About the Company

Hi, we're Ondo Finance. Our mission is to provide institutional-grade, blockchain-enabled investment products and services. We have both a technology arm that develops decentralized finance technology, and an asset management arm that creates and manages tokenized funds. We were the first company to tokenize exposure to US Treasuries, and have since expanded into several other assets. We are also focused on incubating protocols that can support both tokenized real-world assets and traditional crypto.

Founded by folks from Goldman Sach’s Digital Assets Team, we’re backed by some of the best investors in the world including Founders Fund, Coinbase Ventures, Pantera Capital, Tiger Global, and more. We are currently the leaders in the space in terms of AUM and are well capitalized to continue to grow the firm. We're fully remote, with team members across the U.S.About the RoleWe are currently focused on tokenizing publicly traded securities, particularly focused on cash equivalents (e.g. money market funds, US treasuries, etc.). When investors invest with us, we in turn invest that money into these traditional asset types and then tokenize investors exposure to them. This means that, in addition to our blockchain expertise, part of our operational needs are very similar to that of a traditional investment manager: trade management, service provider relations, book reconciliation, audit, tax, and regulatory compliance, and the like.

We’re looking for a VP of Investment Operations with deep experience in these traditional functions who also has experience in — or at least is interested in learning — blockchain, crypto, and defi to help us build world-class investment operations.Take a look at the target outcomes below - this is what we're looking for someone to help us achieve:

Target Outcomes

• Reputation for World-Class Investment Operations. Stakeholders who investigate our investments operations — whether customers, auditors, regulators, or internal stakeholders — are consistently impressed with the quality, thoroughness, robustness, compliance, and efficiency of our investment operations such that it bolsters our reputation and brand.
• No Major Problems. There are no significant operational snafus that materially impact either the client experience or Ondo’s reputation (including regulatory and security).
• Pristine, Up-to-Date Records & Reporting. All books and records for all our investment products are consistently correct, reconciled, and up to date. Such books and records include, but are not limited to, investor accounts and wallets, fund and share class NAV and NAV per share/token, yield and fee accruals and disbursements. All tax, audit, compliance, and other requiring forms and filings are consistently up to date.
• Clear, Timely, and Accessible Communication. Relevant information is consistently and accurately communicated on time to all relevant parties as needed (for example, price and yield numbers listed on our website). Analytics and reporting regarding our investment products and operations is easily accessible to internal stakeholders, clear, up-to-date, and visually pleasing. Internally, Investment Operation priorities and activities and well understood by the appropriate members of other teams.
• Clear (and Met) SLAs. New deposits and redemptions are handled accord to agreed-upon processes and procedures and happy and occur according to agreed-upon SLAs.
• Rapid and Flawless Operationalization of New Products. New investment products (and new iterations on existing products) are launched faster than most people would think possible while still operating without visible hiccup or issue.
• Detailed, Clear, Consistently Up-To-Date Process Documentation. All processes are fully documented (with up to date documentation). Each process clearly indicates who is responsible for the design / architecture, day-to-day oversight, and day-to-day running and support of each process. Such processes are operationalized in checklists used daily by the team.
• Effective, Efficient, Secure, and Compliant Investment Operations. Clear redundancy and escalation policies, procedures, and systems are in place to support all our products and services. Business continuity plans are robust, well planned, and consistently up to date. Security permissions are thoughtful, appropriately balance efficiency and security, are approved by our security committee, and are up-to-date. There is consistency between our operational checklists, internal policies, legal and marketing documents provided to investors, what is required by law and/or regulation, and what we actually do every day.
• Internal Team Effectiveness. Individuals within the investment operations team are engaged, effective, efficient, and productive. Roles and responsibilities are clear. The team knows where to find information, what the goals and priorities are. New hires are hired and onboarded efficiently and effectively. High performers are appropriately retained. Low performers are appropriately coached or let go. The team works together harmoniously.
• Strong Stakeholder Effectiveness. The interface and relationships between the Investment Operations team and its stakeholders - including outside service providers as well as other Ondo teams - is effective and harmonious.
• KPIs Appropriately Set and Maintained. Key operational KPIs related to SLAs, error and flow, internal and external stakeholder satisfaction, and operational efficiency exceed peer-group benchmarks.

Your Responsibilities Will Include...

• Buildout and Management of Investment Operations Team. Plan for, hire, and manage the investment operations team, including investment operations managers, associates, investment accountants, investment compliance personnel, consultants, and related parties. Appropriately balance between maintaining appropriate excess capacity for redundancy and agility and maintaining cost efficiency.
• Being the “Hands On” Second Layer of Defense. Get involved in the details of any issue or process that needs senior leadership or rapid resolution.
• Client & Regulator Communications. Be the face of the investment operations team to clients and regulators. This involves both attendance and presentation in meetings, but also in written communications (including, but not limited to, customer support materials, marketing materials, and customer diligence questionnaires)
• Process Development, Management, and Improvement. Work closely with product, engineering, compliance, and other teams to design robust and clear operational processes and then monitor to ensure adherence, updating procedures as necessary. When things go wrong, as appropriate conduct root-cause analysis and make process changes.
• Interdepartmental Communication and Relations. Work with other department leaders to ensure clear delineations of responsibilities between teams and ensure effective, harmonious relations between teams.
• KPIs and Reporting. Design, inspect, and manage reporting across all investment products.
• Audit, Tax, and Compliance Management: Ensure that all investment operations are compliant with all relevant regulations and internal policies. Ensure are appropriate registrations, filings, and reports are completed and submitted on time.
• Risk & Security Management: identifying and managing operational risks associated with investment operations. This includes setting and managing authorizations and permission levels for personnel for all activities related to investment operations. Ensure business continuity plans and other plans are thorough and up to date.
• Technology and Data Management: overseeing the use of technology and data management systems to support investment operations, including compliance, risk, accounting, etc.
• (Likely) Building and Managing a Global a 24/7/365 Investment Operations Function. Design and buildout of an investment operations team that can support 24/7/365 oversight of our systems and operations (e.g. investments, redemptions, bridging, etc.)

You Should Definitely Have...

• Confidence that you can achieve the above target outcomes
• At least 10 years of experience in investment fund operations or similar roles
• At least 5 years managing teams of 5 or more
• At least 3 years of VC-backed startup experience
• Comfort with or interest in using blockchain-related technologies

It's be Great (But Not Necessary) If you Have...

• Experience in blockchain and/or DeFi
• Experience managing a global team
• Experience setting up and/or managing 24/7/365 operations
• Some technical background and/or experience coding
• Experience setting up new fund operations processes for a firm
• Experience setting up and winding down multiple funds

You Are...

• An excellent operator with strong analytical skills
• A strong leader and team builder.
• An excellent communicator (i.e. you are able to clearly and precisely communicate the appropriate information to the appropriate people at the appropriate times)
• Adaptable and innovative, with a passion for technology-driven finance.
• An excellent communicator (i.e. you are able to clearly and precisely communicate the appropriate information to the appropriate people at the appropriate times)

You Enjoy...

• Leading complex operational initiatives.
• Driving operational excellence in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• Navigating the challenges of blending traditional finance with innovative blockchain solutions.

You Pride Yourself On..

• Getting stuff done
• Building well-oiled functional teams and processes
• Sweating the details
• Not letting stuff fall through the racks
• Knowing that others can trust you to make sure it’s done right
• Willing to do the non-glamorous job to achieve the result

If You Join Us You'll Get...

• Highly competitive compensation including salary, tokens, and/or equity (according to your preferences) — we're well-funded and believe that great talent deserves great compensation
• Small, remote-first team — you'll be an early team member helping shape our vision, culture, and engineering practices
• A+ colleagues — our team includes alumni from Goldman Sachs Digital Assets, DeFi protocols (e.g. Maker, Badger, Balancer), big tech (e.g. SpaceX, Microsoft, Salesforce), and traditional finance (Fortress, Bridgewater, Prospect)
• Best-in-class investors — we are proud to be backed by leading funds and strategics (incl. Founders Fund, Pantera, GoldenTree, Coinbase, and CoinFund) and angels (incl. founders of AngelList, Anchorage, and Aave)
• Full benefits (medical, vision, and dental) and flexible vacation policy (PTO)