Principal Officer - Hedge Fund

Principal Officer GIFT City (Hedge Fund)

Location: GIFT City, Gujarat, India

Role Overview

We are seeking an experienced Principal Officer to lead regulatory compliance, governance, and end-to-end fund setup activities for our hedge fund operations in GIFT City. The ideal candidate will have hands-on experience in setting up hedge funds from scratch within the IFSC framework, a strong understanding of hedge fund products and strategies, and exposure to automated/systematic trading structures. The role requires close interaction with regulators, service providers, and internal stakeholders to ensure seamless fund launch and ongoing operations.

Key Responsibilities

1. Regulatory & Compliance Leadership

• Act as the designated Principal Officer and primary point of contact with IFSCA, SEZ authorities, and other regulatory bodies.
• Lead regulatory approvals, registrations, and ongoing compliance for hedge fund structures in GIFT City.
• Ensure full compliance with IFSCA regulations, including periodic filings, disclosures, and regulatory reporting.
• Track regulatory developments related to hedge funds, algorithmic/systematic trading, and cross-border structures, and implement changes proactively.

2. Hedge Fund Setup & Governance

• Drive hedge fund setup from inception, including structuring, licensing, operational readiness, and go-live in GIFT City.
• Establish robust governance frameworks covering Board oversight, Investment Committees, Risk Committees, and Audit Committees.
• Define and implement risk management, compliance monitoring, and internal control frameworks aligned with hedge fund best practices.

3. Fund Operations & Trading Oversight

• Oversee end-to-end fund operations, including onboarding of fund administrators, custodians, brokers, auditors, and legal advisors.
• Ensure readiness of operational processes such as NAV computation, trade lifecycle management, reconciliations, and reporting.
• Work closely with investment and technology teams to ensure compliance and governance for automated, algorithmic, or systematic trading strategies.
• Review and monitor operational and regulatory aspects of trading systems, OMS/EMS, and related controls.

4. Stakeholder & Team Leadership

• Maintain strong communication with regulators, investors, senior management, and service providers.
• Act as a trusted advisor to leadership on regulatory, operational, and governance matters related to hedge fund operations.
• Guide and mentor internal teams to ensure consistent adherence to compliance and governance standards.

Qualifications & Experience

• Professional qualification such as CA / CS / MBA (Finance, Operations, or Regulatory) or equivalent.
• 510+ years of experience in financial services with direct exposure to hedge fund setup and operations, preferably within GIFT City / IFSC.
• Proven experience in setting up hedge funds or similar capital market vehicles from scratch, including regulatory approvals and operational launch.
• Strong understanding of hedge fund products, trading strategies, and fund structures.

Preferred Skills

• Deep knowledge of IFSCA/IFSC regulations, SEZ compliance, and cross-border hedge fund structures.
• Exposure to systematic, algorithmic, or automated trading models and related regulatory requirements.
• Strong operational risk management and process-building capabilities.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and leadership skills.