We are seeking a seasoned Vice President to lead end‑to‑end post‑trade custody operations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), covering securities settlement, cash and FX operational support, corporate actions & income, reconciliations, and client onboarding/account setup – Sunday to Thursday. The role will own strategy, execution, risk & control, client experience, and transformation across the KSA post‑trade ecosystem: trading on Saudi Exchange, clearing via Muqassa (CCP), and depository/settlement via Edaa, with settlement cash movements supported through SAMA. The role will scale the operating model to support rapid market growth, deliver superior service, and strengthen the control environment while partnering closely with internal and external stakeholders.
Why this role is important to us
State Street is one of the world’s largest global custodians, with over USD 51.7 trillion in AUC/A, and is executing a growth strategy that includes expanding direct market presence.
As part of this strategy, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is a priority market, supported by Vision 2030 reforms, increasing foreign participation, and strong institutional demand.
This role is critical to:
Enabling scalable market entry and growth by delivering strong, controlled post‑trade operations aligned to local market infrastructure and rules.
Ensuring a high-quality client experience through timely settlement, strong exception management, and robust controls as KSA market activity expands.
Supporting the firm’s ability to deepen relationships with key institutional clients as the market evolves.
Key responsibilities (KSA-specific)
1) Strategic & Operational Leadership
Own the KSA post‑trade strategy; set clear KPIs, SLAs, controls, and documentation (SOPs, playbooks).
Lead securities clearing and settlement at Edaa, including T+2 exchange trades and negotiated deals (T+0 to T+5) in line with KSA market practice.
Oversee DvP cash settlement via SAMA through our cash correspondent bank, ensuring funding readiness and timely resolution of cash and securities breaks.
Direct FX operational support (confirmations, value dates, SSIs) to meet client cash needs and settlement requirements.
Own end‑to‑end corporate actions (entitlements, postings, reconciliations, tax) and income processing with high data quality.
Govern client onboarding, account set‑up, including Investor Identification Number capture/validation, and QFI onboarding to ensure settlement readiness.
2) Risk, Control & Governance
Act as first line of defence: strengthen the control environment, implement RCSA, and maintain audit‑ready documentation.
Ensure adherence to market cutoffs and procedures (Saudi Exchange, Muqassa, Edaa, SAMA); manage fails, market claims, and rollovers.
Own incident management, root‑cause analysis, corrective actions, and preventive controls; drive continuous improvement.
Oversee SWIFT ISO 15022 (MT) messaging quality and ISO 20022 (MX) messaging readiness to maximize STP and minimize exceptions.
Lead business continuity planning (BCP), resiliency testing, and operational risk reporting to senior leadership.
3) People Leadership
Build and lead a high‑performing team of managers and specialists; provide coaching, feedback, and career development.
Own workforce planning (capacity, skills matrix, cross‑coverage) and location strategy; ensure Sunday–Thursday market coverage.
Drive performance management, succession planning, and a diverse, inclusive culture aligned to enterprise values.
Define role clarity, objectives, and development plans, sponsor training and certification for core market and technical skills.
4) Client, Market & Stakeholder Management
Engage at executive level with clients, manage SLAs, and ensure delivery against commitments; own high‑severity escalations.
Partner with brokers, custodians, clearing/settlement participants, market entities and internal teams (Ops, Risk, Technology, Client Services).
Represent the firm in working groups; provide thought leadership on market changes and operational implications.
Oversee vendor performance and service reviews; drive corrective actions and efficiency improvements.
5) Transformation & Technology
Lead automation and digitization initiatives to improve STP, reduce cycle time, and enhance client experience.
Own operational MIS and dashboards, including KPI definitions, thresholds, and trend analysis.
6) Financial & Capacity Management
Own budget, forecasting, and cost‑to‑serve; track productivity and unit cost; deliver efficiency targets.
Run utilization and capacity models; balance demand, staffing, and cutoffs; maintain resilience for peak volumes and market events.
Prepare monthly Operations Review Packs for senior leadership covering KPIs, risks, client escalations, remediation, and automation pipeline.
7) Metrics & KPI Framework
STP levels and timely resolution of operational exceptions.
Settlement performance, including value‑date settlement rates and fail management.
Cash and securities reconciliation quality and aged break management.
Cash funding accuracy, FX confirmation timeliness, and instruction lifecycle efficiency.
Corporate actions entitlement accuracy and event processing quality.
Operational risk effectiveness, audit issue closure, and BCP test outcomes.
Client service and financial efficiency, including SLA adherence, NPS, and cost‑to‑serve.
Experience & preferred qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in finance, Accounting, Economics, or related field; Master's/MBA preferred.
12–15+ years in post‑trade operations (settlement, corporate actions, cash/FX, reconciliations); 5–8+ years in people leadership.
Strong KSA/Middle East market expertise with working knowledge of Saudi Exchange, Muqassa (CCP), Edaa (CSD), and SAMA payments.
Hands‑on knowledge of SWIFT ISO 15022 (MT) and exposure to ISO 20022 (MX) SWIFT messaging.
Demonstrated experience building controls, managing audits, and driving process re‑engineering and automation (Lean Six Sigma a plus).
Executive presence, stakeholder management, and excellent communication skills; able to navigate complex escalations.
Familiarity with platforms such as Bloomberg, Refinitiv and corporate‑actions systems; strong MS Excel/Power BI for analytics.
#LI
Across the globe, institutional investors rely on us to help them manage risk, respond to challenges, and drive performance and profitability. We keep our clients at the heart of everything we do, and smart, engaged employees are essential to our continued success.
We are committed to fostering an environment where every employee feels valued and empowered to reach their full potential. As an essential partner in our shared success, you’ll benefit from inclusive development opportunities, flexible work-life support, paid volunteer days, and vibrant employee networks that keep you connected to what matters most. Join us in shaping the future.
As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we consider all qualified applicants for all positions without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, age, disability, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, citizenship, marital status, domestic partnership or civil union status, familial status, military and veteran status, and other characteristics protected by applicable law.
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