Subject Matter Expert- International Securities Depository

Subject Matter Expert - International Central Securities Depository

Presight - Abu Dhabi Emirate, United Arab Emirates

We are seeking an experienced Central Securities Depository CSD/ICSD Subject Matter Expert (SME) to guide the new implementation and subsequent evolution of a modern custody and post-trade platform. The SME will define target operating models, standards, and processes across issuance, safekeeping, settlement, asset servicing, and collateral, ensuring the platform is secure, performant, and compliant with international best practice while tailored to UAE market needs.

As the Central Securities Depository/ICSD SME, you will lead the design, implementation, and ongoing iterations of the UAE central securities depository platform, shaping business architecture, settlement models, asset servicing, and collateral management. This expert will define integration standards (ISO 20022, SWIFT), drive participant onboarding, and oversee industry-wide testing and migration activities. The role requires close collaboration with regulators, vendors, and market participants to ensure the platform is secure, resilient, and compliant with international best practices, while producing documentation, training, and operational playbooks for sustainable post-trade operations.

Functional

• Own the business architecture for CSD capabilities: central registry, participant lifecycle, account structures, securities eligibility, and governance.
• Design settlement models (DvP 1/2/3), settlement cycles, partials/auto-borrow, fails management, and cash/central bank money interaction.
• Specify asset servicing (corporate actions, income processing, proxy/meetings), tax relief/withholding flows, and mandatory/voluntary processing.
• Define collateral management use cases (pledge, substitution, haircuts), triparty flows, and risk controls.
• Lead standards and integration specifications: ISO 20022 (secl. and camt.), SWIFT flows, reference data, reconciliation, and reporting.
• Shape the target operating model (TOM): roles, SLAs/OLAs, cut-off calendars, service catalog, and client service model for participants and custodians.
• Drive non-functional requirements: availability, performance, throughput, latency, capacity growth; define RPO/RTO and resilience patterns.
• Co-lead vendor RFP/RFI processes: solution evaluation, fit-gap, PoCs, and acceptance criteria; maintain traceability from requirements to go-live.
• Plan and oversee industry testing (SIT/UAT/certification) and migration (data conversion, reconciliation, dress rehearsals, and parallel runs).
• Produce rulebook inputs, SOPs, training packs, and onboarding playbooks; enable knowledge transfer to operations and customer teams.

• 10+ years in securities services/post-trade within a CSD/ICSD, central bank, custodian, or FMI vendor.
• Hands‑on experience implementing or modernizing CSD/ICSD platforms, including ISO 20022 migration and SWIFT integration.
• Demonstrated expertise in asset servicing, corporate actions, and collateral management.
• Strong track record of leading market‑wide testing and participant onboarding at scale.
• Excellent documentation, stakeholder engagement, and workshop facilitation skills.

• Experience in CSD links/bridge design and cross‑border settlement models.
• Knowledge of Islamic finance instruments and sukuk issuance/settlement.
• Background in data governance, auditability, and operational risk controls.

If you are a performance-driven, inquisitive mind with the agility to adapt to ambiguity, you will fit right in. You should be eager to explore opportunities to build meaningful collaborations with stakeholders and aspire to create unique customer-centric solutions. Bias for action and a passion to conquer new frontiers in the AI space is at the heart of the Presight community.

Director

Full-time

Information Technology and Engineering