Head – Operations & Risk

Pocketful; Delhi; On-site; INR 3,500,000 - 6,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Pocketful is seeking a seasoned Head - Operations & Risk to lead broking operations, risk controls, and regulatory compliance in India. You will own day-to-day operations across Equity, F&O, Currency, and DP, while driving automation and governance.

The role requires deep capital market knowledge, strong leadership, and a proactive approach to risk and compliance. You will collaborate with senior leadership on strategic initiatives and regulatory inspections.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Finance, Commerce, Business Administration or related discipline.
• NISM or related market certifications an advantage.
• Minimum 10 years experience in the Indian stock broking industry.
• Exposure to Operations, Risk Management, Compliance, DP Operations, Settlement or RMS.
• Prior experience in Risk Management is mandatory.
• Solid understanding of SEBI, NSE, BSE, MCX and DP operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end broking operations across Equity, F&O, Currency, Commodity, DP and Back Office.
• Establish and improve operational processes, SOPs and internal controls.
• Drive automation to enhance scalability and efficiency.
• Coordinate with Product, Technology, Finance, Compliance, Customer Support, and Business teams.
• Own and strengthen the firm’s operational and market risk management framework.
• Ensure regulatory compliance with SEBI, NSE, BSE, MCX, CDSL and NSDL.
• Oversee DP operations including account opening, demat/remat and settlements.
• Build and mentor high-performing Operations and Risk teams.
• Interface with exchanges, depositories, auditors, regulators and vendors.

Skills

Risk management

Regulatory compliance

Operations leadership

Stakeholder management

Process improvement

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Finance/Commerce/Business Administration

Tools

OMS

RMS

SEBI/NSE compliance tools

Job description

We are looking for an experienced and highly driven Head - Operations & Risk to lead and strengthen our broking operations, risk management framework, and regulatory compliance. The role requires complete ownership of day-to-day broking operations while ensuring operational excellence, regulatory adherence, robust risk controls, and seamless customer experience. The ideal candidate should have extensive experience across multiple functions within a stock broking organization and possess a deep understanding of capital market operations, exchange regulations, depository operations, and risk management.

Key Responsibilities

Operations Leadership

• Lead and oversee end-to-end broking operations across Equity, F&O, Currency, Commodity, DP, and Back Office.
• Ensure smooth execution of daily operational activities with high efficiency and accuracy.
• Establish and continuously improve operational processes, SOPs, and internal controls.
• Drive automation and process optimization to improve scalability and operational efficiency.
• Coordinate closely with Product, Technology, Finance, Compliance, Customer Support, and Business teams.

Risk Management

• Own and strengthen the firm's operational and market risk management framework.
• Monitor client risk exposures, margin utilization, collateral management, leverage, and settlement risks.
• Ensure timely handling of margin shortfalls, RMS alerts, position monitoring, auction risks, and exception management.
• Develop and implement robust risk policies aligned with regulatory requirements and industry best practices.
• Work closely with technology teams to enhance automated risk monitoring systems.

Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure complete compliance with SEBI, NSE, BSE, MCX, CDSL, NSDL, and Depository Participant regulations.
• Monitor implementation of regulatory circulars and operational changes.
• Coordinate regulatory inspections, audits, and exchange/depository queries.
• Ensure timely reporting, reconciliations, and regulatory submissions.
• Maintain strong governance and documentation across all operational processes.

Depository & Settlement Operations

• Oversee complete DP operations including account opening, demat/remat, pledge/unpledge, transmission, off-market transactions, corporate actions, and settlements.
• Ensure smooth coordination with exchanges, clearing corporations, depositories, and banking partners.
• Supervise settlement processes and reconciliation activities.

Team Management

• Build, mentor, and lead high-performing Operations and Risk teams.
• Define KPIs, monitor performance, and create a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
• Conduct regular training sessions on operational processes, compliance updates, and risk awareness.

Stakeholder Management

• Act as the primary operational point of contact for exchanges, depositories, auditors, regulators, and key vendors.
• Collaborate with senior leadership on strategic operational initiatives and new product launches.

Required Qualifications & Skills

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Finance, Commerce, Business Administration, or a related discipline.
• Professional certifications such as NISM or related market certifications will be an advantage.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in the Indian stock broking industry.
• Exposure to multiple broking functions such as Operations, Risk Management, Compliance, DP Operations, Settlement, Customer Operations, or RMS.
• Prior experience in Risk Management is mandatory.
• Strong understanding of SEBI regulations, NSE, BSE, MCX operational frameworks, CDSL and NSDL DP operations, clearing corporations, settlement processes, margin framework, RMS, client onboarding, KYC processes, and exchange inspections and audits.
• Excellent knowledge of broking operational workflows and regulatory requirements.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
• Proven leadership and people management skills.
• Ability to manage operations in a fast-paced, technology-driven environment.

Candidate Profile

• Experience working with a large or rapidly growing brokerage.
• Hands-on experience with modern broking technology platforms and OMS/RMS systems.
• Demonstrated success in scaling operations while maintaining strong risk controls.
• Ability to drive automation, improve operational efficiency, and build robust governance frameworks.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills with the ability to work across business, technology, compliance, and leadership teams.