Global Head of ETF Operations in London

The Global Head of ETF Operations will provide support and work directly with AB’s growing global ETF team, performing a pivotal role in coordinating and overseeing the daily operational activities associated with the firm’s comprehensive range of Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs). This position is essential for ensuring the smooth execution of the ETF product lifecycle, from trade initiation to settlement, while fostering robust relationships with both internal and external stakeholders, including Authorized Participants (APs), market makers, and custodians. The role will be instrumental in mitigating operational risks, enhancing process efficiencies, and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards across various international jurisdictions. The candidate will lead the ETF Operations team and support an expanding global suite of ETF products.

This individual will interact with the various investment groups, operations teams, ETF Capital Markets Team and external custodians/administrators for AB’s ETFs. We are looking for individuals who enjoy being challenged, solving problems, building new businesses and want to make an immediate and tangible impact. The ideal candidate will be a player/coach with deep ETF operational knowledge who is responsible for managing daily functions and build outs while leading a close-knit, high-impact group of individuals who are passionate about the ETF markets.

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Operational Leadership: Lead global team to ensure that AB develops best in class ETF operational workflows across markets. Work with ETF leadership to strategically build out local ETF businesses around the world. Act as the primary contact for ETF-related queries for local management and global teams. Lead cross-functional meetings and manage project plans for ETF launches. Manage and train team members on ETF operations.
• Daily Operations: Oversee and manage the complete ETF lifecycle, encompassing order placement, corporate actions, basket creation and redemption, trade booking, and transaction settlement. In-depth understanding of the niche global servicing of ETF products and ETF share class processes. Supervise the daily generation of essential ETF files (e.g., Portfolio Composition Files (PCFs)), monitor incoming cash receipts and collateral, and ensure the accurate and timely processing of transactions. Partnering with global fund accounting regarding NAV, distribution reporting, etc. Investigate and resolve complex inquiries from counterparties regarding trade and settlement activities, as well as operational issues, conducting root cause analyses to prevent future occurrences. Ability to prioritize and escalate timely key exposure points as well as address engaging appropriate parties. Develop and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) and coordinate training sessions for staff on updated processes and best practices.
• Risk & Compliance: Identify operational risks and implement mitigation strategies. Ensure adherence to global standards for product reporting and compliance. Prepare performance metrics and compliance reports for management and internal committees.
• Innovation & Efficiency: Develop and implement process improvements to streamline ETF operations. Assess system architecture and feasibility for ETF-specific workflows. Help develop new global infrastructure, enhance existing infrastructure, and create global standards and efficiencies.
• Industry Engagement & Relationship Management: Cultivate and sustain strong relationships with the global ETF ecosystem including Authorized Participants (APs), market makers, custodians, and other external vendors. Participate in ETF industry events and apply best practices to AB’s workflows.
• Reporting & Analytics: Produce recurring ETF business reports (primary and secondary market data, capital markets reports, board reporting). Support product teams with metrics and analytics for informed decision-making. Develop and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) and coordinate training sessions for staff on updated processes and best practices.

This position offers the opportunity to solve business issues and contribute to business and operations success. This role will have operational oversight of AB’s growing ETF business throughout the US, EMEA and APAC regions.

Qualifications, Experience, Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, economics, accounting, or related fields
• 7-10+ years of work experience in ETF Operations within Asset Management, Fund Accounting or Custody
• Comprehensive understanding of the ETF ecosystem and operational workflows
• Knowledge of fixed Income and equity markets
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate effectively with global teams.
• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving abilities, with keen attention to detail.

Location: London, UK