Role in brief
Alpaca, a financial services company offering brokerage infrastructure, is hiring a Broker-Dealer Operations Specialist in Japan. This role focuses on managing U.S. securities operations for Japanese clients and supporting system development with back-office expertise. Candidates with experience in U.S. securities settlement, FX, custody, and regulatory reporting in a Japanese context should apply.
About the role
This role involves managing the operational aspects of U.S. securities for Alpaca's Japanese clients. Key responsibilities include handling customer account opening and ongoing management, as well as executing securities operations such as settlement, funding, withdrawals, and balance reconciliation. The specialist will ensure smooth and compliant processing for all client transactions.
A significant part of the role is to act as a subject matter expert for the product development team. This includes providing feedback on U.S. and Japanese equity back-office processes, offering input on settlement, foreign exchange, and custody, and validating the accuracy of statutory reporting documents. The specialist will also review customer tax requirements and contribute to the understanding of off-ledger bookkeeping and client ledger structures.
Success in this position means effectively bridging the gap between operational needs and system development, ensuring that Alpaca's infrastructure supports both U.S. and Japanese market requirements. It requires a deep understanding of financial regulations and the ability to contribute to systems that enhance efficiency and compliance for a global client base.
The salary for this full-time position ranges from $52,000 to $88,000 USD annually.
Skills that matter here
- Settlement: This role involves managing and executing securities settlement processes for U.S. securities.
- Customer Tax Requirements: The specialist will review and verify customer tax-related requirements, including withholding and reporting.
- Back-office Experience: The position requires at least three years of back-office experience in U.S. securities at a securities firm.
- Japanese Language: While not a 'must-have', comfort in reading, writing, and speaking English is a 'nice-to-have' for this Japan-based role.
- Regulatory Reporting: The role includes practical experience in regulatory reporting, specifically related to off-site monitoring, and validating statutory reporting documents.
- System Development Support: The specialist will provide feedback and support to the product development team based on their domain knowledge of back-office processes.
Who this role suits
- A person with a strong background in U.S. securities operations within a Japanese market context.
- Someone who enjoys contributing their operational expertise to system and process improvements.
- An individual who is meticulous about regulatory compliance and accurate financial reporting.
- A professional who can navigate the nuances between Japanese and U.S. market practices.
From the employer
Operations
- Handling customer securities account opening, including anti-social force screening and due diligence.
- Ongoing customer account management.
- Managing and executing securities operations, including settlement, funding, withdrawals, and balance reconciliation.
System Development Support
- Provide feedback and support to the product development team based on domain knowledge of U.S. and Japanese equity back-office processes.
- Provide input on processes related to settlement, foreign exchange, and custody.
- Validate specifications and accuracy of statutory reporting documents.
- Review and verify customer tax-related requirements.
- Provide input regarding requirements for off-ledger bookkeeping and client ledger structure.
Must-Haves
- 3+ years of back-office experience in U.S. securities at a securities firm, especially in areas such as settlement, FX, and custody.
- Some understanding of Japanese securities management and the differences between Japanese and U.S. markets.
- Knowledge of off-ledger bookkeeping practices.
- Working understanding of client ledger structure and securities accounting.
- Knowledge of customer tax requirements (e.g. withholding and reporting).
- Practical experience in regulatory reporting related to off-site monitoring.
Nice-to-Haves
- Comfortable reading, writing, and speaking in English.
- Certified as JSDA Internal Control Manager.
- Experience participating in back-office system development or enhancement (e.g. requirements definition, testing).
- Familiarity with Japan-specific account types such as NISA.
- Understanding of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act and related regulations.
Work Conditions
- Full-time employee.
- Primarily remote, but in-office attendance is required for system access 2-3 times a week.
How We Take Care of You
- Competitive Salary & Stock Options.
- Health Benefits.
- New Hire Home-Office Setup: One-time USD $500.
- Monthly Stipend: USD $150 per month via a Brex Card.
Questions about this role
What is the remote work policy for this role?
This is a primarily remote position, but in-office attendance is required 2-3 times a week for system access.
What level of seniority is expected for this position?
Candidates should have at least three years of back-office experience in U.S. securities.
What are the key skills required for this role?
Key skills include back-office experience in U.S. securities (settlement, FX, custody), knowledge of Japanese securities management, off-ledger bookkeeping, client ledger structure, customer tax requirements, and regulatory reporting.