Custodial Operations Manager Jobs in Villa Rica, GA

U.S. Bank is seeking a Global Head of Custody Operations. The individual in this senior leadership role will be accountable for the front-to-back operational integrity of the firm's custody and asset servicing platform. This individual leads a global team responsible for the efficient, accurate, and compliant safekeeping and servicing of client assets across multiple markets, currencies, and asset classes-including trade services, Mutual Fund execution support, securities settlement, Asset Servicing, Asset transfers, and Global Network Management. Additionally, they will provide strategic oversight of the firm's sub-custodian network, ensuring effective market access, provider performance, operational resilience, and alignment to business and client needs.

Beyond running day-to-day operations, this leader is a driver of operating-model transformation: moving the function from end-of-day batch processing toward real-time, exception-based management, embedding automation and AI into core workflows, and strengthening resilience against a compressed post-trade environment. The role balances operational excellence, risk mitigation, regulatory compliance, and client experience while maintaining strong relationships with sub-custodians, CSDs, business stakeholders, clients, and regulators.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategy & Operating Model

• Develop and execute the operational strategy and strategic vision for custody operations, aligning with business goals, client commitments, and evolving regulatory requirements.

• Lead the transition from batch-based processing to real-time exception management, redesigning workflows to meet compressed settlement timelines (T+1 today; T+1 in the EU/UK/CH by October 2027).

• Drive digital transformation-leveraging RPA, workflow automation, cloud, AI-driven data intelligence, and ISO 20022 messaging-to raise straight-through-processing (STP) rates and reduce manual intervention.

• Evaluate emerging capabilities including DTCC modernization, asset custody and tokenization, and shape the firm's readiness posture as the market matures.

• Align the function to clear leadership pillars spanning client service, financial discipline, workforce strategy, operational resilience, and risk-controlled execution.

Operations Execution

• Oversee accurate and timely processing of securities settlements, corporate actions, dividend/income collection, proxy voting, and account reconciliation across global markets.

• Manage settlement fails, partial settlement, and CSDR penalty exposure through disciplined pre-settlement matching and affirmation practices.

• Ensure robust position keeping and safekeeping controls, including omnibus/segregated account structures and 100% asset segregation.

• Provide oversight of Global Network Management, including sub-custodian relationships, network governance, and market resiliency.

• Own the operational client experience, including service recovery, root-cause resolution, and disciplined management of significant client escalations.

Risk, Controls & Regulatory

• Identify, assess, and mitigate operational, transaction, compliance, and credit risk within the custody business, maintaining a pristine control environment.

• Ensure compliance with applicable regulations and industry standards (OCC custody guidance, DTC/DTCC operational arrangements, CSDR settlement discipline).

• Own regulatory reporting obligations and support examinations, audits, and industry initiatives.

• Ensure operational resiliency through robust business continuity, disaster recovery, crisis management, and third-party contingency programs.

Performance & Metrics

• Monitor and refine KPIs and SLAs to track operational efficiency and effectiveness. Industry benchmarks typically include settlement accuracy 99.5%, corporate action processing 100% on-time, reporting accuracy 99.9%, STP rates, exception resolution times (minutes, not days), and settlement fail rates against industry standards.

• Use operational metrics, volume forecasts, productivity analytics, and capacity models to inform resource allocation, service commitments, and investment priorities.

People & Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing global team, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, ownership, and continuous improvement.

• Drive workforce strategy, location strategy, capacity management, succession planning, and employee engagement across a geographically distributed workforce.

• Build leadership depth by developing managers, clarifying ownership, and ensuring the operating model can scale with forecasted client, transaction, and regulatory demand.

Relationships & Vendor Oversight

• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, investment managers, and business stakeholders.

• Manage the global sub-custodian network and third-party service providers, including due diligence, contract governance, and performance oversight.

• Form strategic partnerships with solution providers and cultivate relationships across the market ecosystem-banks, custodians, and regulatory bodies.

• Manage operational budgets, expense discipline, sourcing decisions, productivity initiatives, and vendor performance to ensure scalable support for business growth.

• Stay abreast of industry best practices, regulatory changes, and market developments, and contribute to relevant industry committees and forums.

Preferred Skills/Qualifications:

• 15+ years of financial services experience, preferably in operations within an investment bank, asset manager, or custodian bank, with at least 10 years in leadership (including managing managers).

• Deep expertise across securities processing, settlement, corporate actions, income/tax processing, and other custody functions.

• Strong knowledge of relevant regulations and industry best practices (OCC, DTC/DTCC, CSDR, and global market practice).

• Demonstrated experience leading transformation and automation programs to achieve process simplification, scalability, and better risk management.

• Experience managing operational budgets, workforce plans, capacity models, sourcing decisions, and productivity programs in a large-scale operations environment.

• Proven track record across operations, risk, compliance, and technology, with experience managing sub-custodian and third-party relationships.

• Experience operating in a compressed, high-risk, deadline-driven environment with the ability to manage concurrent priorities.

• Excellent communication, leadership, and stakeholder-management skills with executive presence and a client-centric mindset.

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.

Leadership & Management Behavioral Competencies:

• Strong Business Acumen - A strategic thinker who can connect technology investments to business growth and competitive advantage.

• Influencing and empowering others - An influential executive who builds trust and credibility with senior leaders and stakeholders.

• Change Management Advocate - A transformational leader capable of driving large-scale change in dynamic and complex environments.

• Outcome Drive - A collaborative partner who balances innovation, risk management, and disciplined execution.

• Talent Management - A talent developer committed to building strong teams and future leadership pipelines.