COO - Philippines / Director, Business Manager, Country Management

Position Description

The Director, Business Management reports to the Country Head of Philippines locally, and the Chief Operating Officer functionally. The incumbent has oversight responsibility across all Philippines support functions, and is expected to act as the coordinating lead for these functions in conjunction with their reporting lines into the respective Global / Regional Heads. The role in Philippines encompasses all agency broking and other business activity in that Country (or as per prevailing business activities).

Key Areas of Responsibilities

The incumbent is responsible for the robust operation of the Philippines business. This includes all aspects of the operational processes and infrastructure required to support the local business. Responsibilities can be separated into the three core areas covering Strategic, Operational and Administrative/ Support including but not limited to:

Analysis

• Client MIS/data mining to analyze client and business trends, opportunities, etc.
• Continuous focus on Cost Saving opportunities across all departments.
• Review of Monthly and Quarterly financial reports for trends, peaks and issues.

Planning

• Work in conjunction with support functional heads to ensure appropriate Succession Planning for key support roles in the local office.
• Support Country Head of Philippines in potential business expansion plans

Leadership

• Promote / maintain the company culture, including, adherence with the Code of Conduct and ensuring that the local office is in sync/aligned with Head Office.

Overall Operational Oversight including, but not limited to:

• Plan, organize and control all day-to-day activities of the local office.
• Direct company operations to meet financial and operational goals.
• Budget planning and tracking throughout the fiscal cycle.
• Perform supervisory duties of department support staff, where required.
• Contribute to performance measures for the operation.
• Monitor the workplace for staffing and human resources issues, and work closely with the Country Head and HR department to proactively manage these. This may include management of payroll, inductions and exits (including terminations and redundancies) and generally being the on the ground HR contact.
• Deal with local sensitive issues and follow appropriate escalation processes as required.
• Implement broader operational initiatives and activities locally as directed by Global management.
• Manage local legal, regulatory compliance and reporting requirements such as taxation, regulators and HR related authorities.

Reporting & Escalation including, but not limited to:

The key principal underlying reporting and escalation is that there should be no surprises, as such:

• The Country Head should be kept appraised of any key issues that impacts Philippines.
• The IE COO should be kept appraised of any key local issues that may have a wider impact on the Company or that are material in the local context.
• The Business and Support Heads should be kept appraised of any key issues that impact their functions.

Other reporting requirements including, but not limited to:

• Any governance meetings required by the local entities / business by the regulators.
• A local office Risk & Support meeting (at least monthly).
• Weekly bullets / summary reporting to the Philippines Country Head.
• Regular meetings with the Philippines Country Head as required.

Operational Risk Management including, but not limited to:

• Incident Management in line with the Company Incident policy.
• Key Risk Indicators for, but no limited to Trading/Operation errors, Failed Settlements, Security incidents, IT issues.
• Risk Control Self-Assessment to maintain all local RCSA requirements.
• Validates controls identified in RCSA as determined by ORM.
• Fat Finger Limits including annual review with the Trading COO.
• Audit Point Management in line with Audit and Compliance departments.
• Business Resiliency Management, BCP Testing and Crisis Management Team (CMT) coordination.
• Physical Security for Buildings, Premises and Staff.
• Travel security for staff visiting from other offices.

Administrative & Support Responsibilities

General support for departments (as applicable) including, but not limited to managerial oversight and cover of absence and/or leave:

• Finance (e.g. taxation, treasury).
• Legal.
• Compliance.
• Audit.
• Technology.
• Operations (including Trade Support, if any).
• Risk Management – BCP, Operational, Credit, Market (if any).
• Human Resources.
• Local Admin.

Functional Administration

• Monitor Travel & Expense spend and exceptions.
• Maintain relationship with payroll/insurance vendors.
• Contract management and annual review for Outsourced Services

Requirements

• Relevant working experience for a minimum of 5 years at the level of middle management of an institution in the capital market.
• Previously a participant of a recognised exchange.
• Employed at a Senior Management position for a minimum of 2 years by a CMSL holder carrying in dealing in securities.
• Accountancy background, ideally a Chartered Accountant.
• Technical Knowledge of the Equity Broking business.
• Excellent Interpersonal and Communication skills.
• Commercial awareness.
• Leadership skills including goal setting and providing appropriate feedback.
• Disciplined approach to compliance and enforcement of policies.
• Problem Solving/Analytical ability.
• Fostering teamwork including conducting effective team meetings.
• Developing expertise in others.
• Developing new ideas for taking the business forward.
• Action oriented and achievement focused.