Banking Operations & Settlement - Vice President (KDB Sydney)

KDB Asia Limited; Sydney; On-site; AUD 250,000 - 320,000; Full time

Job summary

Korea Development Bank (KDB) is establishing its Sydney Branch and seeks a Vice President to lead Banking Operations & Settlement. You will drive daily operational integrity, act as primary checker/authorizer for payments, and ensure robust control frameworks aligned with Australian regulations.

You will oversee reconciliation, settlements, and lifecycle management for loans and Treasury, while coordinating with Head Office systems and cross-functional teams.

Qualifications

• Relevant tertiary qualification in Finance, Economics, or Accounting.
• Advanced professional qualifications (CPA or equivalent) highly regarded.
• Minimum 5 years' hands-on experience in Treasury Operations or Wholesale Loan Operations.
• Proficiency with Austraclear, RITS, SWIFT messaging standards, and ISO 20022/MX.

Responsibilities

• Support Head of Operations and drive daily operational integrity of the Branch back-office.
• Act as primary Checker/Authorizer for high-value payments via SWIFT, Austraclear and RITS.
• Verify and resolve Treasury trade lifecycles; investigate unmatched or failed trades.
• Oversee valuation reporting for derivatives and Treasury positions.
• Manage cash, Nostro, and Vostro reconciliations; resolve breaks and discrepancies.
• Monitor intraday liquidity across currencies and ensure settlement readiness.
• Maintain SOPs, control checklists, and support audits/regulatory reviews.

Skills

Treasury Operations

Settlement

Operational Risk

Leadership

Education

Finance/Economics/Accounting degree

CPA or equivalent

Tools

Austraclear

RITS

SWIFT

ISO 20022/MX

Job description

Banking Operations & Settlement - Vice President (KDB Sydney)

Are you an accomplished professional in operations and settlement?
Have you consistently delivered high performance in your roles?
Are you motivated to go the extra mile to create value for your organisation?

The Korea Development Bank (KDB), Korea’s policy bank, is establishing its Sydney Branch in the heart of the Sydney CBD to conduct wholesale banking operations in Australia. As a member of the founding team, you will play an important role in supporting the set-up, establishment and stabilisation of the Branch, helping to build a strong operational and compliance framework from the ground up!

We are seeking a highly motivated Vice President – Banking Operations & Settlement to join our friendly, collaborative and supportive team. In this mid-level management and senior individual contributor role, you will drive the Branch’s daily operational and settlement functions, working closely with leadership to promote a robust internal control culture.

About the Role

In this role, you will work closely with and support the Head of Operations as a key operational management team member. You will be responsible for ensuring the daily operational integrity of the Sydney Branch's back-office, serving as a senior operational leader and primary Checker/Authorizer for critical transactions.

You will be expected to work autonomously, guide junior team members on technical matters, and enforce strict internal control frameworks (such as Maker-Checker protocols). A key focus of the role will be supporting the Head of Operations in ensuring the smooth execution of daily workflows, resolving Nostro/Vostro reconciliation exceptions, and ensuring seamless operational integration with Head Office systems while strictly aligning with the Australian regulatory environment and tight market deadlines.

This is a dynamic, highly collaborative role requiring deep technical expertise, adaptability, and a strong commitment to operational excellence. You will be encouraged to lead operational process improvements, support team cross-training, and contribute directly to the establishment and enhancement of the Branch’s operational framework.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist the Head of Operations in implementing, enhancing, and embedding the Branch’s operational control and risk frameworks.
• Act as the primary Checker/Authorizer for high-value domestic and international payments through SWIFT (MT/MX), Austraclear, and RITS, enforcing strict Segregation of Duties.
• Verify, match, and resolve Treasury trade lifecycles (FX, MM, Fixed Income, Derivatives), taking immediate action to investigate and elevate any unmatched or failed trades.
• Oversee periodic valuation reporting for derivatives and Treasury positions, ensuring the accuracy of pricing sources and internal valuation inputs.
• Manage the operational lifecycle of Bilateral and Syndicated Loans (including Project Finance), reviewing complex drawdowns, rollovers, interest fixings, and fee distributions.
• Oversee daily cash, Nostro, and Vostro reconciliations, proactively resolving complex breaks or settlement discrepancies.
• Monitor real-time intraday liquidity and funding positions across multiple currencies to ensure sufficient operational settlement liquidity.
• Review and authorise client onboarding operational requirements, including static data setup, Standard Settlement Instructions (SSIs), and KYC/AML documentation.
• Ensure APRA compliance (operational risk/resilience) by maintaining a sound understanding of BCP and contingency settlement arrangements for SWIFT, RITS, and Austraclear.
• Maintain and update Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and operational control checklists.
• Support internal/external audits and regulatory reviews by preparing necessary operational data, transaction logs, and documentation.
• Participate actively in system enhancement projects, User Acceptance Testing (UAT), and core system localisation initiatives.
• Prepare operational reports and build strong working relationships with Treasury, Corporate Banking, Finance, Compliance, and IT teams.
• Undertake ad hoc tasks as required.

What We’re Looking For

• A relevant tertiary qualification (such as Finance, Accounting, Economics, or Business). Advanced professional qualifications (e.g., CPA or equivalent) are highly regarded.
• Minimum 5 years of direct, hands‑on experience in Treasury Operations, Settlement, or Wholesale Loan Operations.
• Proven hands‑on proficiency with core market infrastructures, specifically Austraclear, RITS, and SWIFT messaging standards (ISO 20022/MX experience is highly valued).
• Intermediate-level proficiency in MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Full, unrestricted working rights in Australia.

This opportunity will suit a proactive, self-motivated professional who thrives in a start-up environment and is excited to take on new challenges with a “can-do” attitude. Attention to detail, excellent communication, and strong interpersonal skills are essential.