Head of Operations

Freedom Finance MENAT; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 150,000 - 350,000; Full time

Job summary

Freedom Broker Global Markets, part of Freedom Holding Corp., is building a new UAE mainland brokerage and seeks a seasoned Head of Operations to establish the scalable, compliant operations framework covering brokerage and investment services.

You will lead client onboarding, trade lifecycle management, reconciliations, and controls, while working with senior management to build a high-performing team in a tightly regulated environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in brokerage, securities, investment or capital-markets operations.
• Experience in UAE-regulated brokerage, investment firm, bank or financial institution is highly desirable.
• Strong understanding of UAE regulatory environment applicable to brokerage and investment operations.

Responsibilities

• Establish and lead the brokerage Operations function, including processes, controls and operating procedures.
• Oversee client onboarding and account-opening operations.
• Manage end-to-end trade lifecycle, including processing, clearing, settlement and reconciliations.
• Oversee investment operations, corporate actions, cash and securities movements and portfolio servicing.
• Ensure safeguarding, segregation and reconciliation of client money and assets.
• Build and lead a high-performing Operations team.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Analytical thinking

Regulatory knowledge

Project management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Economics, Business Administration

UAE regulatory qualifications

CISI or other financial-markets qualifications

Tools

Trading systems

Custody systems

Back-office systems

CRM / workflow tools

Job description

Freedom Broker Global Markets is part of Freedom Holding Corp. (NASDAQ: FRHC), a diversified international financial services group. Building on its successful presence in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the Group is expanding its footprint in the UAE through the establishment of a new mainland brokerage licensed by the Capital Market Authority (CMA). The broker is currently completing the licensing process with CMA. The company will provide access to a broad range of global financial products and investment services while maintaining the highest standards of operational excellence, regulatory compliance, client service, and risk management.

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Head of Operations to establish and lead the Operations function of our new UAE mainland brokerage. You will be responsible for building a scalable and compliant operational framework covering brokerage and investment operations, client onboarding, trade processing, clearing and settlement, reconciliations, client assets and operational controls.

This is a key leadership opportunity to help build the operational infrastructure of a newly established regulated brokerage and work closely with senior management and cross-functional teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Establish and lead the brokerage Operations function, including processes, controls and operating procedures.
• Oversee client onboarding and account-opening operations.
• Manage the end-to-end trade lifecycle, including processing, clearing, settlement and reconciliations.
• Oversee investment operations, corporate actions, cash and securities movements and portfolio servicing.
• Ensure appropriate safeguarding, segregation and reconciliation of client money and assets.
• Manage relationships with banks, custodians, brokers, clearing houses, exchanges and other service providers.
• Lead the implementation and continuous improvement of back-office systems and operational automation.
• Ensure Operations complies with applicable UAE regulatory requirements, policies and reporting obligations.
• Work closely with Compliance, Risk, Finance, Legal, IT, Sales and senior management.
• Build, lead and develop a high-performing Operations team.

Requirements

• Minimum 5 years' relevant experience in brokerage, securities, investment or capital-markets operations.
• Strong knowledge of trade lifecycle management, clearing and settlement, custody, reconciliations, corporate actions and client asset servicing.
• Experience within a UAE-regulated brokerage, investment firm, bank or financial institution is highly desirable.
• Strong understanding of the UAE regulatory environment applicable to brokerage and investment operations.
• Experience establishing operational processes, controls and governance frameworks.
• Experience with trading, custody and back-office systems.
• Proven leadership and stakeholder-management experience.
• Strong analytical, organisational and problem-solving skills.

The successful candidate must be able to satisfy the applicable CMA fit-and-proper and regulatory approval requirements for the relevant approved functions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, Business Administration, Accounting or another relevant discipline.
• Applicable UAE regulatory qualifications, including UAE Financial Rules and Regulations and Global Securities Operations, are preferred.
• Candidates who do not currently hold the required regulatory qualifications may be supported in obtaining them, subject to applicable CMA requirements.
• Relevant CISI or other financial-markets/securities-operations qualifications are advantageous.

Why Join Freedom?

Join a growing international financial services group and take a key leadership role in building the operational infrastructure of a new UAE mainland brokerage. You will work directly with senior leadership, gain exposure to global financial markets and have the opportunity to build and shape the Operations function from an early stage.