Head, API & Embedded Finance Platforms

STANDARD CHARTERED BANK (SINGAPORE) LIMITED; Singapore; On-site; SGD 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

An international bank is seeking a Head of API & Embedded Finance Platforms in Singapore, responsible for leading the strategy and implementation of digital products and modular API capabilities. The successful candidate will manage a global team and collaborate with key stakeholders to enhance client offerings in Cash Management, Trade Finance, and more. A Master's degree with at least 15 years of relevant experience is essential. This role includes substantial responsibility for risk management and compliance while fostering innovation and client satisfaction.

Benefits

Competitive salary and benefits

Flexible working options

Continuous learning culture

Inclusive and diverse organization

Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in Digital Assets, Payments, Trade Finance, and API product management.
• Deep understanding of Embedded Banking/Finance and CIB client use cases.
• Experience developing global platforms across multiple markets.

Responsibilities

• Design and deliver cross-product platforms for seamless API distribution.
• Own the third-party platform ecosystem, defining strategy and operationalizing platforms.
• Prepare organizational readiness for new service rollout.

Skills

API product management

Stakeholder management

Interpersonal skills

Agile product management

Digital Assets knowledge

Delivery management

People management skills

Education

Master’s degree or equivalent

Job description

Head, API & Embedded Finance Platforms – Standard Chartered Bank (Singapore) Limited, D01 Cecil, Marina, People’s Park, Raffles Place, SG

JOB SUMMARY

The Head of API & Embedded Finance Platforms, CIB is a senior-level leader responsible for envisioning, strategising, creating and delivering digital products and modular API capabilities that support corporate & institutional clients in Cash Management, Trade Finance, FSS, Markets and Global Banking. The role focuses on API ecosystem strategy, platform partnerships, and third‑party channels, driving the evolution of the CIB API stack for Agentic commerce, procurement and beyond. The leader will inspire a global product management team to build, operate and commercialise 24/7 digital platforms, prioritising risk and growth, and delivering seamless, intuitive product experiences.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Design and deliver cross‑product platforms that enable CIB business units to distribute products and services as APIs to clients seamlessly.
• Understand key distribution models (B2B, B2B2C, embedded finance, BaaS) to maximise upside for the bank.
• Develop and deliver detailed API product roadmaps in collaboration with Transaction Banking, FSS and Markets.
• Own and maintain existing APIs, ensuring service quality and full compliance.
• Commercialise existing API offerings through frontline support and new market activations, owning related metrics.
• Identify new bespoke client and partner digital solutions.
• Own the Open Banking marketplace strategy, roadmap, product development and continuous content creation.
• Own the third‑party platform ecosystem: define strategy, onboard and operationalise platforms, develop tooling and accelerate time to market.
• Ensure full compliance with open banking regulatory schemes, develop novel delivery approaches and reduce compliance cost.
• Meet with internal and external clients to understand needs and support sales pitch preparation.
• Continuously evaluate API capabilities to prioritise opportunities for volume and revenue growth.
• Prepare organisational readiness for new service rollout: training, process guides, stakeholder approvals.
• Launch key enhancements and track post‑implementation benefits.
• Represent the bank in industry forums professionally.
• Manage risks and regulatory issues associated with API platform flows.
• Keep product capabilities up‑to‑date and professionally documented for internal and external audiences.
• Provide continuous feedback to business development teams on emerging market trends and client needs.
• Conduct regular business review meetings to ensure product satisfaction, introduce new features, cross‑sell and build client loyalty.
• Understand digital channels, API solutions, mobile technology and how these benefit customers.
• Understand Agentic architecture and how APIs fuel the customer experience revolution.
• Operate effectively in ambiguity, manage change and make decisions.
• Conceptualise and articulate sustainable, cost‑efficient business solutions; apply analytical, critical and creative problem‑solving skills.
• Communicate persuasively with experience presenting to clients, delivering training courses, co‑creation sessions and senior stakeholders.
• Produce high‑quality documentation: management reporting, client‑facing materials and detailed business requirements.

REGULATORY & BUSINESS CONDUCT

• Display exemplary conduct and live by the Group’s Values and Code of Conduct.
• Embed the highest standards of ethics across Standard Chartered Bank, ensuring compliance with laws, regulations, guidelines and the Group Code of Conduct.
• Lead to achieve the outcomes set out in the Bank’s Conduct Principles.
• Identify, mitigate and resolve risk, conduct and compliance matters collaboratively.

KEY STAKEHOLDERS

• Head of Cash Product / Cash product owners
• Head of FSS Product / FSS product owners
• Head of Markets Product / Markets product owners
• Head of Trade Finance Product / Trade Finance product owners
• Head of Digital Assets CoE and other CoE members
• ICS, Compliance, Legal and Risk
• Head of API Partner Enablement
• Regional DCS and other relevant market leaders

OUR IDEAL CANDIDATE

• Master’s degree or equivalent.
• 15+ years of experience across Digital Assets, FX, Payments, Trade Finance, Custody and API product management.
• Experience at the edge of business & technology, creating leading‑edge products & solutions (techno‑functional expertise preferred).
• Deep understanding of Embedded Banking/Finance, CIB client use cases and models – B2B, B2B2C.
• Expertise in API product development, obsessed with best practices/standards, and recognizing the impact of clean, well‑documented APIs on client decisions.
• Experience in global platform development across multiple markets, simplifying client experiences worldwide.
• Strong stakeholder management and interpersonal skills, engaging cross‑cultural teams globally.
• People‑management skills – managing a team of senior product owners.
• Proven track record in building professional relationships across a complex matrixed organisation.

ROLE SPECIFIC TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES

• API product management – knowledge of Digital Assets ecosystem, regulatory requirements, and emerging global standards.
• Delivery management – delivering complex software products across systems and teams.
• Corporate banking – core knowledge of corporate & institutional banking and core product capabilities.
• Payments standards – deep understanding of the payments industry, digitisation trends and standards.
• Agile product management – experience with agile methodologies.
• Distributed ledger technology – competence in DLT terminology, taxonomy and industry trends.
• People leader – leading teams of senior product owners to deliver portfolio components.

ABOUT STANDARD CHARTERED

We are an international bank, nimble enough to act, big enough for impact. For more than 170 years, we have worked to make a positive difference for our clients, communities, and each other. We challenge the status quo, love a challenge, and enjoy finding new opportunities to grow and do better than before. We celebrate unique talents and welcome the contributions you can bring us.

WHAT WE OFFER

• Competitive salary and benefits, in line with the Fair Pay Charter, supporting mental, physical, financial and social wellbeing.
• Core bank funding for retirement savings, medical and life insurance, with flexible and voluntary benefits in some locations.
• Time‑off: annual leave, parental/maternity (20 weeks), sabbatical (12 months maximum), volunteering leave (3 days), and minimum global standards for annual and public holidays, combined to a minimum of 30 days.
• Flexible working options based around home and office locations.
• Proactive wellbeing support – Unmind platform, resilience courses, global Employee Assistance Programme, sick leave, mental health first‑aiders and self‑help toolkits.
• A continuous learning culture – opportunities to reskill, upskill and access physical, virtual and digital learning.
• An inclusive, values‑driven organisation that celebrates diversity and ensures every team feels respected and can realise their full potential.

RECRUITMENT ASSESSMENTS

Some roles use assessments to help us understand your suitability. If invited, this means your application has progressed to an important stage of the recruitment process.

Visit our careers website www.sc.com/careers

SKILL SELECTION

• DCS
• Charter
• Mobile Technology
• Taxonomy
• Transaction Banking
• Revolution
• Digitization
• Commercialization
• Banking
• Finance
• Strategy Planning
• Terminology
• Senior Stakeholder Management
• Delivery Management
• Oral & Written Communication Skills