Central Operations Head

BDO Unibank; Singapore; On-site; SGD 260,000 - 400,000; Full time

Job summary

BDO Unibank Singapore is seeking a Central Operations Head to provide strategic leadership and operational oversight across Operations, Information Technology and Project Management in support of the bank’s objectives.

The role reports to the Chief Executive of the Singapore Branch and requires 12–15 years in banking operations with at least 5 years in a leadership position, plus a track record in process optimization and risk management.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business management or a related field.
• 12–15 years of banking operations experience with at least 5 years in a leadership role.
• Proven track record in managing operational teams and projects.
• Familiarity with core banking systems and wealth management platforms (preferred).
• Strong leadership, risk and compliance management, and project/change management capabilities.
• Knowledge of IT governance, cybersecurity principles is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Oversee operational oversight of the Central Operations Group including wealth operations, treasury, trade finance, and loan operations.
• Drive process improvement, cost efficiency, and automation initiatives.
• Monitor KPIs and SLAs, and conduct regular reviews with vendors.
• Lead project management and guide the delivery of cross-functional initiatives.
• Oversee IT functions and ensure IT audits and compliance.
• Develop and maintain operations manuals and training materials.

Skills

Strategic Leadership

Operational Excellence

Risk and Compliance Management

Project & Change Management

Technology Acumen

Analytical & Problem-Solving

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Management

Tools

Core banking systems

Wealth management platforms

IT infrastructure

Job description

The Central Operations Head is responsible for providing strategic leadership and operational oversight across multiple critical functions, ensuring efficiency, and service excellence. This role encompasses the management of Operations, Information Technology and Project Management to support the bank’s business objectives. This role will report to Chief Executive of the Singapore Branch.

Key Responsibilities

1. Operational Oversight

• Lead and manage the Central Operations Group, comprising of:
• Operations: Wealth (Private Banking) Operations, Treasury Operations, Trade Finance Operations, Loan Operations
• Project Management
• Information Technology
• Ensure full compliance with internal policies, regulatory requirements, and industry standards.
• Establish, monitor, and maintain operational risk indicators and controls to mitigate fraud and financial or reputational losses.
• Oversee business continuity planning (BCP) readiness and facilitate periodic testing and reviews.

3. Process Improvement

• Drive business process re-engineering initiatives to enhance service quality, cost efficiency, and operational control.
• Lead change management programs, including system upgrades and automation projects.

4. Performance & Service Delivery

• Monitor and analyze KPIs and SLAs to ensure operational targets are consistently achieved.
• Conduct regular service reviews with vendors and banking partners to maintain high service standards.

5. Project Management

• Supervise the delivery of a portfolio of projects focused on process enhancement, product development, and automation.
• Provide guidance to the project management team to ensure timely and successful execution.

6. Information Technology

• Oversee IT functions, including: Banking and Wealth Application Support, Application Development, and IT Infrastructure and Operations
• Ensure adherence to IT-related audits, control mechanisms, and compliance requirements.

7. Documentation & Training

• Oversee the development and maintenance of operations manuals, user guides, and training materials.
• Promote cross-functional training and continuous professional development within the team.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree relevant to the job, preferably in Business Management
• 12-15 years of experience in banking operations with at least 5 years in a leadership role
• Proven track record in managing operational teams and projects
• Familiarity with core banking systems, wealth management platforms and IT infrastructure (Preferred but not required)
• Core competencies should include:
• Strategic Leadership – demonstrated ability to set a clear vision, align cross- functional teams, and drive organizational objectives effectively
• Operational Excellence- proven expertise in process optimization , cost control and high quality service delivery across operational units
• Risk and Compliance Management- Strong understanding of regulatory frameworks, operational risk controls and compliance standards within the final services industry
• Project & Change Management- Skilled in leading complex , multi -stakeholder projects and managing organizational change initiatives
• Technology Acumen- familiarity with banking applications, IT governance, digital transformation and cybersecurity principles
• Analytical & Problem-Solving Skills- ability to interpret operational data, identify trends, and implement effective, data driven solutions
• Stakeholder management- Excellent communication and negotiation skills for engaging with internal teams, senior leadership and external partners.

Singaporean or Permanent Resident preferred.