Chief Operating Officer

Confidential Careers; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Confidential Careers requires a seasoned COO to build and lead the Saudi Arabian operation from the ground up, ensuring CMA licensing readiness and robust daily oversight of trading operations, onboarding, settlements, and back-office processes.

The role demands deep knowledge of financial services operations, regulatory environments, and technology enablement, with a track record of scale and risk management in regulated markets.

Qualifications

• 10–15 years of progressive experience in operations management within financial services or brokerage
• Minimum of 5 years in a senior leadership role (COO, Head of Operations)
• Experience establishing or scaling a brokerage or regulatory operation
• Familiarity with CMA regulations or GCC/MENA frameworks preferred
• Strong Arabic and English language skills

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end operation setup for the Saudi entity, including office, infrastructure, tech, and vendor onboarding.
• Support CMA license application with operational documentation, business plans, and process maps.
• Oversee daily operations: trade support, onboarding, order management, settlements, back-office.
• Manage relationships with exchanges, custodians, and counterparties relevant to Saudi and regional markets.
• Develop and Maintain risk framework and business continuity plans; ensure CMA compliance.
• Report to CEO/Board on operational performance, risk, and BD activities.

Skills

Leadership

Operations management

Technology implementation

Regulatory compliance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration/Finance/Economics

Tools

PMP

Prince2

Job description

Our client offers round-the-clock, fast-execution trading with connectivity to global financial markets, delivering comprehensive investment and wealth management solutions for both retail and corporate clients. With a vision rooted in Hong Kong and oriented towards China and the broader Asia Pacific region, the organization is now executing a strategic international expansion.

As part of this growth trajectory, the firm is in the process of applying for a Capital Markets Authority (CMA) license in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with the intention of offering securities dealing and related capital markets services to Saudi retail and institutional clients from its Riyadh office. The Saudi operation will uphold the organization’s mission of providing sincere, integrity-oriented, and pragmatic financial services that add real value to clients’ wealth.

2. POSITION SUMMARY

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is a critical senior leadership appointment, responsible for building, leading, and managing all operational aspects of the organization’s Saudi Arabian business. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, the COO will serve as the operational backbone of the Saudi entity, translating the firm’s strategic vision into day-to-day operational reality. This is a foundational role: the COO will be responsible for establishing the operational infrastructure of the Saudi business from the ground up, including people, processes, technology, and vendor relationships, while working in close coordination with the CEO, Chief Compliance Officer, and the parent organization’s Hong Kong headquarters.

3. KEY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

3.1 Business Set-Up & Launch Operations

• Lead the end-to-end operational establishment of the Saudi entity, including office set-up, infrastructure buildout, technology deployment, and vendor onboarding in Riyadh.
• Develop and execute the operational launch plan for the Saudi business, working closely with the CEO and HQ to ensure readiness for CMA licensing and commercial launch.
• Coordinate with legal, compliance, finance, and IT functions to ensure all operational systems, processes, and controls are in place prior to commencing regulated activities.
• Oversee the procurement and management of all third-party service providers, including technology vendors, custodians, clearing brokers, data providers, and facilities managers.
• Establish operational policies, procedures, and service standards that reflect the organization’s heritage of professionalism and its obligations as a CMA-regulated entity.

3.2 CMA Licensing Support

• Support the Chief Compliance Officer and CEO in fulfilling all operational requirements of the CMA license application, including preparation of operational documentation, business plans, and process maps as required by the CMA.
• Ensure the organization’s operational infrastructure, staffing model, and technology systems satisfy CMA requirements for a licensed dealing entity.
• Liaise with the CMA and external advisors on operational matters arising during the licensing process.
• Develop and maintain the organization’s operational risk framework in alignment with CMA regulatory expectations and the parent organization’s standards.

3.3 Day-to-Day Operations Management

• Oversee all daily operational functions of the Saudi brokerage business, including trade execution support, client onboarding operations, order management, settlements, and back-office processing.
• Establish and maintain robust operational controls to ensure accuracy, timeliness, and regulatory compliance across all business processes.
• Monitor key operational metrics and performance indicators, reporting regularly to the CEO and Board on operational performance, capacity, and risk.
• Manage relationships with exchanges, clearing houses, custodians, and counterparties relevant to the Saudi and regional markets.
• Ensure business continuity and operational resilience through the development and maintenance of Business Continuity Plans (BCPs) and disaster recovery procedures.
• Oversee the end-to-end client onboarding process, ensuring it is operationally efficient, CMA-compliant, and consistent with the firm’s client service standards.

3.4 Technology & Digital Operations

• Lead the selection, implementation, and ongoing management of the trading platform, order management system (OMS), CRM, and back-office technology infrastructure for the Saudi operation.
• Work with the parent organization’s technology teams in Hong Kong to leverage existing platforms, systems, and integrations where appropriate, ensuring localisation for the Saudi market.
• Drive the digitisation and automation of operational workflows to deliver efficiency, scalability, and an exceptional client experience consistent with the firm’s round-the-clock fast-trading proposition.
• Oversee cybersecurity, data protection, and IT governance practices in line with CMA requirements and international best practices.
• Evaluate and integrate market data, research, and analytics tools to support client advisory and dealing activities.

3.5 People, Culture & Organisation

• Recruit, develop, and lead the operational team for the Saudi entity, building a high-performance culture aligned with the organization’s values of integrity, pragmatism, and client service excellence.
• Define and implement the organizational structure and staffing plan for the Saudi operation, in consultation with the CEO and HQ.
• Oversee HR operations including onboarding, performance management, training and development, and employee relations for the Saudi team.
• Champion Saudization (Nitaqat) requirements, ensuring the firm meets all applicable nationalization obligations in the Kingdom.
• Embed the parent organization’s 46-year corporate culture and service ethos within the Saudi team, ensuring continuity of brand values across geographies.
• Develop and manage the Saudi entity’s operational budget, monitoring expenditure against plan and providing regular financial reporting to the CEO and HQ.
• Identify and implement cost efficiencies across operational functions without compromising service quality or regulatory compliance.
• Support the CEO in developing the commercial strategy for the Saudi market, including pricing, product range, and distribution channel development.
• Monitor and manage operational costs related to clearing, settlement, custody, data, and technology, ensuring the business operates within approved parameters.
• Contribute to business development activities where operational capability is a differentiator, including client presentations, RFP responses, and partnership discussions.
• Develop and maintain the operational risk framework for the Saudi entity, identifying, assessing, and mitigating operational risks across all business functions.
• Work closely with the Chief Compliance Officer to ensure operational processes and controls are fully aligned with the CMA compliance framework.
• Oversee incident management, operational breach reporting, and root cause analysis processes, ensuring timely escalation and resolution of operational issues.
• Ensure robust segregation of duties, access controls, and internal control mechanisms are embedded across all operational functions.
• Maintain and regularly test the Business Continuity Plan, crisis management procedures, and operational resilience arrangements.

3.8 Governance & Board Reporting

• Report regularly to the CEO and Board on operational performance, key risks, technology developments, and strategic initiatives.
• Prepare and present operational reports, dashboards, and risk assessments for Board and management committees.
• Participate as a member of the senior leadership team, contributing to the organization’s strategic planning, budget setting, and business development activities.
• Maintain strong relationships with the parent organization’s Hong Kong headquarters, ensuring alignment on group strategy, policies, and operational standards

4. QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENT

4.1 Education

• Bachelor’s degree (minimum) in Business Administration, Finance, Economics, Operations Management, or a related discipline from a recognized university.
• Professional qualifications in operations, project management (PMP, Prince2), or financial services (CFA, CISI) are advantageous.

4.2 Professional Experience

• Minimum of 10–15 years of progressive experience in operations management within the financial services, capital markets, or brokerage sector.
• Minimum of 5 years in a senior leadership role (COO, Head of Operations, or equivalent) with direct responsibility for building or managing operational functions.
• Demonstrated experience establishing or scaling a brokerage, financial services, or capital markets operation, preferably including a market entry or start-up phase.
• Strong track record in technology implementation and digital transformation within a trading or brokerage environment.
• Experience operating within a regulated financial services environment, with familiarity with CMA regulations or equivalent GCC/MENA regulatory frameworks strongly preferred.
• Prior experience working with or for an international financial institution expanding into the Saudi or GCC market is highly desirable.
• A solid understanding of Hong Kong / Greater China’s financial culture would be considered highly advantageous.
• Experience managing cross-functional teams across multiple jurisdictions and working with offshore headquarters or parent organizations is advantageous.
• Strong Arabic and English language skills