ETF Settlements

Who we are looking for?

The Assistant Vice President, ETF Settlements is responsible for leading the day-to-day ETF settlement function and ensuring the timely, accurate, and controlled settlement of ETF creation and redemption activity.

The AVP will provide hands-on operational leadership across settlement processing, exception management, cash and securities movements, and failed-trade resolution. The role requires strong knowledge of ETF primary-market activity and U.S. securities settlement infrastructure, including NSCC, DTC, CNS and Authorized Participant (AP) workflows.

This individual will serve as a key escalation point for complex settlement issues and will partner closely with ETF Basket Operations, Fund Accounting, Custody, Corporate Actions, Claims, Client Service, Technology, APs, brokers and other internal and external stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

ETF Settlement Management

• Lead daily settlement activities for ETF creation and redemption orders, including both in-kind and cash activity.
• Oversee the movement and settlement of securities and cash associated with ETF primary-market transactions.
• Monitor settlement activity throughout the day and ensure exceptions are identified, escalated and resolved promptly.
• Provide oversight of CNS and non-CNS settlement activity and other applicable DTC/NSCC workflows.
• Ensure settlement instructions are complete, accurate and released within applicable operational deadlines.
• Coordinate resolution of settlement differences with APs, brokers, custodians and internal operations teams.
• Maintain strong oversight of aged fails, pending transactions, unmatched activity and other settlement exceptions.

Exception & Risk Management

• Serve as an escalation point for complex or high-risk ETF settlement issues.
• Ensure aged breaks and failed settlements have clear ownership, documented follow-up and appropriate escalation.
• Investigate operational incidents and support root-cause analysis and corrective-action planning.
• Identify recurring errors, manual dependencies and control gaps and drive sustainable remediation.
• Maintain effective supervisory controls and evidence to support internal risk, compliance and audit requirements.
• Escalate material settlement risk, client impact and financial exposure to management promptly.

Team Leadership

• Manage and develop ETF Settlement staff, establishing clear responsibilities and accountability.
• Provide daily direction while developing employees' technical knowledge and independent problem-solving capabilities.
• Establish effective backup coverage and cross-training to reduce key-person dependencies.
• Review workload and staffing coverage to maintain appropriate support during high-volume periods and market events.
• Foster a strong culture of ownership, timely escalation, operational discipline and continuous improvement.

Client & Stakeholder Management

• Act as a senior operational contact for significant settlement issues and escalations.
• Partner with Client Service and ETF leadership to provide clear, timely and accurate updates on material issues.
• Build effective working relationships with APs, market makers, brokers and internal business partners.
• Participate in client and internal governance meetings as required.
• Ensure issues are communicated with appropriate context, ownership, impact assessment and remediation plans.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience.
• Significant experience in securities operations, custody, asset servicing, ETF operations or a related financial-services environment.
• Strong understanding of securities settlement concepts and trade lifecycle management.
• Demonstrated experience managing operational exceptions, failed trades and counterparty escalations.
• Strong risk and control mindset with experience developing or maintaining operational procedures and supervisory controls.
• Proven leadership experience, including staff development, workload management and escalation management.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively with senior management, clients and external counterparties.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct ETF creation/redemption settlement experience.
• Working knowledge of NSCC, DTC and CNS processing.
• Familiarity with AP and market-maker operating models.
• Experience with ETF basket and PCF-related workflows.
• Knowledge of corporate-action impacts on ETF settlement, including dividends, splits, reverse splits and cash-in-lieu processing.
• Experience working with custody, fund accounting, corporate actions, claims and technology teams.
• Demonstrated success implementing automation, operational controls or workflow improvements in a high-volume environment.

Core Competencies

• ETF and securities settlement expertise
• Operational risk and control management
• Leadership and staff development
• Exception and aged-fail management
• Client and counterparty management
• Escalation and incident management
• Process improvement and automation
• Strong analytical judgment
• Clear executive communication
• Ability to operate effectively under tight market deadlines

About State Street

What we do. State Street is one of the largest custodian banks, asset managers and asset intelligence companies in the world. From technology to product innovation, we’re making our mark on the financial services industry. For more than two centuries, we’ve been helping our clients safeguard and steward the investments of millions of people. We provide investment servicing, data & analytics, investment research & trading and investment management to institutional clients.

Work, Live and Grow. We make all efforts to create a great work environment. Our benefits packages are competitive and comprehensive. Details vary by location, but you may expect generous medical care, insurance and savings plans, among other perks. You’ll have access to flexible Work Programs to help you match your needs. And our wealth of development programs and educational support will help you reach your full potential.

Inclusion, Diversity and Social Responsibility. We truly believe our employees’ diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives are a powerful contributor to creating an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive and reach their maximum potential while adding value to both our organization and our clients. We warmly welcome candidates of diverse origin, background, ability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and personality. Another fundamental value at State Street is active engagement with our communities around the world, both as a partner and a leader. You will have tools to help balance your professional and personal life, paid volunteer days, matching gift programs and access to employee networks that help you stay connected to what matters to you.

State Street is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.

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Salary Range:

$70,000 - $130,000 Annual

The range quoted above applies to the role in the primary location specified. If the candidate would ultimately work outside of the primary location above, the applicable range could differ.

Employees are eligible to participate in State Street’s comprehensive benefits program, which includes: our retirement savings plan (401K) with company match; insurance coverage including basic life, medical, dental, vision, long-term disability, and other optional additional coverages; paid-time off including vacation, sick leave, short term disability, and family care responsibilities; access to our Employee Assistance Program; incentive compensation including eligibility for annual performance-based awards (excluding certain sales roles subject to sales incentive plans); and, eligibility for certain tax advantaged savings plans.

For a full overview, visit https://hrportal.ehr.com/statestreet/Home.

About State Street

Across the globe, institutional investors rely on us to help them manage risk, respond to challenges, and drive performance and profitability. We keep our clients at the heart of everything we do, and smart, engaged employees are essential to our continued success.

We are committed to fostering an environment where every employee feels valued and empowered to reach their full potential. As an essential partner in our shared success, you’ll benefit from inclusive development opportunities, flexible work-life support, paid volunteer days, and vibrant employee networks that keep you connected to what matters most. Join us in shaping the future.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we consider all qualified applicants for all positions without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, age, disability, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, citizenship, marital status, domestic partnership or civil union status, familial status, military and veteran status, and other characteristics protected by applicable law.

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It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.