Job Description
Greenwich, CT based role!
A newly formed de novo bank focused on private credit and private equity investment activities for accredited investors is seeking a Chief Operating Officer.
About the Role
This senior executive role is responsible for building and overseeing the bank’s operational infrastructure from inception and ensuring scalable, efficient, and well-controlled execution across the institution. The Chief Operating Officer will partner closely with executive leadership and the Board and play a foundational role in establishing operational processes, governance, and controls appropriate for a regulated banking environment.
Responsibilities
- Lead the design, implementation, and oversight of the bank’s end-to-end operating model.
- Oversee day-to-day operations across core banking functions, investment operations, treasury operations, client onboarding, and back-office processes.
- Establish operational policies, procedures, and internal controls aligned with Federal Reserve supervisory expectations.
- Partner with legal and compliance leadership to ensure operational processes support regulatory and governance requirements.
- Lead vendor selection, contract oversight, and third-party service provider management, including core systems, custodians, administrators, and technology partners.
- Oversee operational readiness for regulatory examinations, audits, and ongoing supervisory interactions.
- Drive process design, documentation, and automation to support scale, efficiency, and operational resilience.
- Develop operational reporting and management information for executive leadership and the Board.
Leadership & Strategy
- Serve as a strategic partner to the CEO and executive team in shaping the bank’s operating strategy.
- Build and lead high-performing operations teams, including hiring, organizational design, and performance management.
- Translate strategic objectives into executable operational plans.
- Support growth initiatives by ensuring operational capabilities evolve in line with the bank’s investment activities.
- Present operational updates and key initiatives to the Board and relevant committees.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
- 12+ years of progressive operations leadership experience within banking, alternative investments, or regulated financial institutions.
- Experience building or scaling operations in a de novo bank, early-stage institution, or high-growth regulated environment strongly preferred.
- Strong understanding of bank operations within a Federal Reserve–regulated framework.
- Familiarity with private credit, private equity, or alternative investment operating models.
- Proven experience managing complex vendor and third-party relationships.
- Demonstrated ability to design and implement scalable operational processes and controls.
- Executive-level communication skills with Boards, regulators, and senior leadership.
- Hands-on, solutions-oriented leadership style suited to a founding executive role.