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Merger Arbitrage Jobs (NOW HIRING)

The Risk Arbitrage Trader is a senior-level position responsible for overseeing a dedicated risk/merger arbitrage and event-driven trading book. This role involves managing book risk and capital ...

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Merger Arbitrage information

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$26K

$85.8K

$174.5K

How much do merger arbitrage jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 8, 2026, the average yearly pay for merger arbitrage in the United States is $85,774.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $52,000.00 and $104,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a merger arbitrage?

A Merger Arbitrage job involves analyzing and trading stocks of companies engaged in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) to exploit price inefficiencies. Professionals in this role assess deal risks, regulatory approvals, and market conditions to determine potential profits. They typically work at hedge funds, investment banks, or proprietary trading firms. The job requires strong financial modeling, research, and risk management skills to succeed in this specialized investment strategy.

What does a merger arbitrage do?

In a Merger Arbitrage role, daily responsibilities often include monitoring news and regulatory filings related to announced mergers and acquisitions, conducting risk/reward analysis for active deals, and building financial models to assess deal viability. You'll track deal timelines, analyze legal documents, and regularly communicate with colleagues in research, trading, and legal to stay updated on any changes affecting deals. Staying on top of market developments and adjusting positions accordingly are key aspects of the day-to-day work. This role is dynamic and requires strong attention to detail and an ability to react quickly to new information.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in merger arbitrage?

To excel in Merger Arbitrage, strong analytical skills, financial modeling abilities, and a thorough understanding of mergers and acquisitions are essential, typically supported by a degree in finance, economics, or a related field. Familiarity with Bloomberg Terminal, Excel, market research databases, and sometimes CFA certification is highly valued. Exceptional attention to detail, adaptability, and clear communication are crucial soft skills for evaluating deals and working within fast-paced investment teams. These skills and qualities ensure informed decision-making, risk management, and the ability to identify profitable opportunities in dynamic markets.

Is it hard to get a merger arbitrage job?

Merger arbitrage is a competitive field that typically requires strong analytical skills, a background in finance or economics, and experience with financial modeling. Entry-level positions can be challenging to secure due to limited openings and high qualification standards, but relevant internships and certifications can improve prospects.

What are the risks of merger arbitrage?

Merger arbitrage involves risks such as deal failure due to regulatory issues, financing problems, or unexpected market conditions, which can lead to significant losses. It also requires careful analysis of deal terms and timing, as market movements can impact profitability. Managing these risks often involves thorough due diligence and monitoring of deal developments.

What are the most commonly searched types of Merger Arbitrage jobs?

The most popular types of Merger Arbitrage jobs are:

What states have the most Merger Arbitrage jobs?

States with the most job openings for Merger Arbitrage jobs include:

Infographic showing various Merger Arbitrage job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 92% Full Time, 7% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $85,774 per year, or $41.2 per hour.

Risk Arbitrage Trader, Director

Citibank (Switzerland) AG

Manhattan, NY โ€ข On-site

$250/hr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 24 days ago


Key responsibilities

  • Actively manage and trade a senior-level Risk Arbitrage book focused on announced M&A transactions, equity stubs, spin-offs, and reorganizations.

  • Identify, analyze, and capture arbitrage spreads while optimizing execution timing and implement hedging strategies to mitigate risks.

  • Perform rigorous analysis of merger agreements, regulatory considerations, and shareholder dynamics to inform trading decisions.


Job description

## Risk Arbitrage Trader, DirectorApplyremote type: Hybridlocations: New York New York United Statestime type: Full timeposted on: Posted Todayjob requisition id: 26986544The **Risk Arbitrage Trader** is a senior-level position responsible for overseeing a dedicated risk/merger arbitrage and event-driven trading book. This role involves managing book risk and capital allocation in coordination with the broader Event-Driven and Global Markets teams.The overall objective of this role is to generate consistent, risk-adjusted revenues by trading announced corporate transactions (mergers, acquisitions, tender offers, spin-offs, and restructurings) while safeguarding the firm's capital. The Risk Arb Trader will coordinate with key internal stakeholdersโ€”including Research, Sales, and M&A Advisoryโ€”to develop and expand the firm's event-driven trading franchise and deliver superior execution and market insights to institutional clients.## Key Responsibilities:## ## Portfolio Management & Trading Execution* **Book Management:** Actively manage and trade a senior-level Risk Arbitrage book, executing long/short strategies primarily focused on announced M&A transactions, equity stubs, spin-offs, and other corporate reorganizations.* **Spread Capture:** Identify, analyze, and capture arbitrage spreads between target and acquirer securities (stock-for-stock, cash, or mixed-consideration deals) while optimizing execution timing.* **Hedging & Risk Mitigation:** Implement sophisticated hedging strategies using options, credit default swaps, equity derivatives, and index products to isolate deal-specific risks and mitigate market beta, interest rate, and currency exposures.* **Deal-Break Management:** Proactively manage tail-risk and potential deal-break scenarios, establishing disciplined stop-loss limits and exit protocols for high-risk transactions.## ## Research, Analysis & Idea Generation* **Transaction Analysis:** Perform rigorous fundamental, legal, and regulatory analysis of merger agreements, tender offer documents, and proxy statements. Evaluate key deal terms, including Material Adverse Effect (MAE) clauses, termination fees, and financing conditions.* **Regulatory & Antitrust Assessment:** Assess regulatory approval pathways, including Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) filings, European Commission reviews, CFIUS clearances, and other global antitrust or national security hurdles.* **Shareholder Dynamics:** Analyze shareholder bases, voting requirements, and activist investor involvement to gauge the probability of deal approval.* **Collaboration:** Partner closely with Event-Driven Research analysts to synthesize legal, regulatory, and financial inputs into actionable trading strategies.## ## Franchise Development & Client Engagement* **Client Coverage:** Build and maintain strong relationships with key institutional clients, including event-driven hedge funds, merger arbitrage funds, and multi-strategy asset managers.* **Market Intelligence:** Anticipate client demand, facilitate large block trades in arbitrage situations, and provide high-touch market color, flow analysis, and spread-pricing insights to the sales force and clients.* **Cross-Functional Coordination:** Coordinate with Sales, Research, Capital Markets, and Investment Banking to enhance the firm's overall event-driven franchise and capture market share in transaction-related flows.## ## Leadership, Governance & Controls* **Mentorship:** Manage, mentor, and develop junior traders and desk analysts, fostering a collaborative and high-performing desk environment.* **Control Partnership:** Work in close partnership with control functionsโ€”including Legal, Compliance, Market Risk, Credit Risk, Audit, and Financeโ€”to ensure a robust governance and control infrastructure.* **Responsible Finance:** Build and maintain a culture of responsible finance, good governance, strict expense discipline, and high ethical standards.* **Reputational Risk Management:** Appropriately assess the risk/reward of complex transactions, demonstrating proper consideration for the firmโ€™s reputation, safeguarding Citigroup, its clients, and its assets.* **Compliance Adherence:** Adhere to Citiโ€™s Code of Conduct, the Plan of Supervision for Global Markets, and all applicable local and international laws, rules, and regulations. Maintain all required regulatory registrations and licenses.Qualifications:* **Experience:** 10+ years of experience in trading, with a proven track record of at least 7โ€“10 years specifically managing a profitable **Risk Arbitrage / Merger Arbitrage** or Event-Driven trading book.* **Technical Expertise:** In-depth knowledge of corporate finance, M&A legal structures, securities law, and global regulatory/antitrust frameworks.* **Risk Management:** Proven history of disciplined risk management, including successful navigation of historical deal breaks, market drawdowns, and liquidity squeezes.* **Analytical Skills:** Advanced analytical, quantitative, and numerical competency. Ability to model complex deal spreads, option-implied probabilities, and multi-scenario payoff matrices.* **Communication:** Consistently demonstrates clear, concise, and persuasive written and verbal communication skills. Ability to articulate complex legal or regulatory situations and their trading implications.* **Interpersonal Skills:** Strong relationship-building skills to collaborate effectively with internal stakeholders (Sales, Research, Legal) and external institutional counterparties.* **Systems Knowledge:** Advanced proficiency in Bloomberg (specifically arbitrage and M&A functions like M&A, CACS), proprietary booking and risk management systems, and electronic trading protocols.## **Education:*** Bachelorโ€™s degree/University degree in Finance, Economics, Mathematics, Engineering, or a related quantitative field.* Masterโ€™s degree (MBA or quantitative finance) or professional designations (CFA, JD) highly preferred.------------------------------------------------------## **Job Family Group:**Institutional Trading------------------------------------------------------## **Job Family:**Trading------------------------------------------------------## **Time Type:**Full time------------------------------------------------------## **Primary Location:**New York New York United States------------------------------------------------------## **Primary Location Full Time Salary Range:**$200 000,00 - $300 000,00In addition to salary, Citiโ€™s offerings may also include, for eligible employees, discretionary and formulaic incentive and retention awards. Citi offers competitive employee benefits, including: medical, dental & vision coverage; 401(k); life, accident, and disability insurance; and wellness programs. Citi also offers paid time off packages, including planned time off (vacation), unplanned time off (sick leave), and paid holidays. For additional information regarding Citi employee benefits, please visit citibenefits.com. Available offerings may vary by jurisdiction, job level, and date of hire.------------------------------------------------------## **Most Relevant Skills**Please see the requirements listed above.------------------------------------------------------## **Other Relevant Skills**For complementary skills, please see above and/or contact the recruiter.------------------------------------------------------## **Anticipated Posting Close Date:**ago 19, 2026------------------------------------------------------## **Automated Processing and AI** We use automated processing, including artificial intelligence, for our legitimate business interests (or our reasonable and appropriate business purposes) to identify and align the candidate's skills and abilities with a specific job opening. Additionally, if you so choose, or consent, we can match your skills and abilities to other suitable roles at Citi.Importantly, all our hiring processes and decisions, including determining your suitability for a role, are conducted, checked, and decided by individuals. Our automated processing and AI do not involve relying on automatic or autonomous decision-making. Please refer to any Jurisdictional Considerations, with specific provisions for your country (where relevant) for further details.Illinois residents โ€“ AI Notice and Right------------------------------------------------------*Citi is an equal opportunity employer, and qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.**If you are a person with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation to use our search tools and/or apply for a career opportunity review Accessibility at Citi. View Citiโ€™s EEO Policy Statement and the Know Your Rights poster.* #J-18808-Ljbffr