Senior Vice President, Head of Equity Middle Office, Markets Operations

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Job Overview

The Senior Vice President, Head of Equity Middle Office for Japan, is a senior leadership position responsible for strategically managing and overseeing all aspects of the Equity Middle Office functions within Citi's Japan operations. This role is pivotal in ensuring the seamless, efficient, and compliant post-trade processing of all equity and equity derivative transactions originating from trading desks in Japan. The Head of Equity Middle Office drives operational excellence, manages a team of professionals, fosters strong relationships with Front Office, Back Office, clients, and regulators, and actively contributes to the firm's strategic objectives and risk mitigation framework in the Japanese market.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership & Management:

• Lead and manage a team of Equity Middle Office professionals in Japan, fostering a culture of high performance, accountability, and continuous improvement.

• Develop and implement strategic objectives for the Japan Equity Middle Office, aligning with global Markets Operations goals and local business priorities.

• Oversee workforce planning, talent development, performance management, and succession planning within the team.

• Drive a proactive operational model, anticipating challenges and implementing solutions to maintain service excellence.

Operational Oversight & Excellence:

• Ensure robust and efficient post-trade processing, including trade capture, validation, confirmation, affirmation, and settlement instruction for all Japanese equity and equity derivative products (TSE, OSE, etc.).

• Oversee daily reconciliation processes and ensure timely resolution of all breaks, exceptions, and discrepancies.

• Manage and optimize workflows to maximize Straight-Through Processing (STP) rates and minimize manual intervention.

• Act as the primary escalation point for complex operational issues, trade problems, and client inquiries, driving effective resolution.

Client, Front Office & Stakeholder Engagement:

• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with Japan-based Equity trading desks, acting as a trusted operational advisor and partner.

• Serve as a key operational contact for institutional clients, custodians, and external counterparties, ensuring high levels of client satisfaction.

• Collaborate extensively with Back Office (Settlements, Custody), Technology, Compliance, Legal, and Risk functions to ensure seamless end-to-end processing and adherence to internal/external requirements.

• Represent the Japan Equity Middle Office in regional and global forums, contributing to cross-regional best practices and initiatives.

Risk Management & Regulatory Compliance:

• Own and manage the operational risk profile for the Japan Equity Middle Office, ensuring robust controls are in place and actively monitored.

• Ensure strict adherence to all Japanese financial regulations (e.g., JFSA, JSDA rules, BOJ guidelines) and global Citi policies.

• Lead participation in regulatory inspections (e.g., JSDA), internal audits, and external reviews, providing comprehensive responses and ensuring timely remediation of any findings.

• Proactively identify and escalate emerging risks, control gaps, or compliance challenges, developing and implementing appropriate mitigation strategies.

Change Management & Project Leadership:

• 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.

• Partner with Technology to drive infrastructure improvements, system enhancements, and automation efforts that meet business and client requirements.

• Oversee the operational readiness for new products, markets, and regulatory changes, including UAT and process re-engineering.

Qualifications:

• Experience:

  • 10+ years of progressive experience in Equity Middle Office, Operations Management, or Trade Support, with a minimum of 5 years in a leadership or managerial capacity within a global investment bank or major financial institution in Japan.

  • 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 regulatory landscape in Japan.

• Technical Skills:

  • Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel and 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 skills.

  • 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 thinker 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.

• Master’s degree or relevant professional certifications (e.g., CFA, PMP) preferred.

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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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