Head of Clearing Operations

Selby Jennings; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 200,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial technology firm is seeking a Finance Tax and Accounting Recruitment Consultant to lead the establishment and scaling of its clearing operations. This high-impact role requires expertise in clearing operations and margining capabilities, with responsibilities including the development of operational workflows and recruitment of a performance-driven team. Successful candidates will have a background in regulated exchanges, showcasing strong leadership and strategic execution skills.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in clearing operations, ideally within a regulated exchange or FCM environment.
• Deep understanding of margining theory, collateral workflows, and risk management practices.
• Familiarity with post-trade operations and regulatory compliance.

Responsibilities

• Spearhead the development and execution of clearing operations.
• Construct a comprehensive business case for FCM integration.
• Collaborate with the Head of Clearing Engineering to define cross-functional requirements.

Skills

Experience in clearing operations

Understanding of margining theory

Risk management practices

Client onboarding

Regulatory compliance

Job description

This range is provided by Selby Jennings. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range

$200,000.00/yr - $250,000.00/yr

Direct message the job poster from Selby Jennings

Finance Tax and Accounting Recruitment Consultant

A pioneering financial technology firm is seeking a strategic leader to build and scale its clearing operations function from the ground up. This is a high-impact role focused on transitioning from a direct market access (DMA) model to a futures commission merchant (FCM) intermediation framework. The successful candidate will be instrumental in introducing margining capabilities, enhancing capital efficiency, and laying the operational foundation for a next‑generation, centrally cleared exchange.

Key Responsibilities

• Spearhead the development and execution of clearing operations for a fully collateralized, centrally cleared derivatives exchange.
• Construct a comprehensive business case and implementation roadmap for FCM integration, aligning with broader organizational goals.
• Collaborate closely with the Head of Clearing Engineering to define and deliver cross‑functional requirements across technology, risk, and compliance teams.
• Design and implement robust margining and collateral management systems, including real‑time risk monitoring and margin call processes.
• Develop operational workflows that reduce capital burdens on participants, such as mechanisms for intraday collateral return and optimization.
• Recruit, mentor, and lead a high‑performing clearing operations team, with a phased buildout planned over a three‑year horizon.

Ideal Background

• Proven experience in clearing operations, ideally within a regulated exchange or FCM environment.
• Deep understanding of margining theory, collateral workflows, and risk management practices.
• Familiarity with post‑trade operations, client onboarding, and regulatory compliance.
• Exposure to modern clearing models and infrastructure providers (e.g., those used by innovative fintech trading platforms).
• Strong ability to translate complex business needs into scalable operational solutions and drive cross‑functional execution.