Chief Operating Officer, zerohash National Trust Bank (Chicago)

About the Job

zerohash national trust bank is seeking a foundational Chief Operating Officer to help build, launch, and operate the bank from the ground up. Reporting directly to the CEO of zntb, the COO will be the bank’s senior‑most operational executive, responsible for all aspects of bank operations, trust administration, fiduciary controls, and organizational performance. This individual will play a pivotal role in completing pre‑opening requirements for OCC charter approval, establishing the operational and governance infrastructure required to commence business, and running a safe and sound banking operation thereafter.

The COO will also serve as a designated Fiduciary Officer of the bank, supporting the Trust Officer in fulfilling fiduciary obligations under 12 CFR Part 9, and will be the primary executive accountable for reporting to the zntb Board of Directors on trustee activities, operational KPIs, and institutional performance across the organization.

This is a rare opportunity to build a federally chartered trust bank from inception — ideal for a proven banking operator who combines deep trust and custody expertise with the entrepreneurial drive to stand up a new institution.

This fully remote role is open to candidates in the U.S.

Key Responsibilities

Bank Operations Leadership

• Lead all day‑to‑day operational 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.

Fiduciary Operations & Trust Administration (12 CFR Part 9)

• Serve as a designated Fiduciary Officer of zntb, supporting the Trust Officer in the administration of all fiduciary and custodial accounts.
• Oversee fiduciary record‑keeping, 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.
• Act as acting Chief Trust Officer when designated by the CEO or Board.

Board Reporting & Governance

• Serve as the primary executive responsible for reporting to the zntb Board of Directors on trustee activities, operational performance, and institutional KPIs.
• Prepare and present regular Board and committee reports covering custody operations, 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.

Regulatory Compliance & OCC Examination Readiness

• 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 preopening deliverables required to achieve final OCC charter approval.
• Partner with the 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.

Third‑Party & Vendor Management

• Oversee relationships with banking partners, sub‑custodians, reserve custodians, technology vendors, and other critical service providers.
• Ensure all intercompany and third‑party relationships satisfy OCC third‑party risk management expectations, including due diligence, SLA monitoring, and ongoing oversight.
• Maintain vendor performance dashboards, due diligence packages, and documentation required for OCC third‑party risk review.

Operational Resilience & Incident Management

• Own the bank’s operational continuity, incident response, and crisis management programs.
• Lead triage and resolution of operational incidents across custody, settlement, reconciliation, and technology functions.
• Conduct post‑incident reviews and ensure timely remediation of control gaps and operational failures.

People & Organizational Leadership

• 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 record‑keeping.
• 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.

Preferred

• 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.
• Experience as a designated Fiduciary Officer, Trust Officer, or equivalent under OCC or state trust bank supervision.
• 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

• Healthcare Insurance: zerohash covers roughly 100% of employee premiums as well as a portion of spouse/children (U.S. only)
• Vision & Dental Insurance (U.S. only)
• Chance to earn equity
• Maternity & Paternity leave (after 6 months)
• WeWork All Access Membership
• WFH Yearly Stipend
• L&D Yearly Stipend (after 6 months)