Algorithmics is the world's leading provider of enterprise risk solutions. Financial organizations from around the world use Algorithmics' software, analytics and advisory services to help them make risk-aware business decisions, maximize shareholder value, and meet regulatory requirements. Supported by a global team of risk experts based in all major financial centers, Algorithmics offers proven, award-winning solutions for market, credit and operational risk, as well as collateral and capital management. Algorithmics is a member of the Fitch Group

The Department

The Algo Assist team based in London provides first- and second-level support to clients across EMEA using Algorithmics products in production. These clients have typically already been through the implementation cycle and have a good understanding of our software, risk management and IT in general.

The group also provides direct support to third-party integrators who may be implementing Algorithmics’ products at client sites or at their own offices.

The team comprises integration engineers, financial engineers, and post-implementation consultants, providing a balance of technical IT and financial modelling expertise. Support is provided via telephone and e-mail in the first instance, and by on-site visits if necessary. The team works closely with its counterparts in Johannesburg who provide first-level support directly to Algorithmics clients in South Africa.

Algo Assist EMEA is part of the wider global Algo Assist support function, with dedicated teams based in London, Vienna and New York, collectively offering 24x7 support availability.

Brief Summary and Responsibility

The key responsibility of the Integration Engineering in AlgoAssist is to establish and maintain strong working relationships with clients and integrators, providing a responsive and high-quality support service for technical questions relating to Algorithmics software.

The role is based around provision of technical solutions to client issues, but can also include delivering client training and ad hoc consulting on implementation projects. The work has a strong focus on technical, programming and general IT aspects.

Opportunities will be available to specialize in specific technical fields associated with Algorithmics’ products, and to become established as a local expert resource.

Also the profile includes a certain percentage of a project-based role delivering product specialist knowledge system implementations, internal projects and client support. This will focus on Algorithmics’ data and integration products and involve project analysis and definition, configuration, installation, data interfacing and consultancy to clients. Some aspects of the customisation involve a degree of involvement in code development, database configuration, data modelling and report generation.

Responsibilities

• Respond to incoming client support requests, and ensure that technical and IT issues raised are resolved promptly and to the client’s satisfaction. Issues can be resolved either in person or by delegating to specialist groups within Algorithmics, but in either case the Analyst is considered to “own” the issue until resolution.

• Follow up on referred enquiries to ensure that solutions are provided in a timely manner and to the client’s satisfaction.

• Ensure that client issues are properly logged and recorded.

• Provide technical product training in the London office and to clients.

• Provide consultancy to clients based on solid understanding of the Algo product suite and implementation requirements

• Undertake setup and configuration of the Algorithmics and third party products (database, middleware, reporting solutions) troubleshooting, testing (functional and volume) for original installation and system upgrades.

• Design and implement interfaces between client’s source systems and Algorithmics products. This will largely involve the Algorithmics’ data mapping tool and definition of data required from the client’s systems.

• Where appropriate deliver training via formal training courses and workshop sessions internally and to clients.

Essential Requirements:

• Degree (preferably numerate/technical) or equivalent • Proven ability to address and use initiative to deliver solutions to technical and business problems • Proven ability and desire to adapt to, learn and explore new technologies • Proven high degree of initiative and learning to work with complex software products with minimal supervision • Capacity to estimate, manage own work and keep within plan • Ability to work with competing demands in small multi-discipline teams • Sound documentation and communication skills in a client facing environment • At least 5 years in software or database systems development and/or support with experience of project life cycles and complex product installation, customisation and commissioning. (2-3 years for junior roles) • Familiarity with database essentials (SQL, installation, sizing, performance) Systems interfacing or data migration between systems with mapping tools or bespoke solutions. • Good hands on use of Unix commands / file systems and Unix application installation and shell scripting • Understanding of the financial market place (market data, fixed income products, derivatives) in terms of the underlying data. • Fluent English.

Required Technical Skills: • Hands-on experience of Unix (preferably Solaris or AIX) including shell scripting. • Hands-on experience of at least one of Visual Basic, Perl or C++. • Hands-on experience of a major RDBMS (preferably Sybase, Oracle or DB2), preferably to DBA level. • Ability to write and debug SQL queries.

Required Non-Technical Skills: • Ability to work under pressure and with competing priorities • Good communication skills • Good telephone manner, strong sense of ownership and client focus.

Desirable Skills / Experience: • Understanding of the financial market place (market data, fixed income products, derivatives) in terms of the underlying data. • Ability to speak one or more European languages. • Hands-on experience of Java. • Experience of middleware and messaging systems. • Familiarity with Risk Management concepts

NOTES:

There may be a requirement at times to work beyond normal office hours, in order to provide support cover to clients outside the region or to local clients outside normal hours.

There may be occasional travel to Algorithmics client sites in EMEA.

Algorithmics Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. It is Algorithmics’ policy to recruit and select applicants for employment solely on the basis of their qualifications, with emphasis on selecting the best-qualified person for the job. Algorithmics does not discriminate against applicants based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, or disability or any other status or condition protected by applicable law.