The Role

OTC Exotic Derivatives Business Manager

AVP – VP Level | Reporting to Co-COO | No Direct Reports

Location: City of London | 4 days office/ 1 day WFH

Martis Search is partnering with a high-growth City of London based FinTech trading firm to appoint an “OTC Exotic Derivatives Business Manager” within its COO Office.

This is a high-impact, front-office facing role supporting the Co-COO across strategic initiatives, new product launches, asset-class expansion, and business transformation. The successful candidate will play a key role in strengthening the firm’s operational infrastructure as the business continues to scale globally.

The Business

The firm trades a broad and expanding range of OTC Exotic Derivatives asset classes including:

1. Equity Derivatives (OTC & ETD) including Structured Products & Structured Notes
2. FX
3. Interest Rate Swaps
4. Credit Derivatives
5. Futures & Options
6. OTC Commodities
7. Cryptocurrencies

The organisation is continuously expanding its product offering and international footprint, creating significant opportunity for operational build-out and strategic enhancement.

What you would be doing

Working within a small COO team and based on the trading floor, you will partner closely with the Co-COO and senior stakeholders across Front Office, Compliance, Legal, Finance and IT.

You will act as a key liaison between the business and control/ support functions, driving high-level change initiatives and ensuring scalable, well-governed operational frameworks are in place.

This role is suited to someone comfortable operating at senior levels, with strong product knowledge and the ability to manage both strategic projects and tactical business improvements.

Key Responsibilities

1. Lead end-to-end delivery of new business, product and asset-class launches (design through implementation)
2. Support the creation and build-out of new trading businesses
3. Drive IT, operational, regulatory, and business change initiatives
4. Review and enhance front-to-back processes across trading products
5. Identify automation and efficiency opportunities through technology
6. Partner with Sales and Trading on day-to-day process improvements
7. Support international expansion initiatives, including new office openings
8. Contribute to governance frameworks and ensure regulatory alignment
9. Oversee operational effectiveness and cost efficiency initiatives

Candidate Profile

Our client is open to candidates from either Operations, Project Management, Business Management, or Deputy COO backgrounds within:

1. Investment Banking/ Brokerage (Sell-Side)
2. Asset Management/ Hedge Funds (Buy-Side)
3. Trading, or FinTech environments

You will demonstrate:

1. Strong product knowledge across either OTC Structured Derivatives, Exotic Derivatives, Structured Notes, FX, Commodities, or ETD / Futures & Options
2. Deep understanding of front-to-back trade lifecycle and operational processing
3. Experience managing complex change initiatives (IT and/or regulatory)
4. Strong stakeholder management and ability to influence senior leadership
5. Commercial awareness and strategic mindset
6. Ability to operate in a fast-paced, growth environment

Technical Skills (Highly Advantageous)

1. Advanced Excel
2. VBA and/or Python for data analysis and automation

Education

1. Degree educated (STEM discipline preferred)
2. Strong academic background (minimum 2:1 equivalent)

Working Model

This role is based on the trading floor in the City of London, with a hybrid model of approximately four days per week in the office. Given the pace and complexity of the environment, regular in-office presence is preferred.

Compensation

£90,000 – £120,000 k pa base salary (dependent on experience)

Plus discretionary bonus, pension, healthcare and benefits package.