Assistant Manager, Settlement & Operations

Key Responsibilities

Oversee and execute the end-to-end settlement and clearing of US equities, ETFs, and foreign securities across US depositories (DTC) and global custodian networks.Conduct trade matching, allocation, and fails management; investigate and resolve trade discrepancies, failed trades, and settlement exceptions promptly with executing brokers, counterparties, and custodians to minimize operational and buy-in risks.Lead daily stock and cash position reconciliations between internal trading/back-office systems, US clearing brokers, and sub-custodians to ensure accurate client asset records.Manage and oversee US and foreign market corporate actions (e.g., dividends, stock splits, tender offers, proxy voting, and US tax/W-8BEN withholding workflows) within strict market cut-off times.Serve as the primary operational liaison with US clearing agents, global custodian banks, and execution brokers to optimize operational efficiency, cut-off windows, and service delivery.Lead operational workflow improvements, system automation projects, and API/SWIFT integration initiatives to enhance straight-through processing (STP) for global equities.Ensure all settlement procedures adhere to Hong Kong SFC regulations (Client Money Rules & Client Securities Rules), US market rules (T+1 settlement cycles), SEC/FINRA standards, and internal risk management controls.Requirements & Qualifications:Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Economics, Business Administration, Operations or related discipline.5–8 years of solid hands-on experience in securities settlement operations, with a strong focus on US equities and global markets within securities firm, investment bank, or custodian bank in Hong Kong.In-depth knowledge of US market trading hours, US T+1 settlement cycles, DTC clearing mechanisms, and foreign tax processing.Operational experience or exposure to Middle Eastern markets is a strong advantage though not strictly required.Hands-on experience with back-office trading and settlement systems and clearing broker portals.Advanced MS Excel skills (VLOOKUP, Pivot Tables, Macros) for reconciliation analysis.Solid understanding of SFC Client Money Rules, Client Securities Rules, and US market clearing/settlement frameworks.Willingness and flexibility to travel or undertake overseas business trips as required to support custodian management, operational integration, and cross-border project initiatives.Professional fluency in English and Mandarin (written and spoken) is required. Fluency in Cantonese is a strong advantage.