Director, Strategy & Planning, SMBC India Division

SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION Singapore Branch; Singapore; On-site; SGD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

An international banking institution is looking for a strategic leader in Singapore to drive growth initiatives and transformation efforts in India. This role requires a post-graduate degree and significant experience (10-15 years) in banking, finance, or consulting, along with strong project management and analytical skills. The successful candidate will play a key role in business development, collaboration across entities, and supporting M&A activities, ensuring compliance with regulatory frameworks.

Qualifications

• 10–15+ years of experience in banking or financial services, consulting, corporate strategy, or risk roles.
• Experience leading business transformation projects, legal-entity restructuring, and large-scale process transformation.
• Familiar with IFRS and international taxation principles.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute strategies for growth in India.
• Drive collaboration and strategic alliances across entities.
• Lead complex strategic projects and support M&A deals.
• Transform business operating models and improve performance.
• Support governance frameworks and compliance.

Skills

Strategy

Corporate Finance/M&A

Risk

Governance

Project Management

Analytical Skills

Communication Skills

Adaptability

Financial Modelling

Stakeholder Engagement

Education

Post-graduate degree in Business, Finance, Economics or related

Professional qualifications like CA, PMP, CFA, or FRM

Job description

Key responsibilities

• Plan, design and execute mid-to-long-term strategiesfor organic and inorganic growth aimed at further expanding/strengthening our franchise and presence in India.

• Drive collaboration, strategic alliances and synergiesacross entities and affiliates in India, investee companies and the broader SMBC Group ecosystem and network, including joint client coverage, product initiatives and shared platforms.

• Lead/support complex, multi-year strategic projects in India, including legal-entity restructuring and governance frameworks.

• Support cross-functional teams inpotential futureM&A deals, including feasibility assessments, financial modelling, due diligence, negotiations and transaction documentation.

• Drive business/operating model transformation, performance improvement and turnaround initiativesacross different affiliates and entities in India.

• Strengthen governance, risk and internal control frameworksacross key entities, affiliates and investee companies in India; support remediation of regulatory findings.

• Support Board and Board-Committee workby preparing high-quality materials and briefing notes and tracking action items for senior management and nominee Non-Executive Directors.

• Contribute to the build-out and scaling of the ‘Global Capability Centre’, including scope expansion, process standardisation and enhanced risk and compliance oversight.

• Support the expansion of the GIFT City branch (OBU), including the development of new products, securing licences/registrations for new business areas, and aligning documentation, disclosures and controls with regulatory expectations.

• Provide ongoing and regular supporton key management and strategic priorities, managerial and financial budgeting, preparing and updating MIS, internal reporting to executive/senior management in India Division and HQ.

Requirements

• Post-graduate degree in Business, Finance, Economics or a related discipline.

• Professional qualifications like Chartered Accountant (CA), Project Management Professional (PMP), Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), or Financial Risk Manager (FRM).

• Typically, 10–15+ years of experience in banking / financial services, consulting, corporate strategy, or risk / governance roles.

• Proven experience leading end-to-end business transformation projects (e.g., legal-entity restructuring, operating model redesign and transformation, large-scale process transformation).

• Previous experience in M&A deals, including due diligence, valuation, negotiations and documentation.

• Ability to independently build and back-test financial models such as ECL (Expected Credit Loss) and valuation models (DCF, trading comparables, scenario analysis), including challenging and validating underlying assumptions.

• Working knowledge of IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards).

• Basic understanding and common knowledge of international taxation (including BEPS, tax treaties (DTAAs) such as India-Japan and India-Singapore), particularly in the context of cross-border transactions, M&As structures and transfer pricing.

• Prior experience in a Japanese megabank or Japanese financial institution will be an advantage.

Skills & Competencies

• Versatile skill set spanning strategy, corporate finance/M&A, risk, governance and execution; able to move seamlessly from high-level thinking to detailed financial and operational analysis.

• Strong understanding of the Indian financial services landscape and regulatory environment.

• Excellent project and program management skills, with the ability to manage multiple complex initiatives and a diverse set of internal and external stakeholders (including advisors, consultants and counterparties).

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to challenge and validate assumptions and synthesise complex issues into clear, actionable recommendations.

• Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills; comfortable preparing materials for and engaging with senior stakeholders and Board members – with minimal or no guidance.

• High learning agility and comfort operating in ambiguity/limited information.

• Demonstrated ownership mindset, with the confidence to take on significant responsibility and make sound judgements/decisions aligned with the institution’s core values, risk appetite and strategic priorities.

• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, while also being a strong team player who can collaborate effectively across functions, geographies and cultures.