Head of Settlement

Green Lake Executive Search; Hong Kong; On-site; HKD 900,000 - 1,400,000; Full time

Job summary

Green Lake Executive Search seeks an experienced Leader to oversee end-to-end clearing and settlement across global markets, ensuring accurate fund and securities transfers.

You will manage daily operations, drive process improvements, and ensure strict regulatory compliance with SFC/HKEX guidelines, collaborating across departments and with external institutions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, Business Administration, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in clearing, settlement or operation within the Hong Kong securities industry; knowledge of HK and US markets is advantageous.
• Minimum 5 years of experience managing a team, preferably in a cross-functional environment.
• In-depth familiarity with the full lifecycle operation of multi-market/multi-asset products and the HK regulatory framework (SFC and HKEX).
• Deep understanding of settlement system architecture and operations.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with high attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Fluent in English and Cantonese; Mandarin preferred.

Responsibilities

• End-to-End Clearing & Settlement management across markets and assets.
• Supervise daily reconciliations, fund transfers, and settlements; resolve discrepancies.
• Identify, investigate, and resolve breaks and failed trades to minimize risk.
• Oversee processing of corporate actions (dividends, rights issues, splits).
• Lead the Settlement team; set KPIs and ensure accuracy and accountability.
• Drive workflow optimization to improve straight-through processing (STP).
• Ensure compliance with SFC and HKEX rules, including short selling and CCASS.
• Develop and maintain internal guidelines, BCP, and control mechanisms.
• Collaborate with front-office, risk, finance, and other functions to resolve issues.
• Engage with external entities such as HKSCC, HKEX, custodians, and brokers.

Skills

Settlement leadership

Regulatory compliance

Cross-functional collaboration

Team management

Process optimization

Hong Kong market knowledge

STP improvements

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance/Economics/Business

Tools

CCASS systems

HKEX settlement platforms

Job description

Head of Settlement

Role Summary

We are seeking an experienced Settlement leader to oversee our end-to-end clearing and settlement operations across global markets. This role manages the daily workflow of the Settlement Department, ensures strict regulatory compliance, and drives operational efficiency through process optimization and cross-departmental collaboration.

Key Responsibilities

1. End-to-End Clearing & Settlement Management

   • Full-Lifecycle Oversight: Oversee comprehensive clearing and settlement operations across multi-market and multi-asset financial products-including HK equities, A-shares (Stock Connect), US equities, global market equities, futures, options, bonds, structure products and funds-ensuring the accurate transfer of funds and securities

   • Daily Operations: Supervise daily reconciliations, fund transfers, and securities settlements; promptly resolve clearing discrepancies to ensure all transactions are settled accurately and on time.

   • Issue Resolution: Proactively identify, investigate, and resolve clearing discrepancies (breaks) and failed trades to minimize operational risk.

   • Corporate Actions: Oversee the accurate and timely processing of corporate actions, including dividends, rights issues, stock splits, and reverse splits.

2. Department Management & Process Optimization

   • Team Leadership: Lead, mentor, and evaluate the performance of the Settlement team. Set clear KPIs and foster a culture of accuracy and accountability.

   • Workflow Optimization: Continuously review and apply technology to eliminate inefficiencies and enhance straight-through processing (STP) rates.

   • Regulatory Compliance: Ensure all settlement activities are fully compliant with SFC and HKEX regulations, including relevant rules on short selling, position limits, and CCASS operations.

   • Framework Enhancement: Develop, implement, and maintain robust internal operating guidelines, business continuity plans (BCP), and internal control mechanisms to safeguard against operational failures and fraud.

3. Cross-Departmental Coordination & External Stakeholder Engagement

   • Internal Collaboration: Work closely with front-office trading, risk management, finance, and other departments to resolve cross-functional issues.

   • External Liaison: Serve as the main point of contact for external institutions such as HKSCC (Hong Kong Securities Clearing Company), HKEX, custodian banks, and brokers to handle settlement exceptions and disputes.

Job Requirements

1. Bachelor's degree or above in Finance, Economics, Business Administration, or a related discipline.

2. Minimum 10 years of experience in clearing, settlement or operation within the Hong Kong securities industry, sound knowledge in HK and US stock markets is an advantage

3. Minimum 5 years of experience managing team, preferably in a cross -functional environment.

4. In-depth familiarity with the full lifecycle operation process of multi-market/multi-asset financial products and the Hong Kong regulatory framework (SFC and HKEX rules).

5. Deep understanding of clearing and settlement system architecture and operations.

6. Strong analytical and problem-solving skill with a hight attention to detail.

7. Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

8. Fluent in English and Cantonese (both written and spoken), Fluency in Mandarin is preferred.