The job cuts come following Barclays' expansion of its investment-banking unit, spurred by the London-based bank's purchase of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc.'s North America operations in September 2008.
Barclays has increased its head count by several thousand in the past year, to 25,500, and cuts could raise questions about timing of the build-out.
Market activity slowed in the second quarter, affecting all investment banks. At Barclays Capital, revenue fell 15% in the second quarter from the first quarter and its cost-to-net-income ratio rose to 69% from 57% in the first quarter.
The person close to the matter said the back-office cuts are routine, and Barclays will continue to hire people for roles in the investment bank through the end of the year, especially in areas like equities.
At a half-year results presentation last week, investment-banking chief Robert E. Diamond Jr. said BarCap's expansion was on track.