Custody Manager

Alpaca; Saudi Arabia; On-site; SAR 250,000 - 350,000; Full time

Job summary

Alpaca in Saudi Arabia is seeking a Custody Manager to oversee the safekeeping and administration of client securities assets, ensuring compliance with CMA regulations. You will manage end-to-end custody lifecycle operations, interact with regulatory bodies, and lead a team towards operational excellence.

Ideal candidates should have over 7 years of experience in custody operations and strong knowledge of the Saudi capital markets. This role offers an opportunity to make a significant impact in a high-stakes environment.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in securities custody, clearing, or brokerage operations.
• Strong knowledge of Edaa depository services and Tadawul settlement processes.
• Excellent communication skills in Arabic and English.

Responsibilities

• Manage daily custody operations workflow and trade settlement.
• Serve as the primary contact with regulatory bodies.
• Design and improve processes to increase efficiency.

Skills

Securities custody experience

Knowledge of Edaa services

Deep understanding of CMA regulations

Communication skills in Arabic and English

Attention to detail

Team management experience

Job description

Your Role As a Custody Manager

You will be responsible for overseeing the safekeeping, settlement, and administration of client securities assets at Alpaca, ensuring the safety and integrity of billions of Saudi Riyals in customer holdings within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s capital markets.

As part of the Operations team, you will manage the end‑to‑end custody lifecycle for Alpaca’s brokerage and Trading API customers, encompassing asset safekeeping, trade settlement, corporate actions processing, reconciliation, and regulatory reporting.

Working closely with the Securities Depository Center (Edaa), the Saudi Exchange (Tadawul), custodian banks, and internal stakeholders, you will ensure that custody operations run seamlessly and in full compliance with the Capital Market Authority (CMA) regulations and other applicable Saudi financial laws.

Things You Get To Do

• Own and manage the daily custody operations workflow, including trade settlement, T+2 asset transfers, and position reconciliation across Saudi‑listed equities, Sukuk, and fixed‑income instruments.
• Serve as the primary point of contact with Edaa, Tadawul, custodian banks, and clearing entities.
• Design and improve operational processes to increase efficiency, reduce risk, and support business growth in alignment with CMA requirements.
• Lead corporate actions processing, including dividends, rights issues, stock splits, mergers, and Zatka‑related distributions.
• Collaborate with engineering and product teams to automate custody workflows and reduce manual touchpoints.
• Ensure compliance with CMA regulations, including the Securities Business Regulations, the Investment Funds Regulations, and client asset segregation requirements.
• Liaise with the CMA and other Saudi regulatory bodies during audits, inspections, and reporting cycles.
• Manage, mentor, and develop a team of custody operations professionals.

Who You Are (Must‑Haves)

• 7+ years of experience in securities custody, clearing, or brokerage operations, preferably within the Saudi or GCC capital markets.
• Strong knowledge of Edaa depository services, Tadawul settlement processes, and the Saudi securities lifecycle.
• Deep understanding of CMA regulations, including the Securities Business Regulations, Anti‑Money Laundering (AML) rules, and client asset protection requirements.
• Familiarity with Saudi‑listed asset classes including equities, Sukuk, ETFs, REITs, and government bonds.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills in both Arabic and English, with the ability to work across technical and non‑technical teams.
• Experience managing reconciliation processes and investigating and resolving settlement breaks.
• Proven ability to build, document, and improve operational procedures in a regulated environment.
• Strong attention to detail and a risk‑aware mindset.
• Experience managing or mentoring a team.

Who You Might Be (Nice‑to‑Haves)

• CME‑1 (Certified Market Expert) or other CMA‑recognized professional certifications.
• Experience working with Qualified Foreign Investor (QFI) programs or Swap arrangements on Tadawul.
• Experience working at a fintech, startup, or CMA‑authorized institution.
• Familiarity with APIs, automation tooling, or working closely with engineering teams to modernize custody operations.
• Experience or understanding of digital asset custody and blockchain‑based securities.
• Knowledge of Saudi Vision 2030 financial sector development initiatives and CSDI reforms.
• Experience working remotely or in a hybrid environment.