Operations Director (Athens)
Capula
Overall Purpose of the Job
To lead the operations of Capula’s new Athens office, overseeing finance, office management and business management support, while ensuring the office operates in line with local regulatory requirements and group compliance standards.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Operations and Office Management
- Oversee day-to-day operational activities of the Athens office, taking responsibility for finance, accounting, payroll, tax and office management (including managing office logistics, supplier contracts, and vendor relationships).
- Expense management, payment processing, budget and cash flow tracking and financial reporting, including instructing external accounting and payroll provider.
- Coordinate the onboarding of new staff, including operational setups such as workstations, IT tools, and access rights.
- Oversee the review of service providers including legal advisors, compliance consultants, custodians, prime brokers and administrators.
- Integrate risk management, particularly around liquidity, into the office’s operational framework.
- Support the preparation and execution of internal audits, ensuring that operational workflows align with group policies.
- Business Management
- Support the London Business Management team to work with Portfolio Managers and Traders, establishing requirements for new products / counterparties / electronic platforms / data and technology enhancements
- Track project deliverables and investigate potential threats to delivery and delays
- Assist with all Front Office initiated requests that will require project management
- Assist with deep dive investigations when required
- Regulatory and Compliance
- Working with the Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) and the UK Compliance team, ensure the Athens office operates in line with applicable Greek and EU regulations (including MiFID II, AIFMD and UCITS) and group-wide compliance policies.
- Support the UK Compliance team in delivering compliance monitoring and periodic reviews for the Athens office.
- Act as the local point of contact for the Hellenic Capital Market Commission (HCMC) and oversee timely submission of local regulatory filings.
- Coordinate compliance training for Athens-based staff and keep the business informed of relevant local regulatory developments.
- Other regulatory, internal control and audit requirements as applicable.
Education and Qualifications
- Degree-level education, preferably in finance, business management or a related field.
- Additional qualifications in accounting, finance or compliance are advantageous.
Experience
- 10-15 years of relevant experience in general operations (incl. Compliance), finance and business management within asset management, hedge funds, or financial services.
- Experience of interacting with regulatory bodies such as the HCMC advantageous.
- Proven experience running or supporting the operations of a regulated financial institution, ideally within Greece or the EU. Experience of UK and US regulations advantageous.
- Experience of office space set up and project management of fit out is desirable.
Skills
- Fluency in Greek and English (both written and spoken) is essential, particularly for duties involving local suppliers, service providers, authorities and other external stakeholders as well as internal stakeholders.
- Analytical and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage multiple operational workstreams and apply policies effectively.
- Skilled in building and maintaining relationships with service providers, regulators and internal stakeholders.
- Proactive and self-motivated, with the ability to work independently and prioritize tasks effectively.
- Resilience and adaptability in managing unexpected operational and regulatory challenges.