In-house ISDA/Derivatives Opportunity Questions
Posted: Mon Jul 29, 2019 2:46 pm
Hi everyone. I have an opportunity to join a financial services company assisting the derivatives desk and on-boarding investment managers. I currently work for a financial services company in a different area of finance and on different agreements. Although I have the ”soft skills” for this position, I have never worked with ISDAs before and have some questions. The potential position would come with a considerable increase in salary.
Some additional details are that the position would entail corporate governance, assisting with litigation management, and general contract work, which I have done. The new area for me would specifically be supporting the derivatives desk, including negotiating ISDAs, CSAs, and other derivative-related agreements. Although I have worked on a number of contracts and certainly have the “soft” skills for this responsibility, ISDAs and derivative documents would be a new area for me.
Can anyone offer any insight into a similar position? What’s your day-to-day like? Specially negotiating ISDAs? Do you negotiate the agreements yourself, or advise the business people/negotiators what terms are acceptable? What are the stressful parts of the job? How are your business partners and co-workers? Job prospects?
Some of the materials I have read said that working on ISDAs can be monotonous, but that doesn’t bother me. At this point I am more concerned with a reliable schedule, good work/life balance, and good business partners. I don’t mind learning something new due to the considerable salary increase, but would like a better understanding of what I would be getting myself into. I should add that I am in-house now and like my job, but am paid about 20% below market in a high COL area. Thank you.
Some additional details are that the position would entail corporate governance, assisting with litigation management, and general contract work, which I have done. The new area for me would specifically be supporting the derivatives desk, including negotiating ISDAs, CSAs, and other derivative-related agreements. Although I have worked on a number of contracts and certainly have the “soft” skills for this responsibility, ISDAs and derivative documents would be a new area for me.
Can anyone offer any insight into a similar position? What’s your day-to-day like? Specially negotiating ISDAs? Do you negotiate the agreements yourself, or advise the business people/negotiators what terms are acceptable? What are the stressful parts of the job? How are your business partners and co-workers? Job prospects?
Some of the materials I have read said that working on ISDAs can be monotonous, but that doesn’t bother me. At this point I am more concerned with a reliable schedule, good work/life balance, and good business partners. I don’t mind learning something new due to the considerable salary increase, but would like a better understanding of what I would be getting myself into. I should add that I am in-house now and like my job, but am paid about 20% below market in a high COL area. Thank you.
