Head of Operations

Davy

Head of Operations driving best-in-class client journeys at Davy through operational excellence and collaboration. Leading core operational activities within a hybrid work environment in Dublin, Ireland.

Posted 5/26/2026full-timeDublin • 🇮🇪 IrelandLeadWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Own end-to-end operational delivery across the full client lifecycle, including onboarding and KYC, trading and settlements, asset servicing, portfolio administration, reporting and client communications
Lead and integrate our core operational activities into a single, cohesive operating model and centre of excellence
Embed data, digital and technology capabilities within operational teams, ensuring tools, automation, and data-driven solutions are effectively adopted and owned within the business to enhance efficiency, scalability, and client outcomes
Drive operational excellence through standardisation, process optimisation, automation, and continuous improvement
Provide strong leadership, including coaching and developing senior leaders, building robust succession pipelines, and delivering sustained high performance. Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement, while ensuring clear alignment with business strategy and client outcomes.
Ensure best in class service delivery aligned to client outcomes, regulatory requirements, and agreed service levels
Define and oversee operational performance management, including KPIs, SLAs, quality, volumes, and turnaround times
Lead operational capacity planning, workforce management, and productivity optimisation
Partner with Digital & Data and IT to improve operational processes and enable digitised client journeys
Ensure operational readiness and effective adoption of transformation and change initiatives
Own operational cost efficiency and performance optimisation outcomes
Partner with the Head of 1LOD Risk to embed operational risk management, controls, and resilience into day-to-day operations
Provide transparent reporting and escalation on operational performance, risks, and issues
Ensure full compliance with Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) requirements and other applicable regulatory frameworks (e.g., MiFID II, AIFMD, UCITS as relevant).
Act as a key contact for internal and external audits, regulatory inspections, and due diligence processes.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Proven senior leadership experience in operations within regulated financial services, ideally spanning wealth, capital markets, and/or client servicing environments
Strong track record of leading end-to-end operational delivery across the client lifecycle (e.g. onboarding/KYC, servicing, trading, reporting)
Provide strong leadership, including coaching and developing senior leaders, building robust succession pipelines, and delivering sustained high performance across teams. Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement, while ensuring clear alignment with business strategy.
Demonstrated ability to design and implement scalable operating models, driving integration across multiple operational functions
Extensive experience in operational performance management, including KPIs, SLAs, quality metrics, and turnaround times
Strong capability in capacity planning, workforce management, and productivity optimisation within high-volume environments
Proven experience driving operational excellence and continuous improvement, including process standardisation and automation.
Deep understanding of operational risk, controls, and regulatory requirements, with experience embedding resilience and governance into day-to-day operations
Strong collaboration skills, with experience partnering with Digital, Data, and Technology teams to modernise processes and deliver digitised client journeys
Delivery-focused and pragmatic leader, with a strong emphasis on service quality, client outcomes, and execution discipline at scale
Track record of delivering significant operational change programmes on time, within scope and with measurables outcomes
Strong commercial acumen, understands how operational decisions connect to financial performance and client outcomes
Ability to build consensus across a complex stakeholder landscape
Data driven decision maker and strong knowledge of digital workflow platforms and automation solutions.

Benefits

Comp & perks

At Davy, our people are our biggest investment. In today’s fast-moving world, we know it’s important to feel secure and empowered. That’s why Davy benefits support you through all of life’s stages, offering health and wellness, flexible working options, flexible benefits allowance, learning and development opportunities, through to assisted retirement planning.
Psychological safety, emotional wellbeing and support are a priority at Davy. We offer a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) and mental health first aid. Our Sports & Social teams promote physical wellbeing and social connection.
We offer a competitive remuneration package to include salary, bonus, pension and a host of additional benefits to protect you and your family when it matters most.
Our award-winning L&D function supports you and your growth at Davy. We offer a comprehensive range of professional and personal development opportunities. Our culture supports learning, and we encourage you to explore more at Davy.
Our workplace is inclusive, diverse, and offers everyone a sense of belonging. We are flexible and continue to support a hybrid working model. You will get to be your best at Davy.
Exceptional client outcomes delivered by a world class team, underpinned by our core Davy values – One Team, Client Success, and Proud Legacy.

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

operational deliveryonboardingKYCtradingsettlementsasset servicingportfolio administrationreportingprocess optimisationoperational performance management

Soft Skills

leadershipcoachingcollaborationcontinuous improvementaccountabilitycapacity planningproductivity optimisationdelivery-focusedpragmaticconsensus building