Head of Global Safeguarding/Client Assets

📋 Description

• • Lead the strategic vision and operational framework for global client asset safeguarding at Coinbase, ensuring the highest standards of security, segregation, and regulatory compliance for both fiat and digital assets.
• • Establish and refine the target operating model for client asset management, defining key performance and risk indicators to drive excellence and accountability across all Coinbase entities and products worldwide.
• • Develop and nurture a high-performing, cross-regional team of safeguarding and client asset management professionals, fostering a culture of operational rigor, continuous improvement, and proactive risk management.
• • Own and evolve the comprehensive Global Safeguarding Control Framework, encompassing robust policies, stringent standards, detailed procedures, and clear control objectives that align with global regulatory requirements (e.g., EMRs/PSRs, MiCA, CSSF, FCA) and Coinbase's internal risk appetite.
• • Provide executive oversight for the daily safeguarding, reconciliation, and rebalancing processes on a global scale, guaranteeing that client assets are meticulously segregated from firm assets in all books and records.
• • Ensure that safeguarding and custody wallet balances consistently align with client obligations, maintaining absolute integrity and accuracy at all times.
• • Drive the prompt identification, thorough investigation, appropriate escalation, and effective remediation of any exceptions or discrepancies within the safeguarding processes.
• • Act as a key designated safeguarding owner for relevant entities, maintaining a comprehensive and up-to-date global client asset incident log.
• • Oversee the meticulous triage, escalation, and communication of safeguarding incidents, both internally and externally, in strict adherence to regulatory expectations and internal protocols.
• • Ensure the timely, accurate, and well-controlled submission of regulatory notifications and the implementation of remedial action plans.
• • Prepare and present critical management information and strategic insights to Boards and governance forums, including Risk, Audit, and Compliance Committees, highlighting safeguarding performance, KPI/KRI trends, incident themes, control testing outcomes, and remediation progress.
• • Oversee global regulatory reporting related to client asset safeguarding, ensuring accuracy, consistency across all entities, and timely submission according to local requirements and internal governance.
• • Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including Treasury, Accounting, Finance, Product, Engineering, Legal, Compliance, and Risk to embed safeguarding and segregation requirements into product design, payment flows, wallet architecture, and ledger constructs from the outset.
• • Proactively assess the safeguarding implications of new products, market entries, counterparty relationships, and banking/custody arrangements prior to launch, ensuring robust risk mitigation strategies are in place.
• • Lead and manage internal and external audit engagements pertaining to safeguarding and client asset arrangements globally, from scoping and readiness through to managing requests, walkthroughs, and the implementation of management action plans.
• • Design and deliver comprehensive global training and awareness programs on safeguarding and client asset management, tailored to operational teams, risk and compliance partners, and senior leadership.
• • Champion continuous improvement initiatives focused on enhancing the data, systems, and automation underpinning safeguarding operations, including improving data quality and lineage between on-chain and off-chain systems, and reducing manual processes through scalable tooling and controls.
• • Drive the adoption of best practices in asset custody and protection within the rapidly evolving digital asset and financial technology landscape.
• • Ensure Coinbase consistently meets and exceeds regulatory expectations and industry best practices in client asset protection, thereby reinforcing trust and security for our global user base.
• • Act as a trusted advisor to senior leadership on all matters related to client asset safeguarding and regulatory compliance, providing strategic guidance and operational insights.
• • Foster strong relationships with regulators, auditors, and industry bodies to stay abreast of evolving requirements and best practices in asset safeguarding.
• • Develop and implement robust business continuity and disaster recovery plans specifically for critical safeguarding functions.
• • Manage vendor relationships with custodians and other third-party service providers involved in asset safeguarding, ensuring adherence to contractual obligations and security standards.
• • Contribute to the overall risk management framework of the organization by identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks associated with client asset handling and custody.
• • Ensure a culture of transparency and accountability is maintained throughout the safeguarding function, with clear ownership and responsibility at all levels.
• • Drive innovation in safeguarding technologies and processes to enhance efficiency, security, and compliance in a dynamic market environment.