SALES AGENT, SECURITIES AND COMMODITIES

Job Definition:

Job Description:

• Buy and sell securities in investment and trading firms and develop and implement financial plans for individuals, businesses, and organizations.

Duties and Tasks:

• 1) Develop financial plans based on analysis of clients’ financial status, and discuss financial options with clients.
• 2) Relay buy or sell orders to securities exchanges or to firm trading departments.
• 3) Record transactions accurately, and keep clients informed about transactions.
• 4) Analyze market conditions in order to determine optimum times to execute securities transactions.
• 5) Review financial periodicals, stock and bond reports, business publications and other material in order to identify potential investments for clients and to keep abreast of trends affecting market conditions.
• 6) Read corporate reports and calculate ratios to determine best prospects for profit on stock purchases and to monitor client accounts.
• 7) Interview clients to determine clients’ assets, liabilities, cash flow, insurance coverage, tax status, and financial objectives.
• 8) Review all securities transactions to ensure accuracy of information and that trades conform to regulations of governing agencies.
• 9) Prepare documents needed to implement plans selected by clients.
• 10) Complete sales order tickets and submit for processing of client requested transactions.
• 11) Inform and advise concerned parties regarding fluctuations and securities transactions affecting plans or accounts.
• 12) Prepare financial reports to monitor client or corporate finances.
• 13) Identify potential clients, using advertising campaigns, mailing lists, and personal contacts.
• 14) Contact prospective customers to determine customer needs, present information, and explain available services.
• 15) Explain stock market terms and trading practices to clients.
• 16) Offer advice on the purchase or sale of particular securities.
• 17) Supply the latest price quotes on any security, as well as information on the activities and financial positions of the corporations issuing these securities.
• 18) Calculate costs for billings and commissions purposes.

Activities:

• 1) Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• 2) Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• 3) Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• 4) Provide Consultation and Advice to Others — Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
• 5) Analyzing Data or Information — Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• 6) Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People — Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
• 7) Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• 8) Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• 9) Communicating with Persons Outside Organization — Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• 10) Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• 11) Monitoring and Controlling Resources — Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
• 12) Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information — Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
• 13) Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• 14) Selling or Influencing Others — Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
• 15) Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others — Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
• 16) Performing Administrative Activities — Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
• 17) Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• 18) Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• 19) Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• 20) Developing Objectives and Strategies — Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
• 21) Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Abilities:

• 1) Deductive Reasoning — The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
• 2) Oral Comprehension — The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• 3) Written Comprehension — The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• 4) Written Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
• 5) Oral Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• 6) Mathematical Reasoning — The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
• 7) Number Facility — The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
• 8) Near Vision — The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• 9) Speech Clarity — The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
• 10) Problem Sensitivity — The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
• 11) Inductive Reasoning — The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
• 12) Speech Recognition — The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
• 13) Fluency of Ideas — The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).

Knowledge

• Economics and Accounting — Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.