Operations Optimization Manager (Financial Services)

About the role

Hilltop Securities is seeking an Operations Manager, Optimization in Dallas, Texas to oversee the implementation of automated workflows, AI tools, system integration, and maintain regulatory control within a brokerage firm.

Responsibilities

• Manage a division to bridge the gap between IT, daily brokerage operations, compliance/regulatory in gathering business processes to maximize efficiency and achieve measurable results.
• Identify manual tasks and create digital application models to support business operations.
• Aid and communicate with managers and supervisors in decision-making, process management, and initiative implementation.
• Develop, communicate, and execute strategic plans with a broad and balanced set of total business skills.
• Mentor subordinates in performing difficult assignments that require originality and ingenuity with considerable latitude for independent actions or decisions.
• Collaborate with managers and supervisors to provide comprehensive solutions to complex problems and process improvements to ensure standards are maintained.
• Manage/train team on platform automation and implementation to be self-reliant within Operations.
• Track data, analyze key performance indicators, and build dashboards using Power BI or Tableau.
• Ensure automated processes comply with Hilltop Securities (HTS) and Hilltop Holdings (HTH) financial regulatory or industry regulations and technology governance while reducing human error.
• Comply with firm OCC Supervisory Guidance and AI Continuous Monitoring Model Risk Management.
• Support enterprise initiatives including system conversions and large client onboarding projects, ensuring alignment across Operations, Technology, and Business stakeholders.
• Support key conversion activities including gap analysis, data mapping, testing coordination, and execution of conversion activities to ensure smooth platform migrations and minimal business disruption.
• Support large client conversion efforts, including detailed data mapping and preparation for tape-to-tape account conversions, ensuring data integrity and operational readiness.
• Identify current operational flows and identify bottlenecks where manual tasks—such as client onboarding/conversions, data input, document comparison reliance—can be automated.
• Partner with business leaders, technology divisions, management, and compliance when reviewing, drafting requirements, and implementing new solutions.
• Test, maintain, and recommend improvements to ensure strong functionality and optimization.
• Solve customer or operational requirements through critical thinking.
• Perform tasks and apply knowledge of principles and methods necessary to meet operational requirements.
• Interpret and explain products and/or processes.
• Analyze data (user requirements, conversion requirements, and design documents).

Qualifications

• B.S./B.A. or M.B.A./M.S. in Finance, Computer Science, Information Systems, or equivalent formal training or work experience in Information Systems, PMO lifecycle, Platform assessment.
• Two (2) - four (4) years related experience (business/data analysis, project lifecycle management, testing, etc.).
• Experience with reporting tools such as PowerBI, CoPilot, JAVA.
• Strong SQL skills (ability to compile, draft, and extract).
• Financial Industry experience required, strong preference on Operations experience.
• Minimum of 5-10 years' management experience, possessing sophisticated financial operations skills and an in-depth knowledge of securities processing services with regional and/or national presence.
• Excellent leadership qualities and proven people management, operations, client relationship, and business management skills are essential.
• Series 7 & 24 preferred or ability to pass within 6 months.
• Computer hardware, operating system (Windows), and software/application (MS Office, Outlook, etc.) skills.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Self-development skills to keep up to date with fast-changing trends.
• Ability to adapt to changing organizational priorities.