Chief Operating Officer

Altery; Amsterdam; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Direct involvement with EU regulators

Job summary

A European fintech company based in Amsterdam is seeking a Chief Operating Officer (COO) to lead operational processes and ensure compliance with regulatory standards. This senior role demands a master's degree and 5-10 years of experience in the financial services sector, particularly within fintech. Responsibilities include overseeing daily operations, managing operational risks, and leading IT and cybersecurity initiatives. The COO will play a key role in navigating the evolving crypto landscape and must possess excellent communication skills, with Dutch fluency preferred.

Qualifications

• 5-10 years of experience in a senior operational role within financial services.
• Expertise in IT security and operational risk management.
• Knowledge of MiCAR requirements and DORA implementation.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily operations including customer support and transaction settlement.
• Develop an operational risk management system compliant with MiCAR.
• Lead IT infrastructure, platform security, and cyber resilience.

Skills

Operational strategy design

Risk management

Leadership

IT security expertise

Excellent English communication

Education

Master’s degree in (Technical) Business Administration, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Financial Technology

Job description

Chief Operating Officer

Altery – Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands

About Us

Altery is a rapidly expanding European financial technology group on a mission to bring fiat & crypto together for seamless global payments in the digital economy. We want to create a world where payment challenges are solved, opportunities know no bounds, and financial empowerment is within reach for all. We are establishing a licensed entity in the Netherlands under the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR) and are looking for a highly experienced and operationally driven Chief Operating Officer (COO) to join our C‑suite. This is a pivotal leadership role, ensuring operational excellence, robust risk management, and regulatory compliance, particularly in line with MiCAR and the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA).

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee daily operational processes, including transactional systems, customer support (with the Customer Operations team), and settlement of crypto transactions.
• Optimise workflows to enhance efficiency and reduce operational risks, establishing clear SLAs and KPIs.
• Ensure effective capacity planning and resource management to support growth.

Risk Management – MiCAR Focus

• Develop, implement, and maintain a comprehensive operational risk management system in accordance with MiCAR.
• Identify, monitor, and mitigate crypto‑specific risks, including smart contract, custodial, and consensus mechanism risks.
• Ensure segregation of client assets, custody solutions, and private key management meet MiCAR requirements.
• Coordinate with Compliance, Internal Audit, and regulators on operational risk matters.

IT & Cybersecurity – DORA & MiCAR Focus

• Lead IT infrastructure, software development, platform security, and cyber resilience.
• Implement robust IT governance and cybersecurity measures in line with DORA and MiCAR.
• Manage ICT third‑party risks, enforce strong access controls, encryption, penetration testing, and incident response plans.
• Ensure GDPR/AVG data governance and privacy standards are maintained.

Technological Innovation & Scalability

• Drive the technology roadmap to ensure operational scalability and resilience.
• Evaluate and adopt new technologies to improve efficiency and security.

Experience – Candidate Profile

• Master’s degree in (Technical) Business Administration, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Financial Technology, or related field.
• Minimum of 5‑10 years of experience in a senior operational role within financial services, preferably in the fintech, crypto, or high‑tech sector.
• Demonstrable in‑depth expertise and experience in IT security, cyber resilience, and operational risk management.
• Profound knowledge of and demonstrable experience with the implementation of MiCAR requirements, specifically concerning operational risk management, IT governance, and the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA).
• Experience in establishing and managing robust infrastructure for critical financial systems.

Skills & Expertise

• Ability to design and execute operational and technological strategies aligned with regulatory obligations.
• Strong risk identification, problem‑solving, and solution‑delivery skills.
• Leadership ability to inspire, motivate, and develop high‑performing teams.
• Experience with custody solutions and private key management (preferred).
• Excellent English communication skills; Dutch fluency and residency preferred.

Regulatory Fit

• Must meet the “fit and proper” standards for executive management under DNB/AFM supervision.

What We Offer

• Opportunity to shape and lead the operational backbone of a high‑growth European fintech group.
• Direct involvement with EU financial regulators and supervisory authorities.
• Competitive compensation.

Seniority level

Executive

Employment type

Contract

Job function

Management and Manufacturing