Discover your future at Citi

Working at Citi is far more than just a job. A career with us means joining a team of more than 230,000 dedicated people from around the globe. At Citi, you’ll have the opportunity to grow your career, give back to your community and make a real impact.

Job Overview

Shape your Career with Citi

At Citi, our Markets Operations teams are integral to the seamless functioning of global financial markets. We are at the forefront of ensuring efficient and compliant processing of diverse financial products, supporting trading desks, and managing complex transactions across various asset classes. Joining our team means contributing to a critical function that underpins Citi’s unparalleled global network, helping us deliver a broad range of financial services and products to our institutional clients worldwide. We continuously innovate to enhance operational efficiency and maintain robust risk management frameworks.

The Opportunity

We are seeking a strategic and experienced leader to join our team as Head of Equity Middle Office for Japan. This senior leadership position is pivotal in overseeing and managing all aspects of the Equity Middle Office functions within Citi's Japan operations. You will be responsible for ensuring seamless, efficient, and compliant post-trade processing for all equity and equity derivative transactions, driving operational excellence, leading a team of professionals, and fostering strong relationships with key stakeholders. This role actively contributes to Citi’s strategic objectives and risk mitigation framework in the Japanese market.

What You Will Do

• Lead, manage, and develop a team of Equity Middle Office professionals in Japan, cultivating a culture of high performance, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Develop and implement strategic objectives for the Japan Equity Middle Office, ensuring alignment with global Markets Operations goals and local business priorities.
• Drive robust and efficient post-trade processing for Japanese equity and equity derivative products (e.g., TSE, OSE), including trade capture, validation, confirmation, affirmation, and settlement instruction.
• Oversee daily reconciliation processes and ensure timely resolution of all breaks, exceptions, and discrepancies, while optimizing workflows to maximize Straight-Through Processing (STP) rates.
• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with Japan-based Equity trading desks, institutional clients, custodians, and external counterparties, serving as a trusted operational advisor.
• Own and manage the operational risk profile for the Japan Equity Middle Office, ensuring robust controls are in place and actively monitored, with strict adherence to all Japanese financial regulations (e.g., JFSA, JSDA rules, BOJ guidelines) and global Citi policies.
• Identify, champion, and lead change-the-bank initiatives and strategic projects aimed at enhancing operational efficiency, reducing costs, and improving the control environment within the Japan Equity Middle Office.

What We're Looking For

Experience

• Extensive progressive experience in Equity Middle Office, Operations Management, or Trade Support within a global investment bank or major financial institution in Japan, with proven leadership or managerial capacity.
• Deep expertise in Japanese equity markets, products (cash equities, equity derivatives, program trades), market structures (TSE, OSE), and post-trade infrastructure (JSCC, JASDEC, Omgeo CTM/Alert).
• Demonstrated track record of managing complex operational environments, leading process re-engineering, and delivering significant efficiency/control improvements.
• Strong understanding of operational risk management frameworks and the regulatory landscape in Japan.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint) for data analysis and presentations.
• Extensive experience with Front Office trading systems, Middle Office platforms, and Back Office settlement applications.

Licenses/Registrations

• JSDA Class 1 (Sales Representative Qualification) is a mandatory requirement.

Language Skills

• Fluent in Japanese (both written and verbal) is essential, including business-level keigo.
• Strong business-level English (both written and verbal) is required for effective communication with regional and global stakeholders.

Soft Skills

• Exceptional leadership, people management, and motivational capabilities.
• Superior analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities, even under pressure.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and negotiation skills to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Proactive, strategic thinking with a strong sense of ownership and accountability.
• Ability to navigate complex organizational structures and foster cross-functional collaboration.

Education

• Bachelor's degree/University degree in Finance, Economics, Business Administration, or a related field is required.
• A Master's degree or relevant professional certifications (e.g., CFA, PMP) is highly valued.

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Job Family Group:

Operations - Transaction Services

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Job Family:

Securities and Derivatives Processing

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Time Type:

Full time

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Most Relevant Skills

Please see the requirements listed above.

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Other Relevant Skills

For complementary skills, please see above and/or contact the recruiter.

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Citi is an equal opportunity employer, and qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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