Chief Trust Officer, zerohash National Trust Bank

About the role

The Chief Trust Officer will lead the establishment and operation of a new federally chartered trust bank, Zerohash National Trust Bank (ZNTB), from the ground up. ZNTB will provide digital asset custody, safekeeping, and related fiduciary services.

Responsibilities

• Lead all day-to-day fiduciary functions of ZNTB, including custody operations, settlement flows, reconciliation, reserve operations, and account administration.
• Design, implement, and maintain operational playbooks, standard operating procedures, and business continuity frameworks aligned with OCC safety and soundness expectations.
• Build and manage the bank’s operational infrastructure from pre-opening through steady-state operations, coordinating with engineering, product, finance, and legal teams.
• Oversee operational readiness for new products, new asset types, new partner integrations, and changes to the bank’s operational scope.
• Establish and monitor SLAs, exception-handling protocols, and operational uptime standards across all bank functions.
• Serve as the senior Fiduciary Officer of ZNTB, leading the trust and fiduciary staff in the administration of all fiduciary and custodial accounts.
• Oversee fiduciary recordkeeping, including account setup, asset segregation, ledger accuracy, periodic account reviews, and documentation required under 12 CFR §9.6.
• Ensure trust operations comply with OCC fiduciary standards, including annual review requirements, internal fiduciary audit protocols, and applicable state trust law.
• Maintain adequate safeguards and controls over fiduciary assets, including collateral requirements for uninsured fiduciary funds in accordance with 12 CFR Part 9.
• Implement and enforce policies and procedures governing self-dealing, conflicts of interest, and co-mingling of fiduciary and non-fiduciary assets.
• Work closely with the Chief Operating Officer to build and monitor controls, reporting and visibility of fiduciary responsibilities.
• Prepare and present regular Board and committee reports covering all fiduciary account activity, reconciliation integrity, vendor performance, operational incidents, and risk metrics.
• Support the Board in discharging its fiduciary governance obligations under 12 CFR §9.7, including participation in the bank’s audit and risk committees.
• Maintain the governance calendar and ensure timely production of all required Board materials, reports, and approvals.
• Maintain audit-ready documentation, operational logs, and evidence repositories in preparation for OCC examinations, fiduciary audits, and supervisory reviews.
• Implement and maintain OCC-aligned internal control systems across operations, custody, reconciliation, and settlement workflows.
• Support pre-opening examination requirements and pre-opening deliverables required to achieve final OCC charter approval.
• Partner with the Chief Operating Officer, Chief Compliance Officer, CRO, and Legal team on operational risk testing, issue remediation, and supervisory responses.
• Monitor and operationalize evolving regulatory requirements, including GENIUS Act requirements related to issuance, reserve management, and redemption operations where applicable.
• Oversee relationships with banking partners, sub-custodians, reserve custodians, technology vendors, and other critical service providers related to fiduciary and trust activities.
• Ensure intercompany and third-party relationships satisfy OCC third-party risk management expectations, including due diligence, SLA monitoring, and ongoing oversight.
• Maintain relevant vendor performance dashboards, due diligence packages, and documentation required for OCC third-party risk review.
• For fiduciary and trust functions, own the bank’s operational continuity, incident response, and crisis management programs.
• Lead triage and resolution for any fiduciary and trust incidents across custody, settlement, reconciliation, and technology functions.
• Conduct post-incident reviews and ensure timely remediation of control gaps and operational failures.
• Foster a culture of operational excellence, fiduciary accountability, and regulatory integrity across the organization.
• Serve as a key member of the ZNTB executive leadership team, contributing to strategy, culture, and organizational development.

Requirements

• 10+ years of progressive experience in banking operations, trust operations, custody operations, or payments at a federally regulated financial institution.
• Direct experience at a national bank, federally chartered trust company, or equivalent regulated depository institution operating under OCC supervision.
• Deep working knowledge of 12 CFR Part 9 (Fiduciary Activities of National Banks), OCC safety and soundness expectations, and fiduciary examination standards.
• Demonstrated experience managing trust or custodial account administration, including account setup, asset segregation, periodic review, and fiduciary recordkeeping.
• Proven track record of building or managing high-volume, control-intensive operational environments in a regulated banking context.
• Experience reporting to or working directly with a bank Board of Directors, including preparation of board materials, operational KPIs, and governance reporting.
• Strong understanding of bank operational controls, internal audit, and OCC examination processes.
• Experience managing third-party and vendor relationships in a manner consistent with OCC third-party risk expectations.
• Demonstrated ability to build, lead, and develop high-performing teams in a regulated banking environment.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including experience presenting to boards, regulators, and senior institutional stakeholders.
• Willingness and ability to travel for regulatory meetings, partner engagements, and bank business as required.
• Experience as a designated Fiduciary Officer, Trust Officer, or equivalent under OCC or state trust bank supervision.
• Experience at a de novo bank or trust company during the chartering, pre-opening, or early-stage operational period; familiarity with OCC pre-opening requirements under 12 CFR 5.20.
• Experience with digital asset custody, stablecoin operations, or blockchain-based transaction workflows.
• Familiarity with GENIUS Act requirements or other federal stablecoin regulatory frameworks.
• Prior experience at a fintech-sponsored or tech-forward national trust bank.
• Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor (CTFA) or equivalent professional credential.
• Background in payments, cross-border settlement, or institutional custody operations.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field.
• License or certification as a Trust Officer or Fiduciary Officer.
• Knowledge of relevant laws and regulations, including but not limited to 12 CFR Part 9, Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, and Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
• Experience with regulatory reporting and compliance.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Experience with digital asset custody, stablecoin operations, or blockchain-based transaction workflows.
• Familiarity with GENIUS Act requirements or other federal stablecoin regulatory frameworks.
• Prior experience at a fintech-sponsored or tech-forward national trust bank.
• Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor (CTFA) or equivalent professional credential.
• Background in payments, cross-border settlement, or institutional custody operations.

Skills

• Strong leadership and management skills.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Experience with digital asset custody, stablecoin operations, or blockchain-based transaction workflows.
• Familiarity with GENIUS Act requirements or other federal stablecoin regulatory frameworks.
• Prior experience at a fintech-sponsored or tech-forward national trust bank.
• Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor (CTFA) or equivalent professional credential.
• Background in payments, cross-border settlement, or institutional custody operations.

Benefits

• Maternity & Paternity leave (after 6 months)
• WeWork All Access Membership
• WFH Yearly Stipend
• L&D Yearly Stipend (after 6 months)

Pay

Competitive compensation package including base salary, equity, and benefits.

Schedule

Full-time, remote position.