Senior Director, Operations - Settlements; P&S

About this Role

Apex is seeking an experienced Senior Director, Operations - Settlements (P&S) to lead our post‑trade operations and drive the strategic vision for our settlements function. This senior leadership role requires deep expertise in settlement processes with particular emphasis on options processing and OCC operations, regulatory compliance, and operational risk management across multiple asset classes.

• Strategy and roadmap: Define and execute a multi‑year settlements/P&S strategy aligned to growth, automation, and STP; lead make‑vs‑buy decisions, vendor selection, and investment cases.
• Core settlements: Oversee daily settlement across equities, fixed income, derivatives, and alternatives; manage affirmations/allocations/confirmations; minimise fails and aged exposures; resolve breaks/exceptions; direct DTC, NSCC, Fedwire, OCC activities.
• Options/OCC: Lead options clearing/settlement, exercises/assignments, expiration management and pin risk; position reconciliation, margin, collateral; corporate action adjustments and deliverables; complex strategies (spreads, combos, multi‑leg); primary liaison to OCC on operations, risk, technology; manage trade matching, allocation, and give‑ups.
• Purchase & Sales functions: Ensure accurate booking, allocation, and pricing; produce client confirmations/statements; oversee street‑side matching/comparison; commissions, options premium and fee processing, billing; corporate actions (dividends, interest, reorganizations, spin‑offs, proxy); special deliverables.
• Risk and compliance: Implement robust controls for operational/credit/settlement risk (with options focus); ensure compliance with SEC, FINRA, OCC, DTC rules including Reg SHO and Rule 15c3‑3; lead audits; maintain policies, procedures, and DR plans; monitor exercise/assignment exposures.
• Technology and process improvement: Enhance settlement systems and OCC connectivity; increase automation/STP; evaluate and implement vendor solutions; lead system upgrades/integrations; use analytics to surface trends, risks, and opportunities.
• Leadership and team development: Hire, mentor, and grow a high‑performing team; build structured learning paths and training on options/OCC and complex scenarios; establish KPIs/SLAs; manage staffing and workflows; drive a culture of excellence, accuracy, and continuous improvement; succession planning and cross‑functional resilience.
• Relationship management: Primary contact for OCC, DTC, NSCC, custodians, primes, and clearing firms; partner with front/middle office, compliance, finance, and client service; communicate issues and initiatives to senior stakeholders; represent Apex at industry forums and OCC member meetings.

• Bachelor’s in Finance, Business, Accounting, or related field (or equivalent work experience) required.
• 12+ years in settlements/P&S/post‑trade operations/multi‑asset experience.
• 5+ years in senior leadership with proven strategic planning and transformation.
• FINRA Series 7 and 24 licenses required (or willingness to obtain).
• Experience in broker‑dealer, prop trading, market maker, or institutional AM with significant options activity.
• Track record building high‑performing teams and delivering training.
• Experience with large‑scale project management/implementations preferred.

• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, decision‑making, and communication skills.
• Familiarity with OCC systems (e.g., ENCORE). Familiarity with options margin methodology and risk calculations.
• Deep knowledge of securities settlement and clearance (DTC, NSCC, Fedwire, OCC) and industry standards.
• Deep knowledge of listed options processing and OCC clearing.
• Knowledge of OMS/EMS, options trading platforms, settlement systems, and reconciliation tools preferred.
• Comprehensive regulatory expertise (SEC Rule 15c3‑3, Reg SHO, FINRA, OCC).
• Ability to train and develop others.
• Strategic vision with operational rigor; accuracy under pressure (especially expirations).
• Collaborative, change‑ready, ethical, and focused on continuous improvement.

This job operates in a hybrid office environment three days per week.

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