ED - Transaction Banking SME Programme Director (m/f/d)
Dublin, D, IE, D02 KF20
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.
Who we are
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.
Role Summary
We are looking for a dynamic and knowledgeable Transaction Banking Programme Director with proven experience in programme / change delivery to support and drive strategic initiatives. The candidate will have deep expertise across transaction banking products (such as cash management, payments, liquidity, trade finance) and a good record in delivering complex change programmes in regulated banking environments.
Business Area
The Transformation and Change Management Group (TCMG) provides the SMBC enterprise professional project, programme and portfolio management (P3M) resource and expertise to the organisation. It was established in Nov 2019 as an independent, centralized business function operating at a strategic level to provide enterprise-wide oversight, standards and delivery of change.
The oversight function includes governance, guidance, best practices, mentoring and up-skilling project managers from other departments and BAU staff.
Implementation of a standard enterprise-wide project framework including tools, templates and standardized processes. The aim is that TCMG ensures strategic alignment between business objectives and projects executed.
TCMG is also a resource centre/ centre of excellence. It is comprised of professionally qualified project, programme and change managers, business analysts and junior analysts. These are divided into multi-disciplinary teams with report lines to a Team Lead.
Position Description
Lead or support the planning and execution of large-scale initiatives across Transaction Banking, working closely with Business, IT, Risk, and Operations teams
Define programme scope, deliverables, resource requirements, timelines and governance structures
Serve as the SME for transaction banking products including payments, cash management, liquidity solutions and trade finance.
Advise stakeholders on product design, market trends, operational processes, regulatory considerations, and client impact.
Translate business strategy and regulatory requirements into functional change initiatives.
Qualifications and Experience
- Educated to degree level or equivalent experience.
- 10+ years’ experience in Transaction Banking preferably within a large corporate or institutional bank
- Demonstrated experience in programme management, change delivery or transformation roles ideally in global or matrixed organisation
- Strong understanding of key products such as real time payments, SWIFT, host-to-host, liquidity pooling, trade services, and open banking APIs.
- Familiarity with relevant regulatory frameworks (e.g. PSD2, ISO 20022, SWIFT gpi, AML/KYC in transaction banking)
- Prior involvement in digitalisation, platform modernisation, or client onboarding
- Excellent leadership, influencing, and stakeholder management skills across business and technology teams.
- Formal project /change qualifications (e.g. PMP, Prince2, APM) are highly desirable.
What we offer
For all the expertise and experience you bring to help us make a difference, it’s only sustainable if we support you to build your career and be your best self so we offer competitive company benefits, centred around promoting positive well-bring and work-life balance. We also believe in fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment, where all team members perspectives and contributions are valued. Initiatives in place which promote a diverse and inclusive culture and healthy work life balance include hybrid working, Sport & Social Clubs and Diversity and Inclusion networks.
As an employee of SMBC you have access to a host of both useful and exciting benefit offerings. See below some of the benefits on offer to you:
- Hybrid and flexible working
- Competitive paid leave days
- Benefits to support your physical wellbeing, including private medical insurance and life and invalidity insurance
- Various policies to support your mental wellbeing, including a robust behavioural health network with counselling and coaching services
- Access a wide range of learning and development opportunities and career progression opportunities
- Ambitious remuneration package
So, if you like a challenge and want to continuously grow and develop in a role where you will be supported along the way by a dynamic and diverse team, apply today!!
We recognise our role as a bank to support social change and welcome all applications, including those from groups often under-represented in financial services. We value the uniqueness of professional and personal, backgrounds and perspectives as they play a vital role in continuing the sustainable growth of our organisation. We’ll ensure reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process are offered due to a disability or long-term condition whenever requested.