Chief Operating Officer

About the Organization

Our client is a fast-execution trading firm providing seamless connectivity to global financial markets. Focused on delivering comprehensive investment and wealth management solutions, it serves retail and corporate clients across Hong Kong, China, and the broader Asia Pacific region. Currently, the firm is executing an international growth plan and applying for a Capital Markets Authority (CMA) license in Saudi Arabia to extend securities dealing and capital markets services to Saudi retail and institutional clientele, operating from Riyadh. The Saudi branch will uphold the company's core values of integrity, sincerity, and pragmatic financial services aimed at enhancing clients' wealth.

Position Summary

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) plays an essential leadership role, overseeing all operational aspects of the Saudi Arabian business. Reporting directly to the CEO, the COO will serve as the operational pillar, transforming strategic goals into practical daily execution. This foundational position involves creating the Saudi business's operational infrastructure, including staffing, technology, and vendor partnerships, in close collaboration with the CEO, Chief Compliance Officer, and the headquarters in Hong Kong.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the complete operational setup of the Saudi entity: establishing office infrastructure, deploying technology, and onboarding vendors in Riyadh.
• Devise and implement the operational launch strategy alongside CEO and HQ to meet CMA licensing and commercial commencement requirements.
• Coordinate across legal, compliance, finance, and IT departments to ensure all operational controls and systems are in place before regulated activities begin.
• Manage procurement and relationships with third-party suppliers, including technology vendors, custodians, clearing brokers, data providers, and facilities management.
• Develop operational policies, procedures, and service standards consistent with the firm's professionalism and CMA regulations.
• Assist the Chief Compliance Officer and CEO in CMA licensing preparations, ensuring all operational documentation, business plans, and process mappings meet regulatory standards.
• Maintain operational infrastructure, staffing models, and systems in compliance with CMA regulations for a licensed dealing entity.
• Engage with CMA and external advisors regarding operational concerns during the licensing process.
• Develop and maintain an operational risk framework aligned with CMA expectations and corporate standards.
• Oversee day-to-day operations including trade execution support, client onboarding, order management, settlements, and back-office functions.
• Implement stringent operational controls to safeguard accuracy, timeliness, and regulatory compliance.
• Monitor operational metrics and report performance, capacity, and risks regularly to CEO and Board.
• Manage relationships with exchanges, clearing houses, custodians, and relevant counterparties within Saudi and regional markets.
• Ensure business continuity and operational resilience through comprehensive Business Continuity Plans and disaster recovery protocols.
• Supervise the client onboarding process to guarantee efficiency, CMA compliance, and alignment with service excellence standards.
• Lead the acquisition and management of technology systems including trading platforms, OMS, CRM, and back-office infrastructure tailored for the Saudi market.
• Collaborate with Hong Kong IT teams to leverage and adapt existing technological platforms appropriately.
• Drive digitization and automation initiatives to enhance efficiency and scalability, supporting the firm's 24/7 fast-trading model.
• Oversee cybersecurity, data protection, and IT governance in accordance with CMA and international standards.
• Select and integrate market data, research, and analytics tools to bolster client advisory and trading activities.
• Recruit, mentor, and manage the operational team, promoting a culture of high performance aligned with company values.
• Define organizational structure and staffing plans for the Saudi office in consultation with CEO and HQ.
• Manage HR functions including onboarding, performance evaluations, training, and employee relations for the Saudi team.
• Ensure compliance with Saudization (Nitaqat) requirements and nationalization policies.
• Embed the organization's established corporate culture and service values within the local team.
• Administer operational budgeting, monitor costs, and provide financial reports to executive leadership and HQ.
• Identify cost-saving measures without compromising regulatory compliance or service quality.
• Support the CEO in defining commercial strategies including pricing, product offerings, and distribution channels for the Saudi market.
• Track operational expenses related to clearing, settlement, custody, data, and technology.
• Contribute to business development efforts where operational expertise provides competitive advantage.
• Develop and maintain an operational risk management framework encompassing risk identification, assessment, and mitigation.
• Collaborate with compliance leadership to align operations fully with CMA requirements.
• Manage incident handling, breach reporting, root cause analyses, and timely resolution of operational issues.
• Implement segregation of duties, access restrictions, and internal controls across all operational functions.
• Regularly test and update Business Continuity Plans, crisis management, and resilience strategies.
• Provide regular operational updates, risk reports, and strategic insights to CEO and Board.
• Prepare detailed dashboards and assessments for senior management and Board committees.
• Participate in senior leadership forums contributing to strategic planning, budgets, and organizational growth.
• Maintain strong strategic and operational linkages with Hong Kong headquarters to ensure consistency with group policies and standards.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Business Administration, Finance, Economics, Operations Management, or related fields from an accredited institution.
• Professional certifications in operations or project management (e.g., PMP, Prince2) or financial services (e.g., CFA, CISI) are beneficial.
• At least 10 to 15 years of ascending operational leadership experience in financial services, capital markets, or brokerage sectors.
• Minimum 5 years in a senior operational leadership role with responsibility for building or managing operations.
• Demonstrated history of setting up or scaling brokerage or financial services businesses, particularly during market entry or startup phases.
• Proven expertise in technology deployments and digital transformations in trading or brokerage environments.
• Experience working under regulatory frameworks like CMA or equivalent GCC/MENA authorities is highly preferred.
• Background in international finance expansion into Saudi or GCC markets is advantageous.
• Familiarity with financial cultures of Hong Kong and Greater China is desirable.
• Proven ability to manage cross-jurisdictional teams and liaison with offshore headquarters.
• Fluency in both Arabic and English languages is required.