Vice President – Core Operations (Digital Asset Custody Operations)

As Vice President of Digital Asset Custody Operations at Citi, you lead the end-to-end custody operations function, ensuring accurate, secure, and timely processing of digital asset transactions. You oversee operational governance, reconciliations, settlements, exception management, and control frameworks to maintain the integrity, efficiency, and resilience of custody services. Leading a team of AVPs and Analysts, you drive operational excellence through process optimization, automation, and scalability initiatives while working closely with Product, Technology, Risk, Compliance, and Client Service teams to support business growth and regulatory adherence.

What you'll do

• Direct daily operations of the digital asset custody team, establishing world-class standards for transaction execution across blockchain networks while upholding service quality and team resilience
• Manage and develop your team, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and operational excellence
• Serve as the senior escalation point for complex settlement exceptions, blockchain transaction failures, and reconciliation issues, ensuring timely resolution and client satisfaction
• Own the implementation and adherence to risk and control frameworks, ensuring compliance with internal policies, industry standards, and global regulatory requirements
• Represent Operations in discussions with technology and product teams to identify, design, and implement process automation, workflow improvements, and reporting enhancements
• Act as a Subject Matter Expert for blockchain-based settlements, providing guidance on operational impacts of new products, protocols, and regulatory developments
• Partner with the Head of Digital Asset Operations to execute strategic initiatives, including technology migrations, process re-engineering, and new product rollouts
• Maintain strong governance and documentation standards, ensuring all operational procedures, risk assessments, and contingency plans are current
• Monitor operational metrics, SLAs, and KPIs, taking proactive measures to maintain and improve service levels
• Operate within a 24/7 shift model to ensure continuous operational coverage

What you bring

• 10 to 14+ years of relevant custody experience and at least 4 years of leadership experience in digital operations, technology, or financial services directly focused on digital assets, blockchain, or distributed ledger technologies
• Deep understanding of crypto and blockchain fundamentals such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Hyperledger, various consensus mechanisms, decentralized finance, smart contracts, and token standards including ERC-20 and ERC-721
• Proven track record of designing and scaling complex operational processes, ideally in a highly regulated environment, with experience in back-office operations, settlement, and reconciliation
• Strong comprehension of the current regulatory landscape for digital assets globally and the ability to translate regulations into actionable operational and technical requirements
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels
• Proven executive presence and diplomatic resilience, capable of aligning senior stakeholders across high-pressure regulatory and technological transformations
• Track record of building, coaching, and scaling high-performing operations teams
• Demonstrated ability to analyze complex problems, identify root causes, and implement effective, scalable solutions
• Demonstrated ability to embed strong risk awareness and control discipline into daily custody operations and ensure secure handling of client assets

About Citi

Citi is revolutionizing the future of digital asset management and blockchain integration through its Investor Services business, building innovative solutions that redefine security, efficiency, and accessibility in the digital economy. The Digital Asset Servicing team is pioneering operations across the group, supporting Custody, Funds, and Execution Services businesses.