Senior Manager, Trader Onboarding & Identity Operations

Summary

The Senior Manager, Trader Onboarding & Identity Operations is a strategic operational leader within the Trust & Resilience department, responsible for the overarching strategy, performance, regulatory compliance, and user conversion across all trader onboarding, identity verification, sanctions screening, KYC/EDD, and quality management functions.

Positioned at the front line of our global trader journey, this role owns the end-to-end operational execution of our Trader Identity Onboarding program spanning Sanctions screening, Identity Verification (IDV), Customer Identification Programs (CIP), Know Your Customer (KYC), and Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD). You will directly supervise a specialized team covering key functions across Identity Operations.

Responsible for owning and designing trader onboarding identity operations across Registration, Second Purchase, and Payout Readiness, you will partner directly with Legal, Compliance, Product, and Engineering to build low-friction, highly automated verification systems while defending the organization against regulatory exposure and platform abuse.

Key Responsibilities

• Team Building, Development & Performance: Recruit, hire, train, and develop a high-performing team, fostering an accountability-driven culture with ongoing feedback. Lead modern performance management practices, including regular quality assurance (QA) reviews, one-on-ones, active coaching, and career development.
• Strategic Planning & Staffing: Plan workforce and staffing needs to align operational capacity with company growth goals. Define strategic objectives, set team KPIs, and track performance metrics to drive operational results.
• Fraud Systems & Capability Enhancement: Evaluate fraud risk systems, policies, and operational procedures to identify vulnerabilities and mitigate platform abuse. Continuously enhance Know Your Customer (KYC/CIP) capabilities and verification logic across the entire trader lifecycle.
• Data-Driven Pattern Analysis: Analyze identity alerts, identity fraud data, and transactional signals to identify emerging risk patterns, vectors, and systemic weaknesses, translating findings into actionable mitigation strategies.
• Compliance & Legal Governance: Ensure strict adherence to financial and industry compliance standards (e.g., AML/KYC, CIP, and OFAC Sanctions). Partner closely with Legal Counsel and Compliance to ensure all onboarding, screening, and fraud processes comply with evolving legal mandates.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Trader Research & Analytics, Product Management, and Engineering to drive continuous process improvements, optimize verification workflows, and resolve complex fraud issues.
• End-to-End Operational Execution: Direct the lifecycle execution for trader verifications across Registration (Sanctions screening), Second Purchase (IDV/Persona), Payout Readiness (CIP/Tax W-8/W-9), and Regulated Entity Onboarding (KYC/EDD).

Required Qualifications and Key Competencies

• Experience: 7 + years of progressive leadership experience in fintech, prop trading, digital brokerage, or regulated financial services operations, with deep hands-on expertise in Identity Operations, IDV, CIP, KYC/AML, and Sanctions frameworks.
• Leadership & People Management: 3 + years of direct experience hiring, building, and managing teams (including managing people managers and/or senior technical specialists) in high-volume, regulated operational environments.
• Fraud Analysis & Systems Expertise: Demonstrated track record of evaluating fraud risk systems, analyzing complex fraud data for trend identification, and enhancing organizational KYC and identity detection capabilities.
• Regulatory & Industry Standard Awareness: In-depth working knowledge of global compliance standards including AML/BSA regulations and OFAC sanctions frameworks.
• Cross-Functional Partner Engagement: Proven ability to collaborate effectively with Product & Engineering, Trader Research & Analytics, Legal Counsel, and external payment processors/issuers.
• Analytical & Operational Optimization: Expertise in capacity planning, setting operational KPIs, conducting QA reviews, and leveraging operational data to optimize technology budgets and workforce forecasting.
• Clear Communication: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with a track record of motivating distributed teams asynchronously and navigating fast-paced, high-growth startup environments.

Company Culture & Perks

• Topstep is an engaging working environment that ranges from fully remote to hybrid. We foster a culture of collaboration by keeping cameras on during meetings and maintaining a robust Slack environment for communication.
• Seven Company-paid Holidays and generous Family Leave. Paid time off is front-loaded.
• Competitive 401(k) matching, health, dental, and vision insurance are offered for full-time employees
• Vacations are encouraged with a bonus for taking 5 consecutive days. Topstep offers a food and groceries budget and contributes towards health and wellness.

New Hire Base Salary Range

• $155,000 - $185,000 annually.
• The compensation offered will take into account the internal compensation structure and may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience, among other factors.
• This position is eligible for a performance-based bonus as provided by the plan terms and governing documents.