Chief Operating Officer (COO) – SWAP Dealer

Overview

GTS is growing and looking to add a Chief Operating Officer (COO) – Security-Based Swap Dealer (SBSD) to lead the build-out and ongoing operation of its SBSD platform.

 

This is a true builder’s role with broad responsibility and direct accountability. You will design, implement, and own the SBSD operational and compliance framework end-to-end, working closely with firm leadership, Trading, Legal, Compliance, Risk, Operations, and Technology.

 

We are looking for a hands-on leader who understands both the regulatory framework and the underlying trading business, someone who can take complex requirements, translate them into practical operating processes and controls, and build a scalable, technology-driven platform.

 

GTS is a collection of financial services companies spanning a wide array of asset classes and investment approaches, all powered by the combination of market expertise with innovative, proprietary technology.  With roots as a quantitative trading firm continually building for the future, the GTS family of companies are able to leverage the latest in artificial intelligence systems and sophisticated pricing models to bring consistency, efficiency, and transparency to today’s financial markets. GTS’s electronic market maker GTS Securities accounts for 3-5% of daily cash equities volume in the U.S. and is a leading Designated Market Maker (DMM) at the New York Stock Exchange, responsible for nearly $13 trillion of market capitalization. For more information on GTS, please visit www.gtsx.com.

 

Responsibilities

Registration & Program Build

• Lead SEC SBSD registration and, where applicable, CFTC Swap Dealer registration, including related NFA and FINRA interactions.
• Design and implement the SBSD compliance program, including policies and procedures, business conduct standards, supervisory controls, and governance.
• Establish annual compliance reporting, CCO obligations, regulatory risk assessments, and related oversight processes.
• Define clear ownership, escalation, monitoring, testing, and reporting across the program.

 

Regulatory & Compliance Operations

• Own regulatory reporting processes and associated controls.
• Implement and oversee applicable margin, segregation, and capital requirements.
• Build scalable recordkeeping, trade surveillance, and books-and-records capabilities appropriate for a technology-first trading firm.
• Develop controls and monitoring designed to identify and address regulatory and operational risks.
• Manage external counsel, consultants, vendors, and other third parties supporting the build and ongoing program.

 

Trading & Counterparty Operations

• Establish the counterparty onboarding framework, including ISDA documentation, KYC, relationship-level disclosures, and applicable external business conduct requirements.
• Design and oversee trade lifecycle processes, including confirmations, portfolio reconciliation, compression, collateral management, and dispute resolution.
• Partner closely with Trading, Risk, Legal, Compliance, Operations, and Technology to ensure regulatory requirements are embedded into the operating model.
• Drive automation of controls, workflows, monitoring, and regulatory reporting to create a scalable infrastructure rather than relying on incremental headcount.

 

Regulator & Stakeholder Engagement

• Serve as a primary point of contact for regulatory examinations, inquiries, and other interactions relating to the SBSD business.
• Advise firm and trading leadership on regulatory expectations, implementation priorities, and emerging risks.
• Partner with Legal, Compliance, Risk, and Technology as the business expands into new products and markets.
• Monitor relevant regulatory developments and translate changes into actionable business and operational requirements

 

Qualifications

• 8–12+ years of relevant experience in derivatives compliance, operations, regulatory affairs, or a related discipline at a swap dealer, SBSD, proprietary trading firm, bank, or other regulated financial institution.
• Demonstrated experience building regulatory and operational programs from the ground up, including registrations, new-entity or new-business launches, significant regulatory implementations, or major remediation initiatives.
• Strong understanding of derivatives markets and applicable requirements relating to trade execution, margin, regulatory reporting, recordkeeping, and business conduct standards.
• Ability to translate complex regulatory requirements into practical, scalable processes and controls.
• Strong judgment and the ability to operate effectively across Trading, Technology, Legal, Compliance, Risk, Operations, and senior leadership.
• A hands-on, ownership-oriented mindset with the ability to move comfortably between strategic design and detailed execution.

 

Nice to Have

• Experience at a principal trading firm or non-bank dealer.
• Experience with equity swaps and security-based swaps.
• Prior experience as a CCO or Deputy CCO of a registered entity.
• Direct experience interacting with the SEC, CFTC, FINRA, NFA, or other relevant regulators.
• Experience building technology-enabled regulatory and operational infrastructure within an electronic or quantitative trading environment.

 

We're proud to employ some of the leading talent in the industry, and we work to ensure our employees enjoy a high quality-of-life.

 

Please note: The use of AI tools during interviews is strictly prohibited, unless explicitly agreed upon.

 

In accordance with New York City's Pay Transparency Law, the base salary range for this role is $200,000 to $350,000. Base salary does not include other forms of compensation or benefits.

 

Benefits:

• Core Benefits: Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage with generous employer contribution for employees and dependents. 401k match.
• Perks: Daily Meal Allowance, Equinox Corporate Membership Rate, Snacks, Office Game Room, Casual Dress.
• Hybrid Work Policy: 4 Days a Week in office, Fridays can be worked from home.

  

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, or protected veteran status, and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

 

Unsolicited resumes:

We do not accept unsolicited headhunter and agency resumes and will not pay fees to any third-party agency or company that does not have a signed agreement with GTS.