Chief Operating Officer

The Role

We are seeking a founding Chief Operating Officer to own the operational and technical banking infrastructure of a pre-launch, OCC-chartered digital bank. This is a build-from-zero role — there is no existing ops team to inherit, no vendor stack already in place, and no playbook to follow. You will be the first operational executive at the company, responsible for standing up every core banking function from the ground up.
Reporting directly to the CEO, you will work at the intersection of banking operations, technology infrastructure, and regulatory readiness. The right candidate is someone who has spent their career deep inside how banks actually work — core systems, payment rails, settlement, reconciliation, ledger integrity — and is ready to apply that knowledge in a modern, technology-first environment.

What You'll Do

Core Banking Infrastructure

• Lead the evaluation, selection, and implementation of the company's core banking platform, working closely with engineering and product to define architecture requirements
• Own the design and buildout of the general ledger, including chart of accounts structure, posting logic, reconciliation frameworks, and end-of-day processing
• Oversee integration of core banking systems with payment rails, customer-facing products, and regulatory reporting infrastructure
• Establish data integrity standards and controls across all banking operations, ensuring accuracy and auditability of transaction records

Payments & Settlement

• Own the company's payments infrastructure strategy, including connectivity to ACH, Fedwire, RTP, FedNow, and card networks as applicable
• Build and oversee settlement operations, including nostro/vostro account management, daily settlement reconciliation, and exception handling processes
• Establish operational frameworks for payment origination, return processing, dispute management, and fraud operations
• Manage correspondent banking and Client account relationships as the company progresses toward charter

Banking Operations

• Design and implement deposit operations infrastructure, including account lifecycle management, interest accrual, statement generation, and regulatory reporting (call report readiness, FDIC insurance calculations)
• Oversee loan operations infrastructure if and as the company extends credit products, including origination systems, servicing, and investor reporting
• Build out customer operations and back-office functions, including dispute resolution, account servicing, and exception management
• Establish operational risk and control frameworks, including segregation of duties, dual controls, and internal operational audit trails

OCC Charter & Regulatory Readiness

• Serve as the operational lead in the OCC charter application process, owning the development of business plans, operational policies, and control narratives required for licensing
• Ensure all operational infrastructure is designed and documented to meet OCC examination standards from day one
• Partner with the CCO/BSA Officer, CFO, and legal counsel to align operational controls with compliance, financial reporting, and regulatory obligations
• Establish operational continuity, disaster recovery, and business resilience programs consistent with OCC guidance for de novo banks

Vendor & Technology Partnerships

• Lead vendor selection and contract negotiation for all critical banking technology partnerships, including core banking, payment processors, KYC/identity verification, fraud, and data infrastructure
• Establish a third-party risk management framework covering operational due diligence, SLA oversight, and contingency planning
• Work closely with engineering leadership to define the boundary between build vs. buy across the operational technology stack

Team & Organization Building

• Build the operational organization from the ground up, including defining team structure, hiring priorities, and role responsibilities across banking ops, payments, and customer operations
• Establish operational policies, procedures, and training programs that meet regulatory standards and scale with company growth
• Serve as a member of the senior leadership team, contributing to strategic planning, board reporting, and cross-functional decision-making

What We're Looking For

The ideal candidate is a career banking operations professional who understands how banks work at a technical and mechanical level — not just organizationally. We are looking for someone who has been close enough to core systems, payment rails, and settlement processes to have strong opinions about how they should be built, not just managed. Fintech experience is a plus, but deep traditional banking operations expertise is the foundation we need.

Required Experience & Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in banking operations, with significant depth in at least two of the following: core banking systems, payments infrastructure, settlement operations, or deposit/lending operations
• Hands-on experience with core banking platforms (e.g., Client, FIS, Temenos, Finxact, Thought Machine, or similar) — including implementation, migration, or significant operational ownership
• Deep knowledge of U.S. payment rails and settlement mechanics, including ACH (NACHA rules), Fedwire, CHIPS, RTP/FedNow, and card network operations
• Strong understanding of general ledger design, reconciliation principles, and financial controls in a regulated depository environment
• Experience at or with an OCC-regulated national bank, with familiarity with OCC examination standards and supervisory expectations for bank operations
• Experience building or standing up new operational functions, whether at a de novo bank, through a significant transformation, or in a high-growth fintech environment
• Demonstrated ability to bridge technical banking knowledge with technology teams — comfortable in conversations about APIs, system integrations, and data architecture without being an engineer

Preferred Background

• Direct involvement in a de novo bank launch or OCC charter application process
• Experience at a fintech, BaaS platform, or digital bank, in addition to traditional banking background
• Familiarity with Client account management, correspondent banking relationships, and FDIC insurance operational requirements
• Experience with cross-border payments, FX operations, or global money movement infrastructure
• Advanced degree in finance, business, or a related field; relevant certifications (AAP, CTP) a plus