Relationship Manager (China Desk)

Hong Leong Bank; Malaysia; On-site; MYR 180,000 - 320,000; Full time

Job summary

Hong Leong Bank in Malaysia seeks a Relationship Manager for its China Desk to act as the primary conduit for Chinese corporations expanding into Malaysia. You will guide inbound PRC clients through cross‑border setup, regulatory navigation, and bespoke banking solutions, leveraging deep knowledge of PRC business culture and banking practices.

Responsibilities include acquiring Mainland China clients, serving as liaison for end-to-end setup in Malaysia, and building long-term corporate

Qualifications

• Fluent in Mandarin (spoken and written).
• Strong network-building and client acquisition skills.
• Solid understanding of PRC business culture and banking products.

Responsibilities

• Proactively identify and acquire Mainland China corporate clients expanding into Malaysia.
• Serve as main liaison for inbound Chinese clients and guide end-to-end setup in Malaysia.
• Explain local banking regulations, account opening, FX rules and capital injection processes.
• Build deep relationships with Chinese clients and local management; be the internal PRC expert.
• Represent the bank at industry events to develop a referral pipeline.
• Lead implementation actions for clients’ requests and ensure smooth servicing.

Skills

Mandarin fluency

Cross-border banking

Relationship management

Networking

Negotiation

English proficiency

PRC business culture knowledge

Self-motivated

Job description

If you are looking to excel and make a difference, take a closer look at us…

Overview:

The Relationship Manager for our China Desk to act as the primary conduit for Chinese corporations expanding their footprint into Malaysia. In this strategic role, you will be the face of the bank for inbound Mainland Chinese businesses, guiding them through the complexities of cross-border expansion. Leveraging your deep understanding of People’s Republic of China (PRC) business culture and your background in the financial industry, you will facilitate seamless business establishment, build lucrative long‑term corporate relationships, and deliver bespoke cross‑border banking solutions.

Key Responsibilities:

• Proactively identify and acquire new corporate clients from Mainland China (from State‑Owned Enterprises, large‑to‑mid‑cap and small & medium private enterprises) seeking to establish or expand operations in Malaysia.
• Serve as the key liaison for inbound clients, facilitating their end‑to‑end setup in Malaysia.
• Guide clients through local banking regulations, account establishment, foreign exchange rules and initial capital injection processes.
• Act as the trusted primary point of contact for Chinese clients, ensuring exceptional service delivery and building deep ties with local management.
• Act as the internal subject matter expert on PRC business practices, bridging cultural and operational gaps between Chinese clients and local teams.
• Actively represent the bank at relevant industry events, and bilateral trade associations to build a robust pipeline of referrals.
• Follow through and personally drive the granular implementation and execution actions of client’s request.
• Scope includes operational, servicing and troubleshooting activities i.e. account opening, online banking activation, social events and engagements.

Skills & Experience We Are Looking For:

• Preferably a PRC National currently residing in Malaysia will be an advantage.
• Malaysian who has ample experience navigating Chinese relationship nuances also welcomed.
• 5 years and above of industry experience (ideally financial institutions and consulting firms will be an advantage).
• Strong, practical understanding of PRC business culture, corporate etiquette, and negotiation styles.
• Native‑level fluency in Mandarin (spoken and written) to effectively negotiate and draft proposals for client’s PRC head offices, coupled with professional fluency in English for local stakeholder management.
• Foundation in banking products (loans, trade, cash, foreign exchange) and a working knowledge of Malaysian regulatory frameworks such as Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) foreign exchange policies will be preferred.
• Highly self‑motivated with strong networking abilities, commercial acumen, and the ability to navigate complex, multi‑stakeholder deals.
• Ideally able to operate in various social settings.

About Hong Leong Bank

We are a leading financial institution in Malaysia backed by a century of entrepreneurial heritage. Providing comprehensive financial services guided by a Digital‑at‑the‑Core ethos has earned us industry recognition and accolades for our innovative approach in making banking simpler and more effortless for our customers. Our digital and physical offerings span across a vast nationwide network in Malaysia, strengthened with an expanding regional presence in Singapore, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Cambodia, and China. We seek to strike a balance between diversity, inclusion and merit to achieve our mission of infusing diversity in thinking and skillsets into our organisation. Candidates are assessed based on merit and potential, in line with our mission to attract and recruit the best talent available. Expanding on our “Digital at the Core” ethos, we are progressively digitising the employee journey and experience to provide a strong foundation for our people to drive life‑long learning, achieve their career aspirations and grow talent from within our organisation.

Hong Leong Bank (“HLB”) stands proudly as a leading financial services institution based in Malaysia, providing a wide range of comprehensive and innovative financial solutions across the region. These services are delivered through both digital and traditional means, via online and mobile banking, as well as our digital branch concept to provide customers with an efficient and seamless experience aided by technology. As the service and financial landscape changes rapidly with the ever‑increasing use of technology, staying attuned to customers needs and desires become even more critical to HLB’s operations. To stay ahead of these dynamic changes, the Bank has adopted the approach of reimagining banking by embedding digital considerations and customer centricity in every aspect of our operations, from products and services as well as customer care and engagement. HLB’s ethos of being Digital‑At‑The‑Core powered by customers‑at‑the‑forefront will continue to lead us to innovate offerings in line with our aspiration of being a highly digital and innovative financial services organization.