This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a President and Head of Distribution Services based in United States.
This executive role will lead the launch and growth of a newly established ETF distribution and statutory underwriting business. You will own the organization from regulatory approval through operational launch and long-term scale, combining regulatory leadership with commercial and financial accountability. The position will oversee the transition of statutory distribution and marketing compliance activities from an external provider while building the operating model, governance framework, and team. You will work closely with executive leadership, fund boards, counsel, service providers, and cross-functional teams to establish a controlled, client-focused operation. The role requires a hands-on leader who can navigate complex regulatory environments while turning strategic plans into disciplined execution. You will also own the entity’s P&L and help determine future opportunities to expand distribution and compliance services.
Accountabilities:
- Lead the regulatory launch of the newly established broker-dealer, including the FINRA New Membership Application, operational readiness, financial preparation, legal requirements, and launch execution.
- Establish the governance, controls, reporting, books and records, insurance coverage, and decision-making structures required for a regulated financial-services entity.
- Serve as, or directly oversee, registered principal leadership and maintain a high standard of regulatory preparedness as the organization grows.
- Lead the phased transition of statutory ETF distribution from an incumbent external provider, managing contractual requirements, fund board approvals, client communications, authorized participant relationships, and implementation sequencing.
- Coordinate closely with fund boards, outside counsel, Client Success, Fund Operations, and other stakeholders to maintain visibility into responsibilities, timelines, risks, and decisions.
- Establish and maintain Authorized Participant agreements and related infrastructure supporting statutory distribution responsibilities, including approval of daily AP activity.
- Lead the transition and ongoing operation of FINRA Rule 2210 marketing compliance review, including review teams, compliance technology, quality standards, and service-level expectations.
- Analyze submission volume, utilization, quality, and service data to anticipate capacity requirements and prevent operational or regulatory issues.
- Own pricing strategy and the business P&L, including revenue, cost management, net capital compliance, forecasting, and financial reporting to executive leadership and the CFO.
- Ensure distribution and marketing compliance services deliver sustainable economics while maintaining strong controls, service quality, and client relationships.
- Evaluate opportunities to expand statutory distribution, marketing compliance, and related services to external ETF issuers based on market demand, operational readiness, risk, and financial considerations.
- Build and execute the staffing strategy, including recruiting and developing registered leadership and other capabilities required for growth.
- Manage key outsourced partners and relationships, including compliance and financial/operations leadership, with clear expectations, reporting structures, and succession planning.
- Collaborate across legal, compliance, finance, fund operations, technology, relationship management, and executive leadership to resolve issues efficiently and maintain strong client and business outcomes.
Requirements:
- 15+ years of experience in broker-dealer operations, fund distribution, asset management, or a closely related financial-services discipline, including direct experience with FINRA-registered entities.
- Direct experience with statutory underwriting or distribution functions for registered investment companies, particularly ETFs or mutual funds, or leadership experience within a comparable distribution or compliance service provider.
- Demonstrated experience managing FINRA membership applications or examinations.
- Required securities licenses, including either SIE + Series 7 + Series 24 + Series 63 or SIE + Series 6 + Series 26 + Series 63.
- Demonstrated success launching, building, or scaling a regulated financial-services entity or function, with relevant supervisory and principal registrations held or readily obtainable.
- Proven ability to lead complex, multi-stakeholder transitions involving contractual notice periods, governance or fund board approvals, client communications, and operational implementation.
- Experience owning a business-unit P&L and making pricing, investment, staffing, and vendor decisions based on business performance.
- Strong knowledge of broker-dealer controls, net capital requirements, compliance governance, and books and records obligations.
- Ability to communicate complex regulatory, financial, and operational matters clearly to executives, fund boards, clients, counsel, and cross-functional stakeholders.
- Strong commercial judgment, regulatory discipline, organizational skills, and ability to operate hands-on within a lean, evolving environment.
- Preferred experience with ETF platforms, ETF servicing providers, fund administrators, or similar financial-services organizations.
- Experience managing compliance functions and relationships with Chief Compliance Officers, Financial and Operations Principals, and compliance technology providers is a plus.
- Experience bringing previously outsourced regulated services or operating functions in-house is preferred.
- Additional supervisory or principal securities licenses, such as Series 27 or Series 28, are advantageous.
Benefits:
- Executive-level opportunity to build and lead a new ETF distribution and statutory underwriting operation.
- Fully remote position within the United States.
- Direct ownership of the business strategy, operating model, regulatory launch, and financial performance.
- Opportunity to shape distribution, marketing compliance, and client service capabilities from the ground up.
- High-level collaboration with executive leadership, fund boards, counsel, service providers, and cross-functional teams.
- Opportunity to build and lead a growing team and establish scalable processes and governance.
- Ability to influence future expansion into external distribution and compliance services.
- Compensation and benefits appropriate to the executive-level scope of the position.
How Jobgether works:
We use an AI-powered matching process to ensure your application is reviewed quickly, objectively, and fairly against the role's core requirements. Our system identifies the top-fitting candidates, and this shortlist is then shared directly with the hiring company. The final decision and next steps (interviews, assessments) are managed by their internal team.
We appreciate your interest and wish you the best!
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