Strategy and Execution Lead – Financial Operations (9501FA2)

Referment; New York (NY); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Referment is partnering with a global investment and technology firm to fill a Strategy and Execution Lead role in its financial operations function. The senior individual contributor will translate leadership priorities into multi-year change programmes, aligning front-, middle- and back-office stakeholders and driving automation and AI-enabled improvements.

You’ll shape operating-model design, governance with service providers, and deliver tangible results through hands-on execution and

Qualifications

• 10–15 years in leading complex ops or tech programmes.
• Deep knowledge of core Trade Lifecycle (Front, Middle, Back Office).
• Hands-on IC capable of diagnosing problems and delivering solutions.

Responsibilities

• Lead operating-model projects across workflow design and implementation.
• Develop rigorous recommendations for senior leadership and translate to scalable changes.
• Engage with front-, middle-, back-office teams to surface issues and set priorities.
• Govern strategic service providers through governance forums and KPI reviews.
• Build programme-management capability and mentor colleagues as a senior practitioner.
• Partner with tech and data teams to drive workflow automation and AI opportunities.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Programme management

Stakeholder governance

Operational redesign

Hands-on IC

Generative AI knowledge

Tools

Generative AI tools

Workflow automation

Data analytics

Job description

Referment is working with a global investment and technology firm seeking a Strategy and Execution Lead for its financial operations function. This role sits at the intersection of operating-model design, technology, vendor strategy and programme delivery across middle- and back-office operations. This is a senior individual contributor role designed for a hands-on practitioner who excels at direct execution and project ownership.

You’ll turn senior leadership priorities into structured, multi-year change programmes. The remit combines analytical problem solving with practical execution: redesigning workflows, aligning front-, middle- and back-office stakeholders, holding strategic service providers accountable, and helping technology and data teams move automation and AI-enabled improvements into production.

The Role

• Shape and lead operating-model projects spanning workflow design, stakeholder alignment and implementation across the trade lifecycle.
• Develop rigorous recommendations for senior leaders and translate decisions into scalable operational change.
• Run structured engagement with front-, middle- and back-office teams to surface issues, agree priorities and maintain accountability.
• Lead governance for strategic service providers through executive forums, working groups, KPI reviews and escalation management.
• Build programme-management capability and provide mentorship to colleagues as a senior practitioner within the function.
• Partner with technology and data teams to identify and deliver workflow automation, systems integration and generative-AI opportunities.

What We’re Looking For

• Substantial experience leading complex, multi-year operations or technology programmes involving senior stakeholders; between 10 and 15 years of experience is preferred.
• Direct experience and deep domain knowledge of the core Trade Lifecycle, including Front, Middle, and Back Office operations.
• A proven track record as a hands‑on individual contributor who can diagnose operational problems, design solutions, and oversee implementation through to completion.
• Experience building stakeholder‑engagement and governance models and converting service and performance data into clear action.
• Strong strategic judgement and the independence to create momentum through ambiguity and organisational constraints.
• Relevant knowledge of operating-model design, workflow optimisation or technology programme management in middle‑or back‑office environments.

Experience governing a complex strategic vendor relationship is highly preferred. Hands‑on experience as a practitioner with Generative AI tools and a track record of using them to drive measurable efficiency improvements would be highly valuable. Exposure to reporting and analytics tools, workflow automation, platform data or systems integration is also beneficial.

This role is ideal for a financial‑services transformation leader, operations strategy director, or senior programme lead who thrives in an individual contributor capacity. We are particularly interested in management consultants who have successfully moved beyond recommendations to own internal implementation and delivery.

#Referment