Head of Clearing Operations

Altruist•Dallas, TX

8h•Hybrid

About The Position

Altruist is entering an exciting phase, and we're looking for a Head of Clearing Operations to join our Operations department!

Requirements

10+ years of progressive clearing operations experience at a self-clearing broker-dealer.
Deep expertise in U.S. securities clearing, settlement, custody, margin, options, and asset servicing.
Strong working knowledge of FINRA, SEC, DTCC, NSCC, OCC, and exchange rules governing clearing and settlement.
Proven experience scaling clearing operations in a high-growth, technology-driven environment.
Demonstrated ability to lead complex clearing teams and functions with strong risk and control orientation.
Ability to balance strategic planning with hands-on operational execution.
Track record of driving automation, straight-through processing, and operational resilience.
Sound judgment in managing operational risk, market events, and volume spikes.
Demonstrated ability to apply technology, automation, and data to transform clearing operations.
Experience partnering closely with product and engineering teams in an agile environment.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to influence across Product, Engineering, Finance, Compliance, Risk, and Customer Experience.
Ability to clearly articulate clearing risks, controls, and performance to executive and regulatory audiences.
Strong ownership mindset with comfort operating in ambiguity and high-accountability environments.
Detail-oriented with a strong appreciation for controls, precision, and asset protection.
Thrives in a fast-paced, scaling self-clearing environment.
FINRA Series 7 and 63 required.

Nice To Haves

Proficiency with FIS Phase 3 strongly preferred; familiarity with modern clearing and brokerage platforms a plus.
Series 4, Series 27, or willingness to obtain additional licenses as required over time.

Responsibilities

Clearing Operations Leadership & Execution Lead all self-clearing operational functions, including Trade Capture & Processing, Clearance & Settlement, Reconciliations, Treasury & Cash Management, Corporate Actions, Tax Operations, Margin, Options, Securities Lending, Stock Borrow/Loan, Fails Management, Asset Servicing, and Exception Management.
Ensure accurate, timely, and compliant processing across the full trade lifecycle for equities, options, fixed income, and other supported products.
Establish clear ownership, escalation paths, controls, and service-level expectations across all clearing workflows.
Maintain daily operational discipline across critical processes including trade settlement, cash and securities breaks, margin calculations, and lifecycle events.
Strategy, Scale & Automation Define and execute a clearing operations strategy aligned with Altruist’s self-clearing roadmap and growth objectives.
Design scalable operating models that minimize manual intervention through automation, straight-through processing, and intelligent exception handling.
Drive continuous improvement initiatives to reduce operational risk, settlement fails, cost-to-serve, and manual touchpoints.
Implement metrics-driven management, including KPIs, KRIs, root-cause analysis, and continuous control testing.
Technology & Product Partnership Partner with Product and Engineering to translate clearing requirements into scalable platform capabilities.
Ensure clearing operational readiness for new products, market structure changes, regulatory updates, and volume growth.
Serve as the primary clearing subject-matter expert in product design discussions to ensure operational integrity and scalability.
Leverage data, reporting, and workflow tools to provide real-time visibility into clearing performance and risk.
Financial Stewardship & Vendor Management Partner with Finance to manage clearing operations budgets, capacity planning, and ROI for clearing-related investments.
Own relationships with clearing vendors, market utilities, and service providers including DTCC, NSCC, OCC, exchanges, and third-party service firms.
Negotiate contracts, monitor vendor performance, and ensure alignment with operational, financial, and regulatory requirements.
Risk Management, Compliance & Regulatory Engagement Partner with Compliance, Risk, and the FINOP to ensure timely and accurate regulatory reporting, reserve calculations, margin reporting, and reconciliation of breaks.
Maintain strong internal controls over cash, securities, margin, and custody-related processes.
Lead clearing operations preparation and participation in FINRA, SEC, and other regulatory examinations.
Proactively identify, assess, and mitigate clearing-related operational, financial, and regulatory risks.
People Leadership & Culture Build, lead, and develop a high-performing clearing operations organization, including hiring, onboarding, coaching, and succession planning.
Establish a culture of accountability, ownership, risk awareness, and operational excellence.
Set and deliver OKRs tied to clearing efficiency, control effectiveness, settlement quality, and customer impact.
Develop future leaders and subject-matter experts across clearing disciplines.
Customer & Advisor Impact Own clearing outcomes that directly impact RIAs and their clients, including settlement accuracy, timeliness, and asset safety.
Partner with Customer Success and Support to resolve complex clearing issues and systemic settlement or asset-servicing problems.
Reduce downstream service and support needs through improved clearing processes, tooling, and transparency.

Benefits

A hybrid work schedule for most positions to promote strong, in-person collaboration and a healthy work-life-balance.
Stunning, amenity-filled office spaces in Culver City, CA, San Francisco, CA, and Dallas, TX. Our offices are intentionally designed for comfort, collaboration, and productivity.
Competitive pay and equity for eligible positions.
Premium healthcare, dental, and vision insurance plans (HMO and PPO).
401k savings plan with a 4% match and immediate vesting.
16 week paid parental leave.
Professional growth and development opportunities including an employee mobility program and an annual L&D budget allocation for each employee.
Company perks program (includes discounts on pet insurance, fitness, cell phone plans, entertainment and travel, etc.).
Financial guidance program (includes counseling on navigating debt, tracking personal spend, saving and planning goals, home-purchasing preparedness, etc.).
One month work from anywhere policy (with the exception of a few countries).
Total compensation includes a competitive benefits package, along with equity in the form of Stock Options (ISOs) for eligible roles.