Head of Regional IT EMEA, Information Technology

About Us

CITIC Securities International is a wholly owned subsidiary of CITIC Securities and its overseas business platform. Our award-winning research, extensive footprint in Asia, direct links to China and highly experienced finance professionals set us apart within the industry. As part of CITIC Securities (SSE: 600030, SEHK: 6030), China’s leading investment bank, CITIC Securities International is uniquely positioned to facilitate cross-border capital flows and connect China to the world and the world to China. CITIC Securities International operates from 13 countries across Asia, Australia, Europe and the Americas. We offer comprehensives financial solutions to a large and diverse client base that includes global institutional investors, corporations, governments and high-net-worth individuals.

Position Description

We are seeking a Director-level Technology Manager and Solutions Architect to serve as the Head of EMEA IT, responsible for managing the EMEA IT departments. The role is based in London and will cover the Amsterdam office, as well as any future office locations within EMEA. This senior leadership position combines technical expertise with business acumen, overseeing all aspects of the organisation’s information technology infrastructure and operations, and supporting growth across the FICC, EQD, and IE business lines.

Key Areas of Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day technology operations, ensuring prompt delivery of projects, effective support, and operational stability. Manage IT infrastructure, application support, and troubleshoot operational issues to maintain optimal performance. Implement preventative measures to reduce operational disruptions and improve system reliability.
• Guide and monitor all phases of the software development lifecycle including requirements specification, design, development, testing, and deployment. Work closely with Project Managers across multiple teams to develop project estimates, plan schedules, and ensure timely delivery. Coordinate cross-functional projects aligned with strategic business goals, ensuring scope, timelines, and quality standards are met. Communicate early and proactively about delays or issues, escalating appropriately to senior management and global teams.
• Maintain and support global equities applications, ensuring their performance and availability across dispersed geographic locations. Foster seamless collaboration among geographically distributed teams (SZ, HK, India) to optimize operational workflows. Drive initiatives for application development, data center management, and infrastructure improvements.
• Build strong partnerships with business stakeholders, including front-office professionals, to understand needs and deliver tailored solutions. Communicate effectively with stakeholders at all levels, including senior management, business users, and IT teams. Collaborate with global IT and regional teams to align strategies and ensure consistency with global standards.
• Lead, mentor, and manage IT teams, setting objectives, overseeing performance, and fostering a positive, productive work environment. Ensure team members are satisfied and motivated to reduce attrition and maintain continuity. Promote professional development and ensure team capabilities align with organizational needs.
• Manage regional budgets, financial planning, and resource allocation. Engage with vendors to evaluate and select technology solutions, negotiate contracts, and ensure service delivery aligns with business requirements.
• Ensure all IT activities adhere to internal policies, external regulations, and industry standards. Oversee Disaster Recovery (DR) and Business Continuity Planning (BCP) to mitigate risks. Monitor compliance and governance frameworks to sustain operational integrity and security.
• Assess emerging technologies and propose future product roadmaps and architectural enhancements. Develop business cases with accurate financials for new initiatives and technological upgrades. Align regional strategies with global IT standards and strategic initiatives.
• Ensure all system and process documentation is current, accessible, and useful for operational reference and audits. Drive continuous improvement of processes to enhance efficiency, quality, and compliance.
• Resolve operational and personnel conflicts effectively. Maintain high levels of stakeholder satisfaction through proactive communication, quality deliverables, and collaborative problem-solving.

Requirements

• Bachelors degree in a related field.
• Minimum 10 years proven hands-on experience developing front office equity trading systems and low latency EMS in Americas & EMEA markets, delivering projects, including client connectivity, order management, market connectivity, algorithmic trading, dark pools, and risk management
• Working experience with entire trade cycle of various equities businesses: high-touch, program trading, electronic trading, block trading, client facilitation, proprietary trading, and error trade management
• Deep understanding of technical architecture – particularly latency sensitive, high-frequency, high-volume execution systems
• Seasoned operator within EMEA equities, with understanding the markets and regulatory environments
• Strong interpersonal, organisational and problem-solving skills. Articulate, team player, and yet project gravitas and be able to contribute to and command presence in large meetings, drive at a global level
• Ability to build relationships at senior levels across IT and business in Americas, EMEA and HK and global vendor partners
• Experience building and leading small to mid-size teams in UK and Offshore locations (India, HK) and capable of earning the respect of highly technical staff and aligning them to work best aligned with the interests of the firm
• Excellent command of both spoken and written English

CLSA may collect personal data from you for purposes relating to your engagement with the Company, including human resource management and other business and internal / external compliance purposes. Any personal information and /or data collected and held by the Company may be used by the Company or transferred (whether within/ outside the United Kingdom) to any other parties within the Company, subsidiaries and affiliates of the Company, internal or external service providers, or any other relevant parties including governmental or regulatory authorities, for the above purposes.