Chief Operating Officer (COO) - Remote (Europe)
Job description
Chief Operating Officer to build and run the operating organisation for a new crypto-fiat digital banking venture, covering customer and payment operations, controls and partner management. The role is hands-on and focused on establishing processes from the ground up ahead of launch and through growth.
At a glance
- Work mode
- Remote · Europe
What you'll do
- Design and implement the operating model for a new crypto-fiat digital banking business.
- Establish and oversee customer onboarding, payment operations, transaction processing workflows and day-to-day service delivery.
- Build robust procedures for settlement, reconciliation, exception handling, disputes and operational reporting.
- Coordinate with compliance and risk specialists on KYC/AML processes, internal controls, monitoring and applicable regulatory obligations.
- Manage relationships and operating arrangements with banking, payment, card and other financial service partners.
- Define operational KPIs, service standards, escalation paths and management reporting; improve efficiency as volumes increase.
- Recruit and lead a lean operations team, with clear responsibilities, practical workflows and a culture of accountability.
- Own operational budgets and cost efficiency, identifying opportunities for process improvement and sustainable scale.
- Partner with commercial and product leadership to support launches, new customer segments and market expansion.
What we're looking for
- Direct leadership experience in operations within crypto banking, crypto-fiat financial services or crypto-enabled neobanking.
- A proven record of establishing or scaling financial operations, preferably during an early-stage launch or period of rapid growth.
- Strong practical understanding of payment operations, settlement, reconciliation, cards, customer onboarding and banking partner relationships.
- Experience managing KYC/AML-related operating processes, risk controls and regulated financial service requirements in collaboration with compliance specialists.
- Strong organisational judgement, operational risk awareness and the ability to introduce effective processes without excessive bureaucracy.
- Experience managing operational performance, budgets, service levels and cross-functional stakeholders.
- A hands-on, entrepreneurial leadership style and the ability to build and motivate a compact, results-oriented team.
Benefits
Performance-based incentives, profit participation or equity arrangements will be discussed as part of an individually tailored package.
- Create the operational foundations of a new international crypto-fiat financial services business.
- Join a venture supported by established entrepreneurs and a clear ambition to scale.
- Shape operating processes, build the team and influence how the business runs from day one.
- Flexible and competitive compensation: an attractive, individually tailored package is open for discussion.
Apply
About Emerald Zebra
Emerald Zebra is recruiting on behalf of a private investment group led by established technology entrepreneurs who have built and scaled international businesses across several sectors. The group is preparing to launch a new crypto-fiat digital banking venture combining digital-asset services and traditional financial payments.
Key facts
- The client is a private investment group led by established technology entrepreneurs.
- The group is preparing to launch a new crypto-fiat digital banking venture.
- The planned offering includes crypto-to-fiat conversion, wallets, payment cards and bank transfer services for B2B and B2C customers.