Global Head of Operations and Middle Office

About the role

You will own the end-to-end operational strategy for Flow Traders in Amsterdam, ensuring that every post-trade activity supports the firm's market-making mission. You will shape how trade execution, support, and control function on a global scale, creating alignment between trading desks and operational infrastructure. Your focus will be driving automation and robust risk frameworks that empower trading teams to execute with confidence and efficiency. You will guide senior leadership on operational decisions that fuel sustainable business growth and long-term resilience. In this role, you will act as the strategic architect of operations, translating business objectives into scalable processes. You will ensure that standards, policies, and workflows are consistent across regions while allowing for local adaptability. Your leadership will be critical in navigating the complexity of a multi-asset, multi-jurisdiction trading environment. You will balance innovation with control, enabling the business to scale without compromising reliability or compliance.

Key facts

What you'll do

You will design the global operations strategy so that post-trade workflows, systems, and standards align with trading objectives and business growth. You will champion automation, data, and AI initiatives that reduce manual effort, minimize errors, and boost reliability across all operational regions. You will charter and monitor KPIs, quality controls, and accountability metrics for operations and middle office functions to ensure continuous improvement. You will orchestrate trade lifecycle controls, including settlement, reconciliation, and reporting, coordinating seamlessly across multiple time zones and jurisdictions. You will establish and maintain risk management and regulatory compliance frameworks for operations spanning Europe, North America, and Asia, adapting to local requirements. You will forge partnerships with Technology and Product teams to modernize post-trade infrastructure, eliminate operational bottlenecks, and enhance system usability. You will act as the primary operations contact for Trading, Risk, Compliance, Finance, and Technology stakeholders, ensuring clear communication and alignment. You will cultivate relationships with clearing banks, custodians, prime brokers, and other vendors to secure resilient service and favorable terms. You will provide clear management information and operational insights to the board, highlighting risk and performance trends to support strategic decisions. You will optimize workflows to lower manual workload, strengthen service quality, and prepare the function for market expansion and increased trading volumes.

Requirements

You will bring 10 plus years of financial services experience, with at least 5 years in leadership positions overseeing operations and middle office functions. You will show deep expertise in trading operations and mid office across equities, derivatives, FX, and digital assets, understanding the nuances of each asset class. You will prove experience managing distributed teams across different cultures and time zones, leading diverse professionals toward shared goals. You will demonstrate familiarity with regulatory frameworks in Europe, North America, and Asia, keeping up with evolving rules and supervisory expectations. You will explain how technology platforms, data flows, and automation solutions support trading decisions and improve operational efficiency. You will display analytical, decisive, and execution-oriented thinking with a global mindset, capable of solving complex problems in ambiguous situations. You will communicate effectively at all levels of the organization with outstanding influencing skills, building trust and consensus among stakeholders. You will hold a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Business, Finance, Engineering, or a related discipline, providing a strong foundation for technical and operational challenges. You will exhibit strong leadership qualities, including mentorship, accountability, and the ability to develop high-performing professionals within your team.

Nice to have

Experience in principal liquidity provision and market making environments, where operational complexity is high and decision speed is critical.

Practical notes

This position is based in Amsterdam and requires full-time on-site presence. The role may involve travel within regions to meet stakeholders, oversee operations, and participate in key initiatives. Candidates must be eligible to work in the Netherlands and comply with local visa requirements if applicable. The compensation range reflects the responsibilities and scope of the role, and candidates should consider total rewards when evaluating the opportunity. Flow Traders is an equal opportunity employer, welcoming diverse talent to join a dynamic and inclusive work environment.