Markets Operations - Custody Operations Manager, Manager

OCBC Bank; Singapore; On-site; SGD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

OCBC Bank in Singapore seeks a Custody Operations Manager to oversee end-to-end custody processing, asset servicing, and risk-controlled operations. The role collaborates with Front Office, Risk, Compliance, Finance, Technology, and external custodians to ensure accurate settlement and client service excellence.

An office-based role at Tampines, with responsibility for process improvements, regulatory readiness, and leadership of a capable operations team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Business, Economics or related discipline.
• Minimum 5 years of custody/settlement experience in a bank or custodian.
• Proven ability to manage multiple stakeholders and complex priorities.

Responsibilities

• Process end-to-end custody transactions with validation, settlement and reconciliation.
• Oversee asset servicing, corporate actions and income processing.
• Perform daily reconciliation of positions, cash balances and transactions.
• Identify operational risks and drive remediation.
• Manage relationships with Front Office, Risk, Compliance, Finance, Technology and custodians.
• Lead readiness for new products and regulatory changes.
• Coach and supervise team members and promote risk awareness.

Skills

Leadership experience

Analytical skills

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Risk awareness

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business, Economics or related discipline

Job description

WHO WE ARE: As Singapore’s longest established bank, we have been dedicated to enabling individuals and businesses to achieve their aspirations since 1932. How? By taking the time to truly understand people. From there, we provide support, services, solutions, and career paths that meet their individual needs and desires. Today, we’re on a journey of transformation. Leveraging technology and creativity to become a future-ready learning organisation. But for all that change, our strategic ambition is consistently clear and bold, which is to be Asia’s leading financial services partner for a sustainable future. We invite you to build the bank of the future. Innovate the way we deliver financial services. Work in friendly, supportive teams. Build lasting value in your community. Help people grow their assets, business, and investments. Take your learning as far as you can. Or simply enjoy a vibrant, future-ready career. Your Opportunity Starts Here.

The Custody Operations Manager is responsible for the accurate, timely and controlled delivery of end-to-end custody operations. The role oversees securities settlement, asset servicing, cash and position reconciliation, client and counterparty instructions, exception management and operational controls across relevant markets and products. Reporting to the Head, Markets Operations, the successful candidate will provide functional operational support to the team, manage operational risk and service quality, and work closely with Front Office, Product, Client Services, Risk, Compliance, Finance, Technology, custodians, agents and market infrastructures for the OCBC Custody business. The role also supports new products, market changes, system enhancements and process set up.

Key Responsibilities

• Custody Transaction Processing Perform end-to-end processing of custody transactions, including instruction validation, matching, settlement, position maintenance and exception resolution for client assets ranging from traditional assets to digital assets Working with sub-custodians to make sure trades are processed accurately within market, client and internal cut-off times. Support Custody business in new markets, new client initiatives, and be the operational SME to client’ transactions, asset management in traditional, physical such as precious metal and digital asset types
• Asset Servicing and Income Processing Oversee processing of corporate actions, income events, redemptions, maturities and other asset-servicing activities. Validate event details, entitlement calculations, elections, deadlines and client or Front Office instructions before processing. Monitor receivables, claims, market deadlines and unresolved events, with timely escalation of material risks or service issues. Ensure client and internal records are updated accurately and supporting evidence is retained.
• Reconciliation and Exception Management Perform or oversee daily reconciliation of securities positions, cash balances, transactions, fees and other relevant custody records. Investigate nostro, depot, ledger and system breaks, and coordinate resolution with agents, custodians, Finance, Technology and relevant business teams. Monitor aged breaks, failed settlements, overdrafts, claims and suspense items, ensuring clear ownership and timely closure. Produce accurate management information on volumes, service levels, exceptions, risks and remediation progress.
• Risk, Control and Governance Own daily operational controls and ensure control evidence is complete, accurate and retained in accordance with requirements. Identify operational risks, control gaps and recurring issues; perform root-cause analysis and implement sustainable remediation. Maintain procedures, process maps, control documentation, escalation protocols and business continuity arrangements. Support audits, regulatory reviews, risk assessments, incident investigations and management reporting. Ensure activities comply with applicable internal policies and relevant regulatory, sanctions and financial-crime requirements.
• Service and Stakeholder Management Manage operational relationships with Front Office, Product, Client Services, Risk, Compliance, Finance, Technology, external custodians, agents and market infrastructures. Provide timely and clear updates on settlement risks, market events, exceptions, incidents and service-impacting issues. Support client enquiries and service reviews by providing accurate operational analysis and driving resolution of recurring issues. Escalate material risks, control breaches and service failures promptly and transparently.
• Change and Operational Readiness Assess operational readiness for new products, markets, custodians, regulatory changes and system implementations. Lead or support requirements definition, testing, implementation, procedure updates and post-deployment monitoring. Drive automation, standardisation and process redesign to strengthen controls, improve scalability and reduce manual risk. Ensure appropriate training, documentation, controls and support models are in place before production implementation.
• Team and Functional Leadership Supervise daily work allocation, capacity, control completion, service delivery and exception escalation. Coach team members, provide technical guidance and maintain adequate cross-training and coverage. Promote a strong risk and control culture, disciplined execution and continuous improvement. Act as a subject-matter expert for custody settlement, asset servicing, reconciliation and operational-control processes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Business, Economics or a related discipline. Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in custody, securities operations, settlement, asset servicing or post-trade operations within a bank, custodian or financial institution. Strong understanding of securities transaction lifecycles, settlement practices, custody account structures, corporate actions, income processing and reconciliation controls. Experience in operational-risk management, incident investigation, audit support, procedure governance and issue remediation. Demonstrated ability to manage operational priorities, complex exceptions and multiple stakeholders in a deadline-driven environment. Leadership experience or demonstrated capability to provide functional supervision, coaching and work allocation. Experience with system implementation, testing, automation or process transformation is preferred.

Core Competencies

• Strong analytical, investigative and problem-solving skills.
• High attention to detail, with a disciplined approach to operational controls and record keeping.
• Clear written and verbal communication, with the confidence to escalated risks and influence stakeholders.
• Ability to work collaboratively across business, operations, risk, technology and external service providers.
• Client and service orientation, balanced with sound risk judgement.
• Adaptability and resilience in managing market deadlines, operational incidents and changing priorities.

The rank offered will align with your demonstrated expertise and background

Side Note: Ability to support business operations outside standard working hours, including weekends and public holidays, when required by market events, incidents or implementation activities.

100% Work -in- Office role based at Tampines

During the interview, a 5-minute assessment test will be administered. To ensure optimal performance, please attend the interview in a composed and alert frame of mind . Further details regarding the test will be provided during the interview.

What we offer

• Competitive base salary.
• A suite of holistic, flexible benefits to suit every lifestyle.
• Community initiatives.
• Industry-leading learning and professional development opportunities.
• Your wellbeing, growth and aspirations are every bit as cared for as the needs of our customers.

What we offer

• Competitive base salary.
• A suite of holistic, flexible benefits to suit every lifestyle.
• Community initiatives.
• Industry-leading learning and professional development opportunities.
• Your wellbeing, growth and aspirations are every bit as cared for as the needs of our customers.

Find the best version of yourself in a friendly, supportive team. Build lasting value in your community. Help people grow their assets, business, and investments. Take your learning as far as you can. Or simply enjoy a vibrant, future-ready career. Your Opportunity Starts Here

As the longest established Singapore bank, formed in 1932 from the merger of three local banks, we have grown from strength to strength to become a regional financial services group. With a deep history in Asia, we offer the most comprehensive coverage across ASEAN and Greater China, complemented with a presence in the leading economies of New York, London and Sydney. We are the second largest financial services group in Southeast Asia by assets with one of the world’s highest credit rating (Aa1 by Moody’s and AA- by both Fitch and S&P). We offer private banking services through our wholly-owned subsidiary, Bank of Singapore, which operates on a unique open-architecture product platform to source for the best-in-class products to meet its clients’ goals. Our insurance subsidiary, Great Eastern Holdings, is the oldest and most established life insurance group in Singapore and Malaysia.