Head of Finance and Operations

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Now Hiring:
Head of Operations | Financial Services Platform 🚨

This is a true pillar leadership role
.

We’re partnering with a well-established, growth-oriented financial services organization seeking a Head of Operations to lead one of its core business pillars through the next phase of scale. This role is designed for a hands-on operator and strategic leader
—someone who can oversee complex financial operations while modernizing processes, data, and technology.

You’ll sit at the center of client transactions, financial operations, compliance, analytics, and systems
, working closely with executive leadership and cross-functional partners.

• Lead and develop Finance and Operations teams with full accountability for performance
• Own end-to-end operational workflows, including client transactions, settlements, reconciliations, and fee administration
• Oversee daily and monthly banking activities, approvals, and transaction controls
• Drive operational efficiency initiatives aligned with long-term strategic objectives
• Lead annual budgeting for Operations and Finance in partnership with leadership
• Ensure operational compliance with applicable regulatory and fiduciary requirements
• Maintain and enhance policies, procedures, and internal controls
• Serve as a senior contributor on internal governance and administrative committees
• Stay current on laws and regulations impacting fiduciary, trust, and investment operations
• Own the enterprise reporting and analytics roadmap for Operations and Finance
• Deliver actionable insights that support leadership decision-making and business performance
• Build dashboards and reporting around KPIs, financial performance, and client activity
• Ensure data quality, documentation, and governance across systems
• Translate complex data into clear narratives for executive and operational audiences
• Act as the senior operational owner for core financial and trust technology platforms
• Evaluate, optimize, and recommend enhancements to the operations and finance tech stack
• Partner with vendors and internal teams to resolve system issues and support complex transactions
• Stay informed on emerging tools and best practices in financial operations and fiduciary services
• Lead performance management, coaching, and development for Operations and Finance staff
• Build KPI scorecards and report results to executive leadership
• Create alignment between departmental goals and broader company strategy
• Serve as mentor and educator, fostering continuous improvement and professional growth
• 10+ years of progressive experience in operations leadership within financial services
• 5+ years managing teams in complex, regulated environments
• Strong background in fiduciary, trust, investment, or financial operations
• Experience overseeing multi-step client transactions and settlement processes
• Demonstrated success in driving operational efficiency and process improvement
• Solid understanding of banking, compliance, and fiduciary obligations
• Hands-on experience with data analytics and reporting tools (SQL, Tableau, Excel, Python, or similar)
• Ability to synthesize data into insights that drive decisions
• Comfortable operating with autonomy, ambiguity, and executive-level accountability

• Experience with trust or investment accounting platforms
• Exposure to advanced analytics, forecasting, or client segmentation
• MBA, CPA, or additional professional certifications

• Executive-level ownership of a core operational pillar
• Blend of strategy and hands-on execution
• Significant influence across finance, technology, and governance
• Opportunity to modernize operations and analytics in a growing organization
• High visibility with senior leadership and decision-makers

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If you’re an operations leader in Orange County who thrives in complex financial environments and wants real ownership—let’s talk.

Apply directly or message  for a confidential conversation.