COO, Head of Operations (PCF-42), Payward Ireland Ltd

Payward - the parent company behind Kraken, NinjaTrader, Breakout, xStocks, Payward Services and CF Benchmarks - has spent the last 15 years building one of the most modern and globally accessible financial infrastructure platforms in the industry, built to advance an open, global financial system.

Before you apply, we encourage you to explore our culture page to understand what drives us and how we work.

Founded in 2011, Kraken is one of the world's longest-standing crypto platforms, trusted by over 10 million individuals and institutions across the globe. It offers spot trading, margin, futures, staking, and OTC services, with products built for both individual investors and institutional clients.

You will be responsible for overseeing the daily operations, ensuring operational efficiency, and managing the strategic implementation of Kraken’s European E-money Institution (“EMI’) goals. This role plays a critical role in ensuring compliance with the E-money and Payment Services Regulations, and works closely with other senior executives to achieve Kraken EMI’s objectives.

The ideal candidate should have experience working in an EMI or Payments Services Regulations (“PSRs” business, with a deep understanding of global business operating models and crypto exchanges.

This role is based in Ireland and is subject to approval by the Central Bank of Ireland as PCF-42 (COO).

• Operational Management:

  • Oversee the daily operations of the EMI, ensuring all processes run smoothly and efficiently

  • Develop and implement operational strategies to support Kraken’s EMI growth and scalability

  • Identify areas for process improvement and implement changes to increase efficiency and effectiveness

  • Oversee all outsourcing to Kraken group service providers

• Regulatory Compliance:

  • Ensure that Kraken EMI operations comply with all EMI/PSR requirements and other relevant regulatory frameworks

  • Establish and maintain robust internal controls to ensure regulatory compliance and operational integrity

  • Collaborate with the regional compliance officer to prepare for regulatory audits, and to ensure accurate reporting

• Risk Management:

  • Identify, assess, and manage operational risks

  • Develop and implement strategies to mitigate operational risks, ensuring business continuity

  • Oversee crisis and incident management plans and procedures, ensuring that Kraken EMI is prepared for potential disruptions

• Outsourcing Oversight

  • Act as PIL's nominated senior executive accountable for outsourcing, in line with the CBI Cross-Industry Guidance on Outsourcing, including oversight of Payward Inc. (PINC) as PIL's material outsourced service provider;

  • Oversee ongoing monitoring and performance management of outsourced service providers, including PINC, against agreed service levels and risk indicators;

  • Ensure outsourcing arrangements comply with applicable CBI outsourcing requirements and, where relevant, DORA ICT third-party risk management requirements;

  • Act as the primary point of contact for outsourcing-related regulatory queries, including notifying the CBI of new or materially changed outsourcing arrangements as required;

  • Report on outsourcing risk, concentration, and performance to the CEO, Board, and relevant risk/outsourcing committees.

• Fraud Oversight

  • Have overall responsibility for the Fraud function running through PIL, including fraud prevention, detection, and case management outcomes;

  • Oversee the outsourced Fraud Operations service provided by Payward Inc. (PINC) as PIL's material outsourced service provider, monitoring performance against agreed SLAs/KPIs;

  • Ensure Fraud risk appetite, controls, and management information align with PIL's Risk Appetite Statement (RAS) and applicable CBI outsourcing/operational resilience requirements;

  • Escalate material fraud incidents, thematic trends, and control gaps to the CEO, Board, and relevant risk committees on a timely basis.

• Technology & Security:

  • Oversee Kraken EMI’s technology infrastructure to ensure it meets operational needs and regulatory requirements

  • Work with technology leadership to ensure the security of Kraken EMIS’s data and systems

  • Promote technological innovation to enhance Kraken EMI’s operations and user experience

• Customer Experience:

  • Ensure that Kraken EMI provides excellent, secure customer service and support

  • Implement mechanisms to gather and act on customer feedback to improve service delivery

  • Oversee processes for resolving customer complaints and disputes effectively

  • Ensure that the EMI has operational processes in place that ensure compliance with Consumer Protection Code 2025

• Strategic Planning:

  • Support the General Manager, E-money and Payments Operations in developing and implementing the EMI’s strategic initiatives

  • Set operational goals that align with EMI and Kraken overall strategy

  • Monitor progress towards achieving strategic goals and make adjustments as needed

• Stakeholder Engagement:

  • Collaborate with other senior executives to ensure cohesive and aligned operations;

  • Build and maintain relationships with key internal and external stakeholders.

• Executive Director Responsibilities (PCF-1) The Executive Director position is the business representative on the board of directors. This individual is part of the executive management team. The role of the Executive Director is to:

  • Propose strategies to the board;

  • Execute the agreed strategies to the highest possible standards;

  • Have knowledge and understanding of the material activities of the business;

  • Have knowledge and understanding of the risks of the business;

  • Have relevant skills, experience, and knowledge such as accounting, auditing, and risk management.

• Eligible to work in Ireland, or be willing to relocate to Ireland

• Extensive experience (15+ years) in operational leadership roles, preferably in the financial services or crypto-asset industry

• Strong understanding EMI, PSRs and wider European Regulatory Frameworks

• Strong leadership, strategic thinking, financial acumen, and excellent communication skills

• Leadership & Management Skills:

  • Commitment to high ethical standards and transparency

  • Ability to analyze complex operational issues and develop effective solutions

  • Flexibility to adapt to a rapidly changing regulatory and market environment

  • Dedication to providing a superior customer experience

• Qualifications & Certifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Operations Management, or a related field; advanced degree preferred

  • Relevant professional certifications in finance, compliance, or operations management are desirable

Unless a specific application deadline is stated in the job posting, applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Please note, applicants are permitted to redact or remove information on their resume that identifies age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.

We consider qualified applicants with criminal histories for employment on our team, assessing candidates in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.

Payward is powered by people from around the world and we celebrate the diverse talents, backgrounds, contributions, and unique perspectives that everyone brings to the table. We hire based on merit, seeking out people with the right abilities, knowledge, and skills for the job. We encourage you to apply for roles where you don't fully meet the listed requirements, especially if you're passionate or knowledgeable about crypto.

We may ask candidates to complete job-related skills or work-style assessments as part of our hiring process. These assessments evaluate competencies relevant to the role and are applied consistently across candidates for similar positions. Results are considered alongside experience and interviews, and are not the sole basis for any employment decision.

As an equal opportunity employer, we don't tolerate discrimination or harassment of any kind, whether based on race, ethnicity, age, gender identity, citizenship, religion, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.

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