Job description
Our client, a fast-growing organisation in the financial services space, is looking for a Chief Operating Officer (COO) to help scale the business and drive its next phase of growth.
This is a hands-on leadership role suited for someone who thrives in a startup-like, fast-paced environment ,someone who has built, launched, and scaled products and operations from the ground up, not just managed steady-state businesses.
Key Responsibilities
Build, Scale & Transform
- Partner closely with the CEO to shape and execute business strategy in a high-growth environment
- Lead the organisation through rapid scaling, new market expansion, and continuous transformation
- Build operational frameworks, processes, and teams from the ground up
Product & Go-to-Market Execution
- Drive the launch of new products and services, working closely with product and technology teams
- Translate business ideas into executable operating models and scalable delivery frameworks
- Ensure speed-to-market while maintaining operational stability and compliance
Operations & Performance
- Oversee end-to-end operations including platform performance, transaction processing, and service delivery
- Continuously optimise for efficiency, reliability, and customer experience
- Define and track KPIs, SLAs, and operational metrics in a dynamic environment
Technology & Innovation
- Partner with technology leadership to enable agile delivery and rapid product iteration
- Champion innovation, automation, and adoption of emerging technologies
- Manage external partners and vendors to support scaling needs
Commercial & Financial Ownership
- Own operational P&L, balancing growth with cost discipline
- Identify new revenue streams, partnerships, and business opportunities
- Support fundraising, business cases, and investment decisions where required
Risk & Governance
- Ensure compliance with relevant regulatory frameworks (e.g. MAS, Payment Services Act)
- Build scalable risk, compliance, and governance structures aligned with growth
- Engage with regulators, partners, and stakeholders as the business evolves
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Computer Science, or related field MBA preferred
- 15+ years of experience, with significant exposure to high-growth or startup environments
- Proven track record of building and scaling operations, teams, and products from 0 to 1 (and beyond)
- Strong experience in payments, fintech, banking, or tech-led businesses
- Hands-on experience launching new products or platforms in fast-paced environments
- Strong commercial acumen with P&L ownership
- Ability to operate both strategically and tactically , comfortable getting into the details when needed
- Excellent stakeholder management skills across founders, investors, regulators, and partners
- Resilient, adaptable, and comfortable navigating ambiguity and rapid change
