AVP, Derivatives Middle Office Operations

Lincoln Financial • Radnor, PA

4d • Remote

About The Position

We’re seeking a senior leader to run a high-performing Derivatives Middle Office Operations function spanning trade capture, affirmations, confirmations, collateral and margin, lifecycle events, reconciliations, settlements, clearing/reporting, and operational change (including implementation of a new derivatives platform). This role leads the team that sits at the intersection of Trading/Treasury, Risk, Legal, Accounting/Finance, and Technology—ensuring straight‑through processing, robust controls (SOX 404), and timely inputs to support accurate books-and-records under US GAAP and insurance statutory accounting.

Requirements

• 10+ years experience leading Derivatives Middle Office and Collateral/Margin functions with accountability for outcomes across multiple products and workflows
• Ability to translate risk and regulatory expectations into practical, scalable processes and controls
• Strong process engineering mindset: automation, STP, workflow optimization, and reduction of operational risk through simplification and standardization
• Data governance orientation: reference data, static data controls, reconciliation tooling/discipline, and operational data quality management
• Executive presence and strong written/verbal communication—able to drive alignment with Front Office, Accounting/Finance, Risk, Tech, and Compliance/Legal.
• Ability to prioritize and make decisions under pressure; confident escalation and issue ownership

Responsibilities

• Own operational outcomes across the derivative trade lifecycle for Rates, FX, Equity, TRS, Credit, and Futures, including booking quality, lifecycle processing, settlements, clearing, reconciliations, and reporting readiness
• Direct oversight of trade capture and enrichment ensuring accuracy of static/reference data and lifecycle readiness
• Govern affirmation and confirmations (electronic and paper), ensuring timeliness and completeness
• Oversee all lifecycle events (fixings/resets, coupon flows, novations, compressions, early terminations, exercises, corporate actions/adjustments where relevant) and ensure accurate settlements with minimal fails and strong exception management
• Own daily collateral and margin operations across bilateral and cleared portfolios, including margin calls, dispute management, collateral eligibility/haircuts, substitutions, accurate margin settlement, and UMR governance
• Maintain strong working relationships and operational standards with CCPs/FCMs, ensuring timely margin movements, accurate allocation, and robust issue resolution
• Own reconciliations across position, cash, collateral, and valuation, with aggressive break aging, root-cause analysis, and closure discipline
• Develop dashboards and KPI reporting to proactively identify trends, risks, and recurring drivers of breaks/fails
• Build and maintain a strong SOX and control framework across trade capture, confirmations, margining, settlements, reconciliations, and change management; drive timely remediation of control gaps and audit issues
• Partner with Front Office and Treasury on new product onboarding, trading readiness, operational support during market events, and ongoing process/service improvements
• Ensure operational inputs are accurate and timely to support accounting, including hedge accounting, under US GAAP and insurance statutory reporting
• Sponsor technology modernization and STP initiatives—partnering with Technology to enhance platforms, reduce manual touchpoints, strengthen controls, and improve scalability
• Lead, coach, and develop a team of managers and analysts, establishing clear expectations, performance management, succession planning, and career pathways
• Drive talent development in derivatives product knowledge, control mindset, and stakeholder leadership

Benefits

• Clearly defined career tracks and job levels, along with associated behaviors for each of Lincoln's core values and leadership attributes
• Leadership development and virtual training opportunities
• PTO/parental leave
• Competitive 401K and employee benefits
• Free financial counseling, health coaching and employee assistance program
• Tuition assistance program
• Work arrangements that work for you
• Effective productivity/technology tools and training

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed