Head of Custody

Citi; Kuwait City; On-site; KWD 9,000 - 15,000; Full time

Job summary

Citi Kuwait is seeking a seasoned Head of Custody to lead the development of Securities Services in Kuwait and represent Citi with authorities and regulators. The role requires driving growth, maintaining robust risk controls, and delivering high-quality custody services to clients while managing a complex local and regional operation.

Ideal candidate has 8+ years in custody, a university degree, and fluency in Arabic.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of custody services experience.
• Detailed understanding of Direct Custody, Clearing and Investor services in Kuwait.
• Experience dealing with local market infrastructure and regulators.
• Arabic-speaking, university degree required.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute clear business strategy for the Kuwait custody business within the regional Citi framework.
• Support growth objectives, market share, and revenue targets while maintaining risk discipline.
• Maintain P&L oversight and control expenses.
• Pitch for new business opportunities and product offerings in custody services.
• Own end-to-end delivery of custodial services including operations.
• Interface with regulators and industry forums on behalf of Citi Kuwait.
• Foster strong internal relationships with operations, corporate banking, treasury, compliance, and legal.
• Ensure robust service levels and client satisfaction through service-excellence programs.
• Engage with market infrastructure (e.g., Boursa Kuwait, KCC) and promote foreign investment.
• Act as first line of defence, monitor risk, and coordinate audits and CAPs.
• Oversee BAU and escalate as needed; monitor regulatory changes impacting the local franchise.

Skills

Arabic speaking

Education

University degree

Job description

Citi's Custody provides financial institutions worldwide with an unparalleled access of a global Citi network that enable them grow, reduce cost and mitigate risk. We leverage our strength in capital markets to create value for clients across the entire investment value chain. Our market-leading breadth, depth and scope of solutions, complemented by our geographic reach, allow us to offer an unparalleled portfolio of products and services that drive our clients' bottom-line performance

The Head of Cusotdy will be responsbile for leading the development of Securities Services business in Kuwait and representing Citi internally and externally with authorities and market regulator while ensuring robust business model and elite and high-quality service level is timely provided to clients to achieve business growth and increased profitability in line with strategic objectives. Prospecting new business mandates and new product offerings

Key Responsibilities:

• Responsible for creating and executing clear business strategy for the local business in the context of the regional business strategy
• Support business growth objectives, market share, and achieving revenue targets whilst retaining appropriate risk management discipline.
• Maintain close control over P&L and control over expenses
• Pitch for new business prospects, sales opportunities, and envisage new product offerings
• End-to-end ownership and leadership for the delivery of custodial services including Operations
• Interface and represent Citi franchise with market regulators and industry forums.
• Build and maintain constructive relationship with internal stakeholders inside the franchise including but not limited to operations, corporate banking, treasury, compliance, and legal.
• Ensure delivery of robust service level and high-level clients’ satisfaction through execution of service excellence programs. Also, exploring room for added services and efficiency / controls.
• Remain close to market infrastructure (i.e. Boursa Kuwait, KCC) and promote initiatives to help develop the market and promote more foreign investments into Kuwait
• Act as the first line of defence by monitoring, controlling business risk. Furthermore, handhold internal and external audits, and ownership of action points and CAPs
• Overseeing BAU and act as first escalation point
• Monitor regulatory changes and their impact on local franchise.
• Lead advocacy efforts with market regulators and ensure visibility of thought leadership
• Have an oversight into product manager responsibilities

Knowledge/Experience:

• +8 years’ experience in Custody Services
• Detailed understanding of the Direct Custody and Clearing and Investor services in Kuwait
• Experience of dealing with local market infrastructure and regulators
• Experience of working across multiple products/geographies
• Arabic speaking
• Unviersity degree

Job Family Group:

Product Management and Development

Job Family:

Product Management

Time Type:

Full time

Most Relevant Skills

Please see the requirements listed above.

Other Relevant Skills

For complementary skills, please see above and/or contact the recruiter.

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