Chief Operating Officer - Decentral...

Crypto Recruit; United Arab Emirates; On-site; AED 550,000 - 919,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial services firm in the United Arab Emirates is seeking a Chief Operating Officer (COO) to oversee its operational framework. The ideal candidate will have senior leadership experience and a proven track record in regulated financial institutions. Responsibilities include driving operational excellence, aligning teams, and ensuring compliance with global standards. The role requires fluency in both Russian and English and the ability to relocate to Dubai for this position.

Qualifications

• Proven senior leadership experience as a COO, CEO, or VP of Operations.
• Hands-on experience in compliance, risk, and financial operations.
• Exceptional communication and strategic alignment skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily operations across various departments.
• Translate CEO's vision into execution plans and KPIs.
• Partner with CFO on financial operations and budgeting.
• Work on compliance, regulatory reporting, and audits.
• Streamline workflows and eliminate inefficiencies.

Skills

Fluency in Russian

Fluency in English

Operational leadership

Analytical decision-making

Stakeholder management

Job description

The COO will own the operational engine of the company—ensuring strategy is executed, teams are aligned, financial systems are robust, and compliance frameworks meet global standards. This leader will bring deep experience across regulated financial institutions and high-growth startups.

This role requires :

• Fluency in Russian and English
• Ability to be based in, or relocate to, Dubai
• A proven track record running operations at scale across fintech, banking, crypto, or adjacent regulated environments.

Key Responsibilities 1. Operational Leadership

• Oversee daily operations across compliance, customer support, customer success, finance operations, HR, tech, and product.
• Take ownership of critical operational processes currently run by founders.
• Implement internal systems and policies to ensure consistency, efficiency, and regulatory alignment.
• Build scalable operational frameworks as the company expands globally.

2. Strategy Execution

• Translate the CEO's vision into clear execution plans, KPIs, timelines, and departmental roadmaps.
• Align cross-functional teams so all work streams support the company's strategic priorities.
• Conduct regular business performance reviews with measurable outcomes.

3. Financial Oversight

• Partner with the CFO on cash flow, liquidity, budgeting, settlements, and financial controls.
• Oversee cost optimization initiatives while maintaining operational quality.
• Implement robust treasury processes, reconciliation systems, and risk controls.

4. Risk, Compliance & Security

• Work with legal / compliance partners on licensing, regulatory reporting, audits, and ongoing obligations.
• Lead oversight of KYC / AML, MLRO-related functions, and risk monitoring systems.
• Establish crisis response frameworks for security incidents, data leakage, or operational failures.
• Ensure physical and operational safety across all offices and personnel.

5. Process Optimization & Systems

• Streamline workflows and eliminate inefficiencies across departments.
• Standardize procedures, documentation, and governance frameworks.
• Drive automation and tooling to reduce manual workloads and lift productivity.
• Ensure scalability as user growth accelerates into new markets.

6. Team Leadership & Culture

• Lead department heads and ensure alignment toward organizational objectives.
• Establish clear performance standards, KPIs, compensation structures, and accountability systems.
• Promote a high-performance, ownership-driven culture.
• Attract, mentor, and retain top-tier operational leaders.

7. Cross-Department Coordination

• Ensure product, engineering, marketing, finance, operations, and support operate as one cohesive unit.
• Resolve interdepartmental blockers rapidly to maintain momentum.
• Maintain clear communication channels to avoid silos and reduce execution friction.

8. Growth Enablement & Partnerships

• Manage key relationships with banks, processors, infrastructure providers, payment partners, and regulators.
• Support market expansion efforts, ensuring operational readiness for regional compliance.
• Scale onboarding, KYC, and support systems as user numbers grow.
• Lead or support major external initiatives such as community events, conferences, and partner activations.

9. Governance & Reporting

• Provide regular operational reporting to the CEO and leadership team.
• Maintain reliable metrics, dashboards, and performance tracking systems.
• Establish governance structures that support rapid yet disciplined decision-making.

What You Bring (Must-Have Requirements)

• Proven senior leadership experience as a COO, CEO, or VP of Operations in both : A regulated bank or financial institution A fast-growth startup or scale-up
• Extensive hands‑on experience in : Compliance, risk, AML / KYC oversight Financial operations, treasury, reconciliation Scaling cross‑functional processes Organizational design and team leadership
• Fluency in Russian and English (written and spoken)
• Ability to operate with speed, precision, and high accountability in a dynamic environment.
• Exceptional communication, stakeholder management, and strategic alignment skills.
• Analytical, data‑driven decision‑making mindset with strong operational instincts.
• Ability to be based in Dubai (or relocate).

Nice to Have

• Experience in crypto, DeFi, digital assets, or blockchain‑native financial operations.
• Exposure to on‑chain treasury systems or Web3 infrastructure.
• Experience supporting hypergrowth user bases across multiple geographies.
• Familiarity with global compliance landscapes and crypto regulatory frameworks.