Head of Custody

Limassol, Cyprus | Full-time | Office

An international brokerage firm is seeking a highly skilled Head of Custody to lead and optimize their securities custody operations in Cyprus. This is a senior leadership role ideal for an experienced custody operations professional who thrives in a fast-paced, regulated environment and has a track record of building high-performing teams and scalable processes across global markets.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead end-to-end custody operations, ensuring full compliance with regulatory frameworks and internal risk controls.
• Manage the lifecycle of corporate actions, including dividends, mergers, conversions, proxy voting, etc.
• Oversee global settlement processes (DVP/RVP), cross-market securities transfers, and reconciliation.
• Supervise QI/tax withholding functions and USWT reporting, ensuring alignment with international standards.
• Drive automation initiatives including SWIFT message handling and SRD2 (Shareholder Rights Directive) processes.
• Ensure client asset segregation and full compliance with sanctions and CSD requirements.
• Lead, mentor, and expand the custody operations team; contribute to cross-departmental projects.
• Act as the key operational liaison for clients, counterparties, internal stakeholders, and auditors.

Candidate Profile:

• 5+ years of leadership experience in custody operations, ideally within a brokerage, custodian bank, or financial depository.
• Expertise in corporate actions, settlements, cross-border custody across EU, UK, US, and APAC markets.
• Strong working knowledge of QI tax withholding, USWT, SWIFT standards, and SRD2 compliance.
• Proven track record in process automation, internal controls, and risk management.
• Fluent in English and Russian (additional EU languages are a plus).
• Excellent stakeholder management and people leadership skills.

What’s Offered:

• Competitive salary + annual bonus
• Relocation package (flight + 1-month accommodation)
• VISA sponsorship for employee and family
• Health plan subsidy (30% of private insurance plan covered)
• 21 working days of paid vacation + 12 additional paid days off
• Paid sick leave
• Modern, centrally located office in Limassol
• Access to team events, sports activities, and internal development programs