Head of Operations / COO

Head of Operations / Chief Operating Officer – Quantitative Multi-Strategy Trading Firm

Location – London

Description:

Our client is a fast-growing, technology-driven quantitative trading firm developing a sophisticated global, multi-asset trading platform. The business operates across high- and medium-frequency equities, systematic fixed income and options market making, combining substantial investment in proprietary technology with an ambitious international growth strategy.

With an established presence across several major financial centers, the firm is continuing to expand its trading capabilities, infrastructure and operational footprint. It is now looking to appoint a senior Head of Operations / COO to take ownership of the firm's entire operating model and build the infrastructure required to support its next phase of growth.

The Opportunity:

This is a genuine business-building mandate rather than a traditional operational management position. The successful candidate will work directly with the CEO, taking responsibility for structuring, developing and scaling operations across the firm, its funds and international offices.

The role requires someone who has previously built and managed operations within a quantitative hedge fund, electronic market maker or proprietary trading business. They must understand the complexities of multi-asset trading infrastructure, alongside fund operations, accounting, valuation and the wider operational requirements of an institutional investment platform.

The successful candidate will be highly hands-on, identifying gaps, designing solutions and implementing them personally. There will be significant autonomy to shape the operating model, build teams, manage external providers and support the launch of new strategies, markets and business structures.

Key Responsibilities:

• Take full ownership of operations across the firm's entities, funds, strategies and international offices.
• Manage relationships with prime brokers, clearing brokers, exchanges and counterparties.
• Oversee market access, clearing, financing, collateral management, settlement and trading operations.
• Lead fund operations, including NAV, fund accounting, reconciliations, valuation and PnL reporting.
• Manage fund administrators, auditors and other outsourced operational providers.
• Build scalable operational processes, controls and reporting frameworks to support business growth.
• Drive automation and straight-through processing in collaboration with technology teams.
• Support the launch of new trading strategies, markets, fund structures and international operations.
• Recruit and develop operational teams, determining the optimal balance of in-house, outsourced and remote resources.
• Act as a senior operational partner to the CEO and leadership across trading, technology and risk.

Ideal Candidate:

• A proven Head of Operations, COO or senior operations executive who has built and managed operations at a quantitative hedge fund, multi-strategy investment firm, electronic market maker or proprietary trading business.
• Strong understanding of the multi-asset trading lifecycle, including exchanges, prime brokerage, clearing and settlement.
• Direct experience overseeing fund accounting, NAV, valuation, reconciliations and institutional fund operations.
• Experience establishing operational infrastructure and scaling teams through a period of significant business growth.
• Strong knowledge of market access, financing, collateral and counterparty relationships.
• Experience managing outsourced providers and building teams across multiple locations.
• Exposure to HFT, electronic market making or systematic trading is highly advantageous.
• A hands-on, commercially minded operator who is comfortable working directly with senior stakeholders and taking personal ownership of delivery.

What’s on Offer:

• A senior leadership position within a rapidly growing quantitative trading business.
• Direct partnership with the CEO and significant influence over the firm's operating model.
• The opportunity to build and lead the entire operations function rather than inherit an established structure.
• Exposure to a sophisticated multi-asset systematic trading platform.
• Significant autonomy to shape infrastructure, recruit teams and implement operational strategy.
• A compelling opportunity to play a central role in the firm's international expansion.