Financial Change Director

Financial Change Director

SMBC: A trusted partner for the long term

Here at SMBC Group, we want to help you find the next step in your career so read on to discover if this opportunity is the one for you. We like to recognise potential in our people, so we welcome your application even when your experience doesn't perfectly align with the job description. Whilst we'll always strive to be better, we're proud of our inclusive culture, and encourage our applicants and colleagues to be their authentic, unique selves.

United by a sense of purpose towards our customers - to be a trusted partner for the long-term - and our universal banking platform in EMEA, SMBC Group has an international growth agenda and award-winning products, meaning we provide exciting opportunities to work on a diverse range of projects and initiatives. We deliver a full suite of corporate finance products and solutions to our customers as well as investment banking and advisory services, and a range of innovative solutions in global capital markets.

Read on to find out how you could enhance your skills and gain valuable experience, by joining us to support our clients transition to a sustainable future.

Is the next step in your career at SMBC Group EMEA? We're looking for a Finance Change Director to join our team.

The purpose of this role is to drive Finance change activity across all Finance functional teams. The role will involve using existing and new technology to the greatest extent possible through close liaison with ITSD teams, influencing delivery and technology capabilities for the benefit of Finance.

A key element of the role initially will be to focus on improvements to the Derivatives Product Control function - with a focus on increasing efficiency and control strength.

The Finance change team is bifurcated into pillars for firm-wide change and for Finance driven change. To support Finance-driven change, this role will work closely with ITSD and other relevant stakeholders to ensure new technology is enabled to support the teams to be successful. The successful candidate will have demonstrable experience of delivering new process and technology into a Finance function.

Developing a deep understanding of the current system landscape will be essential for this role to ensure change activity is well understood and prioritised and to ensure relevant support is provided to the Change pillars and BAU functional teams as necessary.

The book of work will contain both corporate banking and capital markets related initiatives.

The role is based in London but the Finance function spans the EMEA region and the change roadmap will encompass the broader Finance function across the region.

• The Change team comprises 14 permanent change professionals and 9 temporary team members
• The Finance function across EMEA is approximately 150 strong
• The SMBC BI Balance sheet is approx. USD
  60b the German Bank Balance sheet is approx. USD
  30b

• Assist in leading the design and execution of the Finance change roadmap, championing the integration of modern technologies-including AI-to enhance reporting capabilities and drive digital transformation across the function
• Challenge the status quo bringing fresh ideas for process and technology capability in order to transition the team into a Finance function for the future
• Establish and cultivate strategic partnerships with internal and external Technology stakeholders, ensuring alignment with business objectives and long-term value creation
• Forge strong delivery partnerships with ITSD teams, providing leadership and direction to ensure timely execution of Finance priorities
• Influence ITSD technology strategy for the benefit of Finance processes
• Provide executive-level visibility of project progress, delivering clear, concise updates and insights to senior stakeholders through structured governance forums
• Direct the full lifecycle of business solution delivery, from requirements definition through to design, development, testing, deployment, and post-implementation support-ensuring alignment with budget and timelines
• Lead the validation and approval of business requirements, guiding the creation of development specifications and overseeing UAT and implementation testing to ensure solutions meet strategic goals
• Drive strategic initiatives and respond to emerging priorities, taking ownership of ad hoc projects that align with Finance transformation goals
• Assist the Finance-driven change lead as required.

• Technology expertise relevant to Finance processes and reporting capability in a universal banking context.
• Essential Project Management/Business analysis qualification
• Desirable Part or fully qualified accountant
• Desirable Job Knowledge First rate data and problem-solving skills and the ability to understand and improve systems relating to a modern Finance function in a universal bank setting.
• Essential Functional expert in Banking sector and across multiple countries…