CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER (COO) – direct & enforce OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE to ensure cross-market [...]

This is an excellent opportunity for a CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER (COO) to design, implement and enforce operational excellence, to achieve scalability and ensure cross-market efficiencies for the leading GLOBAL INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT PLATFORM.

• Based in Johannesburg
• Salary disclosed on first discussion

THE COMPANY

This is the Leading Investment Management Platform Provider globally – a FinTech / WealthTech firm who have revolutionised the INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT and ASSET MANAGEMENT sectors.

They partner with over 650 financial institutions and 12,000 wealth management firms, managing $2 trillion in assets and serving over 24 million end investors.

The company employs 5,000 people across 30 countries. They provide a comprehensive, end-to-end wealth management platform, integrating technology, infrastructure, and investment operations within a regulated financial environment.

Operating in 20 international markets, they process 25 million transactions per month, making them one of the largest trade processing and asset servicing providers globally.

THE ROLE:

As COO, you will oversee all business operations, investment operations, client services, value proposition, and financial crime risk mitigation. You will implement control frameworks, enforce risk governance, and ensure compliance with local and international regulations.

Reporting to the MD and serving as a statutory Board Director, you will ensure corporate governance, regulatory compliance, and financial oversight. The role includes business continuity planning, change governance, and financial performance management, driving operational resilience, efficiency, and innovation across global markets.

• Operational Leadership & Efficiency – Oversee investment operations, client services, and risk management, ensuring service delivery and regulatory compliance while optimizing cost structures.
• Strategic Growth & Standardization – Implement scalable, standardized processes to ensure cross-market efficiencies, aligning South African operations with global standards.
• Risk & Compliance Oversight – Manage financial crime prevention, operational risk frameworks, and business continuity planning, safeguarding the firm against fraud and regulatory breaches.
• Stakeholder & Change Management – Act as the gatekeeper for change governance, ensuring new platform releases and operational upgrades are executed with due diligence while fostering external and internal partnerships.

REQUIRED SKILLS:

• 15+ years of senior leadership experience within financial services, investment operations, or asset management.
• Proven experience managing large-scale operational teams in a regulated financial environment.
• Strong background in risk management, financial crime prevention, and business continuity planning.
• Experience in cross-market operational standardization and working with global teams.
• Previous responsibility for P&L, budget planning, and cost optimization in a complex operational setting.
• Strategic leadership with the ability to drive operational efficiency at scale.
• Strong understanding of investment platforms, financial regulations, and compliance requirements.
• Expertise in change management, process optimization, and digital transformation.
• Ability to manage stakeholders across multiple markets and collaborate with global teams.
• Data-driven decision-making with a focus on KPIs, risk assessment, and operational performance metrics.