Chief Operating Officer

Role overview

The organization is a trading and wealth management business serving retail and corporate clients with round-the-clock execution and access to global financial markets. It is expanding internationally and is preparing to secure a Capital Markets Authority (CMA) license in Saudi Arabia to provide securities dealing and related capital markets services from Riyadh.

This appointment is for a senior operational leader who will build and run the Saudi business from the ground up. The role reports to the CEO and Board of Directors and will act as the operational lead for the local entity, working closely with compliance, headquarters in Hong Kong, and external partners to set up the business for licensing, launch, and long-term growth.

Key responsibilities

The COO will take ownership of the end-to-end establishment and running of the Saudi operation, covering office setup, infrastructure, technology rollout, vendor management, and operating model design. The role requires close coordination with legal, finance, compliance, and IT teams to ensure the business is ready for regulated activity and commercial launch.

The position also includes support for the CMA licensing process, including operational documentation, business plans, process mapping, and alignment of staffing and systems with regulatory expectations. In day-to-day operations, the COO will oversee trade support, client onboarding, order management, settlement, back-office processing, business continuity, and operational control frameworks.

In addition, the COO will lead technology and digital operations, including selection and implementation of the trading platform, OMS, CRM, back-office tools, cybersecurity, data protection, and workflow automation. The role will also involve building the Saudi team, embedding the organization’s culture, supporting Saudization requirements, managing budgets and operational costs, strengthening controls and risk management, and preparing reports for the CEO and Board.

Qualifications and experience

A bachelor’s degree is required in Business Administration, Finance, Economics, Operations Management, or a related field from a recognized university. Professional certifications such as PMP, Prince2, CFA, or CISI are considered an advantage.

The preferred background includes 10 to 15 years of progressive experience in operations leadership within financial services, capital markets, or brokerage. At least 5 years should be in a senior role such as COO or Head of Operations, with hands-on responsibility for building or managing operational functions. Experience launching or scaling a brokerage or financial services operation, especially during a market-entry or start-up phase, is important.

Applicants should bring strong experience in technology implementation, digital transformation, and operating in regulated environments. Familiarity with CMA rules or similar GCC/MENA regulatory frameworks is highly desirable, as is experience with international financial institutions expanding into Saudi Arabia or the wider GCC. Knowledge of Hong Kong or Greater China financial culture, exposure to multi-jurisdictional teams, and strong Arabic and English communication skills are all beneficial.

Additional information

This is a foundational leadership role based in Riyadh within the retail brokerage sector. The position involves working with the parent organization’s Hong Kong headquarters while helping shape the Saudi business into a compliant, scalable, and client-focused operation. The organization values integrity, pragmatism, professionalism, and service excellence, and expects these principles to be embedded across the local team and operating model.

The role also requires building operational resilience, maintaining strong governance, managing relationships with market infrastructure and service providers, and contributing to commercial planning where operational capability supports business development.