Operations Technology Leader Financial Services

Job Description: We are seeking an experienced technology leader to oversee platforms and technology solutions supporting financial operations. This individual will work closely with business and technology leadership to improve the systems, integrations, and processes that support investment and client operations.

The position requires a combination of financial-services domain knowledge, technology leadership, systems architecture experience, and people management. The successful candidate will help establish technology priorities, modernize operational capabilities, improve system performance, and identify opportunities for automation and process improvement.

Responsibilities

Technology Strategy & Architecture

• Partner with business and technology leadership to establish priorities and develop a roadmap for operations technology.

• Develop and evolve the architecture supporting investment, custody, accounting, and related operational functions.

• Maintain a strong understanding of the applications, integrations, data flows, and infrastructure supporting operational processes.

• Evaluate existing technology and recommend enhancements, modernization efforts, or new solutions based on business requirements.

• Ensure technology investments support scalability, operational efficiency, reliability, and client service objectives.

Operational Platforms & Integrations

• Provide leadership and oversight for systems supporting trust accounting, custody, and investment operations.

• Manage and enhance integrations between internal applications and third-party financial platforms.

• Work closely with operations teams to understand business requirements and translate them into practical technology solutions.

• Improve the reliability, scalability, and performance of systems supporting critical daily operations.

• Provide technology leadership for initiatives involving post-trade processing, asset servicing, fees, tax-related functions, data management, and accounting.

Engineering & Technology Delivery

• Provide technical direction for application development, system integration, APIs, and supporting infrastructure.

• Lead complex technology initiatives through requirements, architecture, development, implementation, and production support.

• Promote sound software engineering and delivery practices across the organization.

• Support modern development and deployment practices, including APIs, containerization, infrastructure automation, and CI/CD.

• Collaborate with engineering teams on the development and modernization of internal applications and user-facing tools.

Automation & Process Improvement

• Identify opportunities to simplify operational workflows and reduce manual processes through technology.

• Evaluate and implement automation and AI capabilities where they can improve accuracy, productivity, scalability, or service.

• Partner with operational stakeholders to redesign inefficient processes and introduce more effective technology-enabled workflows.

• Anticipate future operational requirements and incorporate them into longer-term technology planning.

Vendor & Business Partnership

• Manage relationships with technology vendors and external service providers supporting operational platforms.

• Monitor vendor performance, system capabilities, service levels, and delivery commitments.

• Serve as a key technology partner to operations leadership and other internal stakeholders.

• Communicate technology strategies, project status, risks, and recommendations to both technical and non-technical audiences.

• Support reporting and information needs for operational and senior leadership.

Team Leadership

• Lead and develop technology professionals supporting operational platforms and initiatives.

• Establish priorities and allocate resources across projects, enhancements, and production needs.

• Provide coaching, feedback, training, and professional development for team members.

• Promote accountability, collaboration, technical excellence, and continuous improvement.

• Support adoption of new systems and processes through effective communication and change management.

Qualifications Required

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related discipline.

• 10+ years of technology experience within financial services or a closely related industry.

• Strong understanding of software architecture, application design, and systems integration.

• Experience leading technology initiatives from initial planning and design through implementation and ongoing production support.

• Knowledge of investment and securities operations, including custody, asset servicing, accounting, and transaction processing.

• Understanding of operational processing associated with asset classes such as equities, fixed income, mutual funds, and ETFs.

• Experience working with APIs and modern integration approaches, including REST and/or GraphQL.

• Familiarity with API management or integration platforms such as WSO2 or comparable technologies.

• Familiarity with modern software development and deployment practices, including CI/CD, containerization, and infrastructure automation.

• Exposure to technologies such as Docker, Terraform, Bitbucket, or comparable tools.

• Understanding of modern web application development; experience with React or similar front-end frameworks is beneficial.

• Familiarity with Agile development and delivery methodologies.

• Strong understanding of technology infrastructure and enterprise application environments.

• Demonstrated experience managing technical teams and developing technology professionals.

• Ability to manage multiple projects and operational priorities simultaneously.

• Strong communication and presentation skills with the ability to work effectively with senior business and technology stakeholders.

• Ability to connect technology architecture and investment decisions to measurable business outcomes.

• Strong interest in automation, emerging technologies, and improving operational efficiency.

Preferred

• Experience with enterprise trust accounting and/or custody technology platforms.

• Experience with Global Plus or similar trust and securities processing platforms.

• Familiarity with Charles River or comparable investment management and trading technology.

• Experience integrating investment management, accounting, custody, and operational platforms.

• Experience implementing automation or AI solutions within financial-services operations.

• Relevant cloud or technology certifications are a plus.