analyst/Associate, Johannesburg Johannesburg · South Africa · Associate

Global Markets

Our core value is building strong relationships with our institutional clients, which include corporations, financial institutions, governments, asset managers and hedge funds. We help them buy and sell financial products, raise funding and manage risk across global markets. This is a dynamic, entrepreneurial team with a passion for financial markets, comprising individuals who thrive in fast‑paced environments and are energized by the challenges and opportunities presented by a trading floor.

At Goldman Sachs, our culture is one of teamwork, innovation and meritocracy. We believe our people are our greatest asset and are committed to supporting their professional and personal development through a collaborative and inclusive environment.

Business Unit Overview

The Rates Trading desk is responsible for market making and risk management across a broad range of ZAR denominated fixed income and interest rate products, including government bonds, interest rate swaps and other derivatives. Traders on the desk work closely with Sales, Research, Structuring and global Emerging Markets trading teams to provide liquidity to institutional clients, manage market risk and capitalize on opportunities arising from macroeconomic developments, monetary policy decisions and market flows.

Your Impact

We are seeking a highly motivated and analytically driven individual to join our Emerging Markets Rates Trading team with a focus on South African markets. The successful candidate will work alongside experienced traders to support market making, risk management and client activity across a range of South African fixed income and interest rate products.

This role offers the opportunity to gain exposure to financial markets, trading strategy, risk management and client flow within a fast‑paced and collaborative trading environment.

How You Will Fulfil Your Potential

• Support market making activities across South African Rates products, including government bonds, interest rate swaps (IRS), forward rate agreements (FRAs), FX swaps and cross‑currency swaps.
• Assist in the management and monitoring of trading risk, exposures and hedging activities across the rates portfolio.
• Execute trades under the supervision of senior traders while ensuring adherence to trading limits and risk parameters.
• Monitor market developments, economic data releases, inflation trends and South African Reserve Bank announcements to identify risks and opportunities.
• Analyse market flows, investor positioning and trading activity to support pricing and risk‑taking decisions.
• Prepare daily profit and loss reports, risk dashboards and market commentary for internal stakeholders.
• Develop expertise in pricing, valuation and risk management of fixed income and derivatives products.
• Work closely with Sales, Research, Structuring, Operations and Risk teams to support client engagement and business growth.
• Contribute to the development of trading tools, automation initiatives and analytics designed to enhance desk performance and efficiency.
• Support client activity through market analysis, trade execution and the delivery of market insights.
• Maintain a strong understanding of local fixed income markets, monetary policy and macroeconomic developments impacting South Africa.
• Ensure all activities are conducted in accordance with regulatory requirements, internal policies and risk management standards.

Skills & Experience We're Looking For

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, Mathematics, Engineering, Physics, Computer Science or a related quantitative discipline.
• Strong interest in financial markets, macroeconomics and trading.
• Excellent analytical, quantitative and problem‑solving skills.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively within a team environment.

Preferred Experience

• Experience within a Markets Operations, Trade Support or Middle Office function, with a strong understanding of the trade lifecycle and a demonstrated interest in transitioning into a front office trading role.
• Knowledge of fixed income products, interest rate markets and derivative instruments.
• Familiarity with South African financial markets and macroeconomic drivers.
• Experience working with market data, analytics and quantitative models.

Key Attributes

• Intellectual curiosity and a genuine passion for financial markets.
• Strong commercial awareness and understanding of market dynamics.
• Ability to perform under pressure and make decisions in a dynamic environment.
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