Strategic Transformation Leader, Banking Growth

SMBC Group; Singapore; On-site; SGD 180,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

SMBC Group in Singapore seeks a Senior Strategic Transformation advisor to partner with senior executives, define strategic objectives, and develop executable roadmaps across regional priorities.

You will lead cross-functional business analysis, design target operating models, and drive process improvement, data analytics, and governance across complex programs. 10–15 years in financial services or consulting is required; MBA preferred and strong stakeholder management expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Banking & Finance, Business Administration, Economics, Technology, Engineering, or a related discipline.
• 10-15 years of relevant experience within financial services, management consulting, strategic transformation, or programme delivery environments.
• MBA, Master's degree, or equivalent advanced qualification preferred.
• Professional certifications in Business Analysis, Project Management (PMP, PgMP, PRINCE2), Agile, Lean Six Sigma, Change Management, or related disciplines are highly desirable.
• Strong understanding of corporate and institutional banking products, operating models, risk management frameworks, and regulatory environments.
• Exceptional communication, presentation, facilitation, and stakeholder management capabilities.
• Demonstrated success leading large-scale transformation, digitalization, regulatory, operating model, or process re-engineering initiatives within banking or financial services organizations.

Responsibilities

• Define strategic objectives with senior leadership and develop executable roadmaps aligned to SMBC's corporate and regional priorities.
• Lead business analysis efforts across large-scale strategic, regulatory, digital, and operational transformation programmes.
• Evaluate current-state business models, processes, organizational structures, and operating frameworks to identify opportunities for optimization, standardization, and automation.
• Develop future-state operating models, business capabilities, and target processes that support long-term business growth and operational excellence.
• Facilitate strategic discussions and provide data-driven insights and recommendations to support executive decision-making.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with senior stakeholders across Front Office, Middle Office, Operations, Technology, Finance, Risk, Compliance, and other support functions.
• Act as a key advisor and thought partner to programme sponsors, senior management, and executive committees.
• Lead workshops, executive forums, and cross-functional working groups to drive alignment, consensus, and successful delivery outcomes.
• Effectively communicate complex issues, risks, dependencies, and recommendations to executive audiences.
• Influence decision-making across multiple stakeholder groups while balancing competing business priorities.
• Lead requirements management for complex transformation initiatives involving multiple jurisdictions, business units, and technology platforms.
• Translate strategic objectives into business requirements, functional specifications, user stories, and operating model recommendations.
• Evaluate solution alternatives and provide recommendations based on business value, implementation feasibility, risk considerations, and strategic alignment.
• Work closely with project managers, technology teams, and subject matter experts to ensure solutions meet business objectives and deliver sustainable benefits.
• Maintain traceability between strategic goals, business requirements, solution design, and implementation outcomes.
• Analyze end-to-end business processes and client journeys to identify improvement opportunities that enhance efficiency, controls, client experience, and scalability.
• Design and implement process improvements leveraging Lean, Six Sigma, Agile, Design Thinking, and other transformation methodologies.
• Support the development and implementation of target operating models across business and support functions.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives and contribute to the Bank's broader operational excellence agenda.
• Utilize data analysis, visualization, and business intelligence tools to identify trends, uncover insights, and support strategic decision-making.
• Develop executive dashboards, performance metrics, and management reporting frameworks to track programme outcomes and business benefits.
• Conduct quantitative and qualitative analysis to assess business impacts, investment opportunities, and transformation priorities.
• Support the adoption of data-driven decision-making across transformation programmes.
• Support programme governance through structured reporting, issue management, risk assessment, and benefits tracking.
• Ensure business requirements and transformation initiatives align with regulatory obligations, internal policies, and risk management frameworks.
• Proactively identify implementation risks, dependencies, and organizational impacts, recommending mitigation strategies where necessary.
• Support change management activities, including stakeholder engagement, communication planning, training, and business readiness assessments.
• Contribute to post-implementation reviews and benefits realization activities to ensure intended business outcomes are achieved.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Banking & Finance, Business Administration, Economics, Technology, Engineering, or related discipline

MBA, Master's degree, or equivalent advanced qualification

Professional certifications in Business Analysis, Project Management (PMP, PgMP, PRINCE2), Agile, Lean Six Sigma, Change Management

Strong communication, presentation, facilitation, and stakeholder management

Strategic thinking and ability to connect transformation initiatives to business objectives

Job description

SMBC Group in Singapore seeks a Senior Strategic Transformation advisor to partner with senior executives, define strategic objectives, and develop executable roadmaps across regional priorities.

You will lead cross-functional business analysis, design target operating models, and drive process improvement, data analytics, and governance across complex programs. 10–15 years in financial services or consulting is required; MBA preferred and strong stakeholder management expected.