Head of Fixed Income Middle Office, Markets Operations - Senior Vice President

Shape your Career with Citi

At Citi, our Markets Operations teams are integral to the seamless functioning of global financial markets. We are at the forefront of ensuring efficient and compliant processing of diverse financial products, supporting trading desks, and managing complex transactions across various asset classes. Joining our team means contributing to a critical function that underpins Citi’s unparalleled global network, helping us deliver a broad range of financial services and products to our institutional clients worldwide. We continuously innovate to enhance operational efficiency and maintain robust risk management frameworks.

The Opportunity

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced leader to join our team as Head of Fixed Income Middle Office for Japan. This pivotal role involves strategically managing and overseeing all aspects of the Fixed Income Middle Office functions within Citi's Japan operations. You will drive operational excellence, lead a team of professionals, and foster strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, contributing significantly to Citi’s strategic objectives and risk mitigation framework in the Japanese market.

What You Will Do

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of Fixed Income Middle Office professionals in Japan, cultivating a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
• Develop and implement strategic objectives for the Japan Fixed Income Middle Office, ensuring alignment with global Markets Operations goals and local business priorities.
• Drive robust and efficient post-trade processing for Fixed Income Securities and Derivatives, covering trade capture, reconciliations, and exception management.
• Focus on reducing manual touchpoints and optimizing workflows to maximize Straight-Through Processing (STP) rates
• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with Front Office, Back Office, clients, and regulators, serving as a trusted operational advisor and primary escalation point.
• Own and manage the operational risk profile for the Japan Fixed Income Middle Office, ensuring strict adherence to Japanese financial regulations (e.g., JFSA, JSDA, BOJ guidelines) and global Citi policies.
• Lead change management initiatives and strategic projects aimed at enhancing operational efficiency, reducing costs, and improving the control environment.

What We're Looking For

Experience

• Extensive leadership experience in Fixed Income Middle Office, Operations Management, or Trade Support within a global investment bank or major financial institution in Japan, demonstrating proven ability to manage and develop teams.
• Profound expertise in Japanese Fixed Income markets, products (e.g., bonds, OTC derivatives), and post-trade infrastructure technologies.
• Proven ability to manage complex operational environments, drive process re-engineering, and deliver significant efficiency and control improvements.
• Strong understanding of operational risk management frameworks and the regulatory landscape in Japan.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint) for data analysis and presentations.

Licenses/Registrations

• JSDA Class 1 (Sales Representative Qualification) is a mandatory requirement.
• JSDA Internal Control Officer Qualification (required to be obtained post-hire).

Language Skills

• Fluent in Japanese (both written and verbal) is essential.
• Strong business-level English (both written and verbal) is required for effective communication with regional and global stakeholders.

Soft Skills

• Exceptional leadership, people management, and motivational capabilities.
• Superior analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities, even under pressure.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and negotiation skills to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Proactive, strategic thinking with a strong sense of ownership and accountability.
• Ability to navigate complex organizational structures and foster cross-functional collaboration.

Education

• Bachelor's degree/University degree in Finance, Economics, Business Administration, or a related field is required.
• A Master's degree or relevant professional certifications (e.g., CFA, PMP) is highly valued.

•Working Environment: office setting, minimal travel required.

• Effort: minimal physical effort required.

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## Job Family Group:

Operations - Transaction Services

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## Job Family:

Securities and Derivatives Processing

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## Time Type:

Full time

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## Most Relevant Skills

Please see the requirements listed above.

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## Other Relevant Skills

For complementary skills, please see above and/or contact the recruiter.

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