Custody & Settlement Operations Officer

Company Description MidChains is a pioneering institutional digital asset and cryptocurrency trading platform operating under the robust regulatory frameworks of the UAE in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi. As one of the first fully regulated virtual asset trading platforms in the UAE, we are backed by sovereign wealth funds and leading international investors including Mubadala Investment Company, Lunate, Miami International Holdings, Brevan Howard and others.Our platform serves institutions, brokerages, high-frequency traders, family offices, corporate treasuries and asset managers with comprehensive digital asset services including trading, custody, and OTC solutions. We pride ourselves on providing institutional-grade infrastructure while democratizing access to digital asset markets and services through our transparent, secure, and compliant operations.Position Overview:MidChains is seeking a proactive and detail oriented Custody & Settlement Operations Officer to support the day to day custody and settlement activities of our institutional digital asset platform. The successful candidate will play a critical role in wallet and custody operations, fiat and crypto settlement, daily reconciliations, and operational controls across our banking and custody infrastructure.This position is ideal for a mid-level professional who thrives in a fast paced financial technology environment and is comfortable working rotating shifts, including night shifts, weekends, and public holidays, to support our 24/7 custody and settlement operations.Responsibilities:Custody & Settlement SupportSupport digital asset custody activities, including wallet management (e.g. Fireblocks), transaction approvals, and operational monitoring.Coordinate secure movement of digital assets in accordance with internal approval workflows.Execute daily fiat and crypto settlement and post-trade processing for OTC transactions, coordinating with liquidity providers, banking partners, and internal stakeholders.Monitor blockchain transactions and settlement status end-to-end.Escalate custody and settlement incidents promptly and assist in their resolution.Stay current on updates, upgrades, and new features released on the custody platform (e.g. Fireblocks), and assess their impact on operational processes.Take initiative in proposing automation opportunities, process improvements, or new systems to strengthen custody and settlement operations.Client OperationsSupport institutional client onboarding and account operational readiness.Coordinate operational requests with Compliance, Finance, Custody, and Technology teams.Respond to client operational inquiries professionally and within agreed service levels.Assist with account maintenance and custody/settlement operational documentation.Reconciliation & ControlsPerform daily reconciliation of client crypto and fiat balances across the custody platform (e.g. Fireblocks), banking partners, and internal ledger systems.Investigate and resolve reconciliation breaks and discrepancies, escalating material items per internal thresholds and SOPs.Maintain accurate reconciliation records and reporting in line with recordkeeping requirements.Support the daily reconciliation maker-checker workflow, from preparation through Finance and management review.Fiat Settlement & Banking OperationsSupport fiat settlement processes.Coordinate with banking partners on account operations, payment processing, and settlement issue resolution.Assist with preparation of client account statements and operational documentation.Operational MonitoringMonitor system alerts, transaction queues, and custody/settlement dashboards.Perform health checks on custody and settlement systems.Report incidents and collaborate with Technology teams during outages or system issues.Participate in disaster recovery and business continuity procedures when required.Regulatory & Compliance Support Ensure custody and settlement activities comply with internal SOPs and applicable VARA/SCA regulatory requirements.Maintain confidentiality of client information and sensitive operational data.Assist during internal and external audits.Support preparation of custody and settlement reports requested by management or regulators.Qualifications & Skills:Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business Administration, Economics, Information Systems, or a related field.3–5 years of experience in custody operations, settlement operations, banking operations, brokerage operations, or capital markets.Previous experience supporting custody, settlement, or fiat/crypto reconciliation operations is highly desirable.Hands-on experience with digital asset custody platforms (e.g. Fireblocks) and blockchain transaction monitoring is a strong advantage.Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.Excellent attention to detail.Ability to prioritize tasks in a fast-paced environment.Strong organizational and time management skills.High level of integrity and professionalism.Excellent communication skills in English (Arabic is an advantage).Ability to work independently and collaboratively across departments.Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.Experience with custody platforms, reconciliation tools, or banking/settlement systems is preferred. Familiarity with the VARA regulatory framework or a comparable digital asset regulatory regime is an advantage.Work day and night shifts on a rotational basis.Work weekends and public holidays when scheduled.Participate in an on-call rotation when required.Support 24/7 operational coverage.Preferred experience/background: Digital asset custodians, Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASP), custody banks or trust companies, investment banks (custody/settlement), brokerage or clearing operations, central securities depositories (CSDs), FinTech companies, payment service providers.