Head of Corporate Development and Governance Control

AIA Shared Services; Hong Kong; On-site; HKD 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

AIA is seeking a senior leader to drive governance, risk management and operational integration across international insurance operations. The role focuses on rectifying legacy gaps, strengthening controls, and aligning processes with regulatory expectations.

You will partner with the CEO to analyze risks and provide strategic guidance, while engaging regulators and key stakeholders to support business objectives.

Qualifications

• University graduate in Business or Finance.
• A minimum of 15 years’ experience with international insurance or financial services corporations.
• Experience in risk & compliance, internal audit or governance & control is preferable.
• Strong organizational and communication skills; fluent English; Cantonese/Mandarin advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead the review and rectification of legacy gaps in operational processes and practices.
• Oversee integration initiatives to improve efficiency and strengthen controls.
• Develop governance and control models to meet regulatory requirements and audit expectations.
• Provide strategic analysis and risk assessment support to the CEO for decision making.
• Manage communications with regulators and external stakeholders to support objectives.

Skills

Risk awareness

Governance

Operational improvement

Stakeholder management

Education

Business or Finance degree

Job description

FIND YOUR 'BETTER' AT Blue Cross We don’t simply believe in being ‘The Best’. We believe in better - because there’s no limit to how far ‘better’ can take us. We believe in empowering every one of our people to find their 'better' - in the work they do, the career they build, the life they live and the difference they make. So that together we can support even more people - including our own - to live Healthier, Longer, Better Lives. If you believe in better, we’d love to hear from you.

About the Role

This role contributes to the delivery of customer outcomes that are reliable, thoughtful, and create meaningful impact for customers and society. The role holder is expected to embed a customer first mindset in all decisions and actions by developing a clear understanding of customer needs, taking end to end ownership to resolve issues, and working collaboratively across teams to continuously enhance the customer journey—both directly and indirectly.

• Lead the review(s) and rectification(s) of legacy gaps in operational processes and practices.
• Lead and oversee further integration initiatives, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and enhancing operational efficiency through effective process and control strengthening projects.
• Develop and enhance the governance and control model to improve accountability, transparency, and meet with group mandate control requirement(s) and minimize the non-compliance findings in annual audit
• Provide strategic support to the CEO by analyzing data, assessing risks, and offering well-informed recommendations to facilitate effective decision-making.
• Manage communication with external stakeholders and the regulators, such as insurance authority, ensuring clear, consistent messaging and fostering positive relationships to support organizational objectives.

Roles & Responsibilities:

Lead the Review(s) and Rectification(s) of the Legacy Gaps in Operational Processes and Practices Deep-dive into operational processes adopted before acquisition to identify the legacy gaps on the internal policies and regulatory requirement in consultation with the Compliance subject matter experts. Also, assess those process controls’ applicability for future integration and business channel expansion. Ensure governance, principles, operational processes and controls of all functions are appropriate for general insurance (GI) business of our size. Identify areas for improvement, develop strategies to rectify identified problems and implement solutions to enhance functionality and efficiency. Work with cross-functional teams to align on solutions and improvements. Accountable for Implementation of Further Integration Initiatives as well as Process & Controls Revitalization Projects Drive and plan integration initiatives to achieve the target business structure and culture as business evolves; Lead transformation initiatives in cross-functional projects to revitalize local operational processes and controls by partnering with various functions in assigned projects, conduct examination and summarize results and actions; Steer the planning and mobilizing projects of various complexities and scale from definition to closure; navigate the end-to-end delivery of a single project or workstream of a larger project or programme while proactively balancing scope, schedule, budget, outcomes and benefits. Enhance 1st Line’s Governance Model and Control Dedicate and engage departmental heads to optimizing management controls and enhancing quality assurance of all processes in anticipation for audit(s) and/or meet regulatory requirement in consultation with the Compliance subject matter experts. Set the tone and habit for cross-functional teams in conducting self-assessments on legacy systems, in achieving betterment for control practices, thereby, urge colleagues’ ownership to identify potential risks and make recommendations for mitigation actions to minimize control shortfalls; Work closely with business team to provide the comprehensive 1st line oversight with independent advice on new business initiatives and operational incidents to ensure key operational risks are highlighted with proper mitigating measure; Lead, periodically, the probing of guidelines with function heads to refit them for channels and operations in assurance of governance and control, or to retire guidelines shall they become obsolete. Support CEO in Decision-Making Process, via Upbringing Viable Recommendations Reviews and provides recommendations to the CEO on high priority projects and/or strategic initiatives, and regularly align with CEO on key issues and execute on focus areas; Communicates timely on initiatives’ statuses to the CEO, and holistically invokes opportunities and/or obstacles to Department Heads and/or project teams; Identifies challenges and aligns among senior management team on potential solutions, and make the viable recommendations to the CEO. Manage Communication & Engagement with Internal and External Stakeholders. Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders; Promote pragmatic approach(s) with senior management in communicating with Group Office (GO), with regulator(s) and/or with other stakeholder(s); Showcase, and close the expectation gap with GO functions, an approval approach for non-medical product development governance; Uplift continually the connectivity with the insurance authority, including in dialogues to arrive at compromises when appropriate; Support in the preparation and review of reporting required at Group meetings and for external disclosures. Stay informed about regulatory changes and work as a bridge between compliance & function to ensure the organization complies with all relevant laws and regulations. Act as one of the key points of contact during crisis, ensuring transparent and timely communication with stakeholders.

Minimum Job Requirements:

University graduate in Business or Finance; A minimum of 15 years’ experience with international insurance or financial services corporations; Experienced in operational process improvement, risk awareness promotion and education as well as governance & control With background from risk & compliance, internal audit or governance & control is preferable. Highly disciplined and energetic with strong organizational and communication skills; Assertive and tactful with senior leaders in the organization; Positive working attitude and commitment to work; Able to see issues from a holistic view yet can drive the ground-work;. Knowledgeable and possess acute sensitivity to commercial KPIs and finance; Strong command of written and spoken English and spoken Cantonese/Mandarin would be ideal; Ensure team members who perform regulated activities have obtained the relevant licenses and fulfilled the licensing requirements.

Build a career with us as we help our customers and the community live Healthier, Longer, Better Lives.

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“Better” starts with people who reimagine what is possible and turn ideas into meaningful action.

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We will support you to broaden your perspective, strengthen your capabilities and grow your impact.

Together, we challenge assumptions, learn from one another and find better ways forward.

Bring your ambition, experience and ideas to AIA, and help shape what “better” looks like.

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