Officer, Global Markets Operations
Standard Bank
Quick Take
Execute and reconcile foreign exchange, fixed income, and money market transactions in Standard Bank's Treasury back-office, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timely settlement across Kenya and South Sudan operations.
1–3 years of banking experience with at least one year in Global Markets Operations or Treasury back-office, advanced Excel proficiency, and demonstrated ability to resolve settlement breaks and regulatory reporting.
Competitive salary (KES 120–200k/mo), high-impact role at a major African bank, rapid skill development in financial markets operations, and clear visibility into regulatory and compliance best practices.
Job Description
Standard Bank is seeking a detail-oriented and technically proficient Officer, Global Markets Operations to join its Treasury back-office team supporting operations across Kenya and South Sudan. Reporting to the Team Leader and Manager, Treasury Operations, this role is central to the smooth execution of financial market transactions, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timeliness across all settlement and operational activities.
This is a high-impact position within a fast-paced banking environment, requiring a professional who thrives under pressure, demonstrates strong process discipline, and understands the nuances of global markets operations. The successful candidate will play a key role in safeguarding operational integrity and supporting the bank's regulatory obligations.
- Execute accurate and timely settlement of financial market transactions including foreign exchange, money markets, and fixed income instruments.
- Perform deal confirmations with precision, ensuring all trade details are verified and matched against counterparty instructions.
- Manage exception item reconciliations, identifying discrepancies and escalating unresolved items within defined timelines.
- Maintain comprehensive and audit-ready documentation for all transactions, ensuring full compliance with internal controls and external regulatory requirements.
- Oversee timely regulatory reporting in alignment with Central Bank of Kenya statutory requirements and internal Standard Bank Group policies.
- Monitor and manage operational risk within the Treasury back-office, flagging potential control breaches and implementing corrective actions.
- Liaise with front-office traders, counterparties, custodians, and correspondent banks to resolve settlement queries and discrepancies.
- Support continuous process improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency and reduce operational risk exposure.
- Maintain and update standing settlement instructions (SSIs) and ensure data integrity within treasury management systems.
- 2–3 years of banking experience, with at least one year directly in Global Markets Operations or a Treasury back-office function.
- Demonstrated ability to process and confirm trades across multiple financial instruments including FX, bonds, and money market products.
- Proven track record of conducting exception-based reconciliations and resolving settlement breaks in a timely manner.
- Ability to interpret and apply regulatory reporting requirements in a Kenyan banking context, including CBK guidelines.
- Strong command of Microsoft Excel at an advanced level — including pivot tables, VLOOKUP, and data validation — to support reconciliation and reporting tasks.
- Ability to communicate clearly and concisely with internal stakeholders and external counterparties in high-pressure situations.
- Demonstrated understanding of basic accounting principles as applied to financial market transactions and nostro reconciliations.
- Ability to work collaboratively within a team structure while also managing individual responsibilities independently.
- Familiarity with treasury management systems and payment platforms used in back-office operations.
Standard Bank offers a competitive remuneration package commensurate with experience and seniority. Based on Kenyan market benchmarks for mid-level banking operations roles, the estimated monthly gross salary ranges between KES 120,000 – KES 200,000. The bank also provides a comprehensive benefits package typical of a Tier-1 financial institution.
- Medical insurance cover for employee and dependants
- Pension and provident fund contributions
- Performance-based annual bonus
- Professional development and training opportunities
This role is ideal for a banking professional with hands-on experience in Treasury or Global Markets back-office functions who is looking to deepen their expertise in a leading pan-African bank. You should be analytically sharp, process-driven, and comfortable operating within a highly regulated environment. Candidates with experience in settlement operations, trade confirmation, or regulatory reporting within a Kenyan or regional banking context are strongly encouraged to apply.
Please do not apply if you have no prior exposure to financial markets operations, if you are uncomfortable working with strict deadlines and compliance frameworks, or if you have fewer than two years of relevant banking experience. This is not an entry-level role.
- Visit the Standard Bank Group careers portal at careers.standardbank.com or the Standard Bank Kenya official website.
- Search for the role titled Officer, Global Markets Operations under Kenya opportunities.
- Submit your updated CV, a brief cover letter highlighting your relevant Treasury or Global Markets Operations experience, and copies of your academic and professional certificates.
- Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Standard Bank is an equal opportunity employer.
Requirements Breakdown
Must Have
- 2–3 years of banking experience with minimum 1 year in Global Markets Operations or Treasury back-office
- Proficiency in processing and confirming trades across FX, bonds, and money market instruments
- Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, VLOOKUP, data validation) for reconciliation and reporting
- Understanding of CBK regulatory requirements and financial market transaction accounting
- Ability to communicate clearly with internal and external stakeholders under pressure
Nice to Have
- Experience with treasury management systems and settlement instruction management
- Proven track record of leading process improvement initiatives in operations
- Familiarity with nostro account reconciliation and correspondent banking flows
- Knowledge of risk management and internal control frameworks in banking
Don't meet every requirement? Tailor your CV to close the gap →
Salary Context
Competitive mid-level salary for Officer, Global Markets Operations in Nairobi banking sector.
The KES 120–200k/mo range is standard for Treasury operations officers in Nairobi with 2–3 years' experience at Tier 1 banks. Progression is typically determined by technical mastery of settlement systems, regulatory acumen, and speed of issue resolution. Standard Bank's position as a major regional player suggests this salary sits at the market benchmark.
About Standard Bank
Standard Bank is one of Africa's largest banking groups with significant operations across East Africa, including a strong presence in Kenya. Known for institutional-grade treasury and markets operations, the bank serves major corporates, governments, and financial institutions. Working at Standard Bank offers exposure to sophisticated financial markets operations, world-class compliance frameworks, and career pathways within a Pan-African institution.
Likely Interview Questions
- 1
Walk us through a time when you identified a settlement break or exception item. How did you diagnose the issue and what was the outcome?
- 2
Describe your experience with regulatory reporting in a Kenyan banking context — which CBK requirements have you worked with directly?
- 3
Tell us about a process improvement initiative you've supported in a treasury or operations environment. What was the challenge, and what was the impact?
- 4
How do you prioritize and manage multiple settlement queries from front-office traders and external counterparties when working under tight deadlines?
- 5
What treasury management systems have you used, and how comfortable are you picking up new platforms quickly?
Application Tips
Quantify your operational impact: mention specific transaction volumes handled, settlement accuracy rates, or reduction in exception items — hiring managers want evidence of reliability.
Highlight regulatory exposure: explicitly reference any experience with CBK guidelines, AML/CFT compliance, or regulatory reporting — this role is fundamentally about safeguarding compliance.
Demonstrate Excel mastery: mention concrete examples of complex reconciliation tasks, data validation projects, or reporting dashboards you've built — this is a must-have skill and sets strong candidates apart.
Career Path
Roles that lead here
Where this leads
Skills & Keywords
Honest Assessment
Green Flags
- Role is at a Tier 1 African bank (Standard Bank Group) with clear regulatory oversight and international best practices — strong foundation for career growth.
- Explicit focus on process improvement and operational risk management — indicates the bank invests in people who think beyond day-to-day execution.
- Covers both Kenya and South Sudan operations — exposure to multiple regulatory regimes and market conditions increases skillset and marketability.
- Clear reporting line to Team Leader and Manager — structured support and defined advancement path typical of professional banking environments.
Watch Out
- Job description cuts off mid-sentence at the end of 'Required Skills & Experience' — full role expectations may not be clearly communicated; clarify with recruiter.
- Salary range is broad (KES 120–200k/mo, a 67% spread) — ensure clarity on what factors determine placement within the band during negotiation.
A Day in the Life
Your day starts by reviewing overnight settlement reports and flagging any failed trades or reconciliation mismatches — you liaise with the FX trading desk and correspondent banks to resolve a SWIFT mismatch before 10 a.m. By mid-morning, you're processing deal confirmations for a KES/USD trade, verifying counterparty instructions in the treasury management system, and updating standing settlement instructions. Afternoons involve running Excel-based reconciliations on nostro accounts, preparing CBK statutory reports, and attending a quick standup on a new process to reduce settlement breaks. You may also respond to an audit query about transaction documentation or escalate an unresolved exception to your Team Leader — pressure is steady but structured.
Frequently Asked Questions
What qualifications do I need to become an Officer, Global Markets Operations at Standard Bank?
You'll need 2–3 years of banking experience with at least 1 year directly in Global Markets Operations or Treasury back-office, advanced Excel skills, and a solid grasp of financial instruments (FX, bonds, money markets) and regulatory reporting. A secondary education minimum is standard; a diploma in finance or accounting is a strong asset but not always required.
Is this role remote or office-based?
The posting specifies Nairobi location and describes a fast-paced back-office environment requiring communication with traders, counterparties, and custodians — this is almost certainly office-based, though you should confirm working arrangements with the recruiter.
What is the salary for an Officer, Global Markets Operations at Standard Bank?
The posted salary range is KES 120,000–200,000 per month, depending on experience, technical proficiency, and where you sit within the band. This is competitive for a 2–3 year banking professional at a Tier 1 bank in Nairobi.
What are the career growth opportunities in this role?
From here, you can move into a Senior Officer or Team Leader position in Treasury Operations, shift toward risk or compliance roles, or transition into a broader operations management track. Standard Bank's Pan-African scale means internal mobility across Kenya and the region is possible for high performers.
Free Match Score
See how well you match this job
Upload your CV and get an instant AI score showing exactly how well your experience matches this Officer, Global Markets Operations role. Free, takes 30 seconds.
Get My Match Score — FreeNo credit card needed
Boost your chances
AI-tailored for: Officer, Global Markets Operations at Standard Bank