Head of Operations - Financial Services (Management Company)

Start-Up | Build Phase | Permanent | Full-Time Salary: Competitive (MUR)

Our client, an established UK professional services group, is building a brand-new international Financial Services operation in Mauritius—covering payments, FX and client account services, seamlessly integrated with our Corporate Services offering.

They're looking for our first Head of Operations in Mauritius. Someone who thrives in a start-up environment, is energised by building from scratch, and is ready to create a world-class financial services operation.

If you’re proactive, disciplined, commercially minded and excited to build something meaningful, this is your opportunity.

The Role

Phase 1: Build the Foundations

You’ll lead from the front—hands-on, operational, and deeply involved in every aspect of how the business runs.

Client Management

• Act as the primary contact for an international portfolio of financial services clients.
• Resolve client queries and operational issues quickly and professionally.
• Work closely with Corporate Services to deliver a cohesive onboarding and client experience while meeting all regulatory obligations.

Hands-on Operations

• Build and run the day-to-day financial services operation: onboarding, payments, FX processing and operational support.
• Personally onboard clients end-to-end, ensuring due diligence and documentation are complete.
• Execute daily payments and FX transactions accurately and in line with compliance requirements.
• Manage payment operations end-to-end, monitor flows, handle exceptions and ensure efficient transaction completion.
• Own daily reconciliations, investigate discrepancies and resolve issues promptly.
• Maintain strong operational relationships with banking, EMI and payment partners.

Regulatory Operations

• Own the operational implementation of our compliance framework across regulated entities.
• Work closely with Compliance Officers across our FINTRAC-registered Canadian entity and Mauritius payments business (PIS licence, subject to FSC approval).
• Support due diligence, enhanced due diligence and ongoing monitoring.
• Identify and escalate suspicious activity to the MLRO.
• Prepare regulatory returns and act as the operational point of contact for regulatory correspondence.
• Implement and maintain operational controls aligned with AML policies and procedures.

Phase 2: Build & Scale the Operation

As the business grows, your role shifts from doing the work to building the systems and team that deliver it.

Processes & Controls

• Design, implement and continually improve processes, controls, SOPs and playbooks.
• Systematise manual processes into scalable, reliable workflows as volumes grow.
• Identify opportunities for improvement through technology, automation and better ways of working.
• Lead operational implementation of new products with robust controls from day one.

Team & Leadership

• Recruit and build a high-performing operations team.
• Coach, develop and lead the team, setting high standards for service, compliance and operational excellence.
• Build an operational platform capable of supporting international scale while maintaining quality and efficiency.
• Foster a culture of ownership, continuous improvement and operational excellence.

Skills & Attributes

• Highly organised, disciplined and dependable with exceptional attention to detail.
• Comfortable operating in a regulated environment with strong controls.
• Proactive, self-directed and comfortable solving problems independently.
• Commercially aware and genuinely client-focused.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
• Improvement-minded, curious and always looking for better ways of working.
• Able to manage multiple priorities while maintaining high standards