Key Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Operations Leadership

• Define and execute the operations strategy across all markets, aligned with business growth objectives and regulatory requirements.
• Establish an operating model capable of supporting the launch of new markets, products, and client segments.
• Ensure operational readiness across platforms, processes, systems, and teams.
• Serve as the operational authority within the executive leadership team.
• Provide the Deputy CEO and senior management with clear, data-driven visibility into operational performance, risks, issues, and priorities.

Trading Operations & Trade Lifecycle Management

• Own and oversee the end-to-end trade lifecycle, including order execution, settlement, reconciliation, corporate actions, and fund movements across relevant markets.
• Establish and maintain operational standards for accuracy, timeliness, control, and reliability.
• Define and monitor operational SLAs and ensure consistent adherence across the function.
• Identify and resolve trade processing, settlement, reconciliation, and counterparty issues.

Back-Office, Onboarding & Client Operations

• Oversee all back-office activities, including KYC, client onboarding, deposits and withdrawals, transaction processing, settlement, reconciliations, and dispute resolution.
• Ensure client-facing operational processes are efficient, compliant, controlled, and consistently delivered.
• Establish clear ownership and escalation mechanisms for operational issues affecting clients.
• Continuously improve the client operational experience while maintaining appropriate regulatory and risk controls.

Process Architecture & Continuous Improvement

• Design, implement, and maintain robust operational workflows, SOPs, controls, and reconciliation frameworks.
• Establish scalable processes that support business growth while reducing operational dependency on manual intervention.
• Identify process inefficiencies and lead automation, standardisation, and optimisation initiatives.
• Maintain comprehensive process documentation and ensure appropriate governance over operational procedures.
• Establish measurable productivity and efficiency targets across the operations function.

Regulatory Compliance & Governance

• Maintain executive accountability for the operational compliance framework and ensure processes comply with applicable CMA requirements and relevant market infrastructure obligations.
• Ensure operational policies, procedures, and controls remain aligned with applicable regulatory requirements.
• Maintain audit-ready documentation, evidence, and control frameworks.
• Lead the operations function s response to regulatory reviews, audits, findings, and remediation requirements.
• Partner closely with Compliance and other control functions to identify and address regulatory risks.

Operational Risk & Business Continuity

• Own the operational risk framework, including risk identification, assessment, mitigation, incident management, and escalation.
• Establish appropriate controls to proactively identify and mitigate operational risks.
• Lead the management and resolution of significant operational incidents.
• Maintain incident logs, root-cause analyses, remediation plans, and lessons-learned processes.
• Develop, maintain, and regularly test business continuity and disaster recovery plans.
• Ensure operational resilience across critical processes, systems, vendors, and counterparties.

Team Leadership & Organizational Development

• Build, structure, and lead a high-performing operations organization.
• Define roles, responsibilities, reporting lines, and accountability across the function.
• Establish team KPIs and performance management frameworks.
• Develop training and capability-building programs for operations staff.
• Coach and develop high-potential employees and establish succession plans for critical positions.
• Foster a culture of accountability, operational discipline, continuous improvement, and service excellence.

Cross-Functional & External Stakeholder Management

• Act as the primary operational interface with Technology, Compliance, Finance, Product, Risk, and Client Relations.
• Drive effective cross-functional execution of operational initiatives and business priorities.
• Manage relationships with brokers, custodians, banks, exchanges, clearing organisations, and other market infrastructure providers.
• Establish and monitor service-level expectations for external counterparties.
• Escalate and resolve material service, operational, or contractual issues.

Technology, Automation & Innovation

• Identify technology gaps and opportunities to strengthen operational efficiency, scalability, control, and resilience.
• Lead the evaluation and implementation of technology solutions supporting the operations function.
• Partner with Technology and Product teams on systems integrations, enhancements, and operational requirements.
• Lead operational participation in UAT, ensuring systems meet business, control, and regulatory requirements.
• Drive automation initiatives that reduce manual processing, improve accuracy, and minimise operational risk.

Executive Reporting & Operational Intelligence

• Establish and maintain comprehensive operational KPI dashboards and management information.
• Maintain operational risk registers, incident logs, SLA reports, and performance dashboards.
• Provide executive management with timely reporting on operational performance, key risks, incidents, and improvement initiatives.
• Present operational performance, material risks, strategic initiatives, and recommendations to the Deputy CEO and Board as required.
• Develop forward-looking operational insights to support executive decision-making and business growth.

Desired Candidate Profile

Bachelor s degree in Business, Finance, Operations, or a related discipline. Requirement open to all nationals 10+ years of progressive experience in financial operations, capital markets, brokerage, or fintech. Minimum 5 years of senior leadership experience within a regulated brokerage, capital markets, financial services, or fintech environment. Proven experience building and scaling operations functions, including team structures, process architecture, controls, and regulatory compliance. Deep understanding of the full trade lifecycle, settlement, reconciliation, corporate actions, fund movements, and back-office operations. Experience managing operations across multiple markets and/or asset classes. Strong understanding of operational risk management and regulatory frameworks applicable to capital markets.