At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead NALA's FX trading desk, managing risk and driving pricing excellence.
- Company: Join a fast-growing fintech startup revolutionising global payments.
- Benefits: Enjoy 27 days off, birthday leave, and a $1000 learning budget.
- Other info: Dynamic team culture with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in frontier markets and shape the future of payments.
- Qualifications: 7+ years in FX trading with expertise in African markets.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
About Us
NALA is building Payments for the Next Billion. Faster, smarter, and fairer transfers for everyone. Since 2022, we've grown our business 120x, grown the team from 9 to 150+, raised $50M+ from top-tier investors, and were named to the Forbes Fintech 50 in 2025 & 2026.
We operate two core products:
- NALA, our consumer app, makes cross-border payments cheaper, faster and more reliable for the global diaspora — sending money from the UK, US and EU to Africa and Asia.
- Rafiki, our B2B payments infrastructure, is powering global payments for global giants like MoneyGram & Western Union.
Our team includes alumni from Wise, Stripe, Monzo, Revolut, and CashApp — operators who've scaled world-class products. We act with urgency, think deeply, and put our customers first, always. At NALA, this isn't just a job. It's ownership, impact, and the chance to change global payments forever. Join us in building Payments for the Next Billion.
Your Mission
This is not a conventional trading seat. As the Senior FX Trading Lead, your mission is to own and evolve NALA's FX trading capabilities across frontier markets - turning liquidity access into a durable competitive advantage. You'll be working in opaque, relationship-driven markets: wide spreads, capital controls, imperfect data, and currencies that don't trade on a screen. Liquidity here is something you source, not something you click.
You will lead the strategy and execution of our trading desk, managing risk, driving pricing excellence, and ensuring we deliver the best rates and deepest liquidity for both our consumer and B2B clients at scale. If you've built your career on tight G10 spreads, this probably isn't the role for you. If you thrive in markets where judgement, relationships, and market feel matter more than algos and order books - read on.
Your Responsibilities in this Role
- Own the Trading Desk: Lead the day-to-day operation of NALA's FX trading function, setting the standard for execution quality, pricing discipline, and risk management across all currency corridors.
- P&L Ownership: Take full accountability for the FX trading margin. Actively manage the spread between liquidity sources - banks, non-bank financial institutions, and parallel markets - and client-facing rates to maximise profitability.
- Risk & Exposure Management: Design and implement sophisticated hedging strategies to protect the business against volatility in frontier and emerging markets, while keeping client pricing sharp and competitive.
- Liquidity Strategy: Identify, onboard, and manage relationships with liquidity providers across African and Asian markets - sourcing directly from LPs through calls, relationships, and counterparty networks. Diversify sources to improve pricing, resilience, and execution speed.
- Product & Automation Partnership: Work closely with Engineering and Product to build and refine automated pricing engines and trading workflows, scaling the desk's capabilities without scaling headcount linearly.
- Market Intelligence: Serve as the internal authority on FX market dynamics - parallel vs. official rates, central bank policy shifts, corridor-level liquidity conditions - translating insight into actionable pricing and risk decisions.
- Leadership & Team Development: Mentor and develop a high-performing trading team, fostering a culture of commercial urgency, rigorous thinking, and continuous improvement.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Finance, Compliance, and Product to ensure trading activity is aligned with regulatory requirements, treasury policy, and business objectives.
Must-Have Requirements
- Frontier Market Mastery: Expert-level knowledge of African FX markets - illiquid currencies, parallel market dynamics, capital controls, and the regulatory nuances that affect execution and settlement. This is the non-negotiable. EM experience outside Africa will be considered, but African corridor experience is strongly preferred.
- Senior Trading Experience: 7+ years in FX trading, with a proven track record managing a trading book or leading a desk. Critically, experience in markets where liquidity is relationship-driven and off-screen, not just executable via Bloomberg or a prime broker.
- P&L Management: Direct experience owning a revenue or margin target, with the judgement to balance risk and reward under volatile, illiquid conditions.
- Risk Framework Expertise: Demonstrated ability to design and manage hedging strategies and exposure limits that protect the business without sacrificing competitiveness - particularly in markets where standard instruments don't exist or are inaccessible.
- Relationship-Driven Liquidity: Proven ability to source liquidity directly - working a counterparty network, building LP relationships from scratch, and operating in markets where your contacts matter as much as your pricing model.
- Extreme Ownership: A startup-ready mindset - you identify gaps, build the infrastructure to fill them, and operate with urgency and accountability rather than waiting for direction.
- Stakeholder Communication: The ability to translate complex FX dynamics into clear, actionable insight for non-specialist audiences including senior leadership, product, and clients.
Nice-to-Have Requirements
- Deep Market Network: An established network of liquidity providers, central bank contacts, and counterparties across Africa and Asia that can be activated quickly.
- Tech-Forward Approach: Experience with automated trading systems, API-driven pricing engines, or alternative settlement rails such as stablecoins (USDC/USDT) as a liquidity tool.
- Payments Context: Prior experience in a cross-border payments or remittance business, with an understanding of how FX interacts with payment flows, compliance, and customer experience.
- Advanced Credentials: CFA, ACI Dealing Certificate, or a Master's degree in a quantitative financial field.
Success in the Role Looks Like
- 3-Month Metrics: Full ownership of the FX trading book established, with clear margin targets set and tracked weekly. Existing liquidity provider relationships audited and a prioritised plan to deepen or diversify coverage across key corridors delivered to leadership. Initial assessment of pricing engine gaps completed, with a roadmap for automation improvements agreed with Engineering and Product. Risk framework reviewed and any critical exposure gaps addressed with interim hedging measures.
- 6-Month Metrics: Measurable improvement in FX margin performance versus baseline, with clear attribution to pricing, liquidity, or process improvements. At least two new liquidity provider relationships activated, improving depth or competitiveness in priority corridors. Automated pricing workflows live for at least one high-volume corridor, reducing manual intervention and improving execution speed. A high-performing trading team in place, with clear roles, development plans, and a culture of commercial rigour embedded.
Interview Process
- [30 mins] Interview with the Hiring Manager — In this stage we want to get to know you a bit more and follow up on your experience and motivations.
- [60 mins] Problem-Solving Interview — a role-specific problem-solving exercise.
- [60 mins] Bar Raiser Interview — a final conversation focused on your track record, ambition and fit.
Benefits
- 27 Days Off Plus UK Bank Holidays: Take the time to decompress. Working at a startup is hard!
- Birthday Leave: Celebrate your special day with a bonus day off that month.
- Enhanced Parental Leave: 16 weeks of full pay for the primary caregiver and 4 weeks for the secondary caregiver (after a 6-month probationary period).
- Enhanced Pension: Salary sacrifice pension scheme via Penfold.
- Global Workspace: Access to WeWork locations worldwide.
- Learning Budget: $1000 annually for learning and development.
- Sarabi: Themed snacks and Friday lunch focused on building great working relationships.
- Monthly Socials: Fun social events every month.
- Free Coffee: Barista-style coffee at your fingertips.
Senior FX Sales & Trading Lead in London employer: Nala
Join a forward-thinking FE college that prioritises innovation and excellence in education. With a supportive work culture, ample opportunities for professional development, and a commitment to quality improvement, this role as Curriculum Administrator offers a chance to make a meaningful impact in the Health & Social Care sector. Located in a vibrant community, you'll enjoy a collaborative environment where your contributions are valued and recognised.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior FX Sales & Trading Lead in London
✨Tap into Campus Networks
If you're still in uni, don’t forget to engage with your campus's career services and attend finance-related events. Banks often do presentations and recruitment drives on campus, so put yourself out there and make use of these opportunities to show off your passion for the field.
✨Get Certified
Consider pursuing relevant certifications like the CFA or ACCA while you’re job hunting. They not only beef up your CV but also connect you with professional bodies which can lead to networking opportunities and even job openings in banking and financial services.
✨Connect on Professional Platforms
Join finance-focused groups on platforms like LinkedIn and engage in discussions. This can really help you stand out from the crowd, allowing potential employers to see your knowledge and interest in industry trends. Plus, you might stumble upon job postings shared exclusively within the group.
✨Apply Directly and Be Proactive
Don’t shy away from reaching out directly to firms like Nala. Use their websites and apply through them, but also consider following up with a polite email to express your enthusiasm. Being proactive can make a huge difference in getting noticed in the competitive financial services sector.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior FX Sales & Trading Lead in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Numbers!:In the banking and financial services world, quantifiable achievements are key. Make sure your CV highlights your grades in relevant subjects, any financial certifications you hold, and specific projects where you've delivered measurable results. Employers love to see how your skills translate into real-world success.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Role:When applying for a full-time position, your cover letter should make a direct connection between your experience and the job description. Don't just state your enthusiasm for finance—dive into how your background in banking or financial analysis sets you apart. Let your passion shine through while being specific about what you can bring to Nala.
Include Relevant Financial Software Experience:If you've worked with financial modelling tools or software like Excel, SAP, or specific analytical tools during your studies or internships, bring that up! Highlighting your proficiency can really make your application pop and show you're ready to hit the ground running in a full-time role.
Research and Reflect:Before hitting that 'apply' button on Nala's website, do a little digging. Look up their recent projects, values, and culture. Reflecting their ethos in your application can make a huge difference and show you’re genuinely interested in being part of the team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Nala
✨Brush Up on Financial Analysis Skills
Make sure you're well-versed in financial concepts and analytical techniques relevant to banking and financial services. Get comfortable with tools like Excel for modelling or financial forecasting, as technical questions in this area are common during interviews with Nala.
✨Prepare for Case Studies
Expect to tackle case studies that demonstrate your problem-solving skills in real-world banking scenarios. Familiarise yourself with the types of problems you might face—think risk assessments or investment evaluations—and be ready to articulate your thought process clearly.
✨Show Your Passion for Finance
Since this is a full-time position, employers at Nala will be keen to see your genuine interest in finance. Be prepared to discuss recent industry trends or news articles that excite you, showcasing your enthusiasm and engagement with the field.
✨Network with Industry Professionals
Before your interview, reach out to current or former Nala employees on platforms like LinkedIn. They'll offer unique insights into the company's culture and the interview process, which can give us a delightful edge in showcasing a good fit for the team.
