Finance & Procurement Cross-Function Vice President

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

To deliver well-controlled, efficient and innovative change both to Finance (Enterprise-wide change) and for (Finance initiated change) Finance.

Ensure the Finance function continues to fulfil mandatory reporting obligations across EMEA in an efficient, accurate and timely manner including the investigation and resolution of production issues, primarily by delivering solutions through TheMIS, an in-house data warehouse and reporting tool.

Provide technical accounting input, data analysis, solution prototyping / delivery, forecasting and change testing for on-going F&C and Bank-wide operational and strategic projects.

Perform data analysis and reconciliation activities using a combination of MS Excel and SQL developer, amongst other tools to interrogate large financial and non-financial data sets.

To ensure TheMIS users are afforded training and support to ensure they have sufficient competence at delivering reporting, interpretation of results and making appropriate decisions.  This includes the preparation and delivery of training materials and other user documentation.

Championing and delivering automation and efficiency to Finance department reporting functions.

Business Area

This role is part of the EMEA Finance Change Team who are responsible for managing / supporting Finance (and wider business) change, system testing, data analysis and MI system training / documentation.

The role will involve working with stakeholders from across the Bank within EMEA with a particular focus on working with Finance (customer stakeholder) and IT (primary collaboration partner).

The team drives and / or contributes to business change across a broad cross section of disciplines including business restructuring / reorganisation, strategic reporting, performance reporting / management accounts, tax reporting / tax compliance, non-prudential regulatory reporting, business analytics / data modelling, system change / product evolution and financial reporting.

Position Description

Accountabilties and responsibilites

Interpret / draft and document business requirements, translating these into clear, actionable deliverables. This includes activities such as gap analysis, data interpretation, determining available solutions and their pros / cons and proposing efficient and effective action to take to meet business reporting objectives.

Ensure core deliverables are produced on time and to spec by monitoring development progress, providing guidance and technical oversight and in preparing, executing and signing off testing.

Deliver innovation and efficiencies across the Bank through business process reengineering (BPR), automation, process / reporting simplification and proactive identification of opportunities to enhance reporting capabilities across EMEA.

Business partnering through provision of training, technical guidance and data analysis across a broad spectrum of stakeholders and business units.

Ensure Bank Policy relating to the preparation of External or Material reporting is adhered to by monitoring planned developments and reviewing sign-off documentation as part of the change management process.

Manage and lead key user forum and developer progress meetings, preparing and issuing relevant meeting materials to participants.

Provide technical accounting interpretation and analysis including financial forecasting / modelling.

Knowledge, Skills, Experience & Qualifications

First-rate technical and analytical skills in data extraction and analysis techniques including SQL and MS Excel with large financial and non-financial datasets essential.

Relevant technical degree-level education with a preference toward accounting and financial disciplines.

Being qualified / part qualified accountant is advantageous.

Experience in Finance transformation/ change programmes in Commercial and Investment Banking is highly desirable.

Experience in conducting workshops with junior through to senior stakeholders to gather business requirements.

Familiarity with data analytics and automation tools such as PowerBI/Alteryx/Python highly desirable.

An understanding of AI and its application in a Financial Services/Accounting environment preferred.

Extensive experience leading and working on data-related projects: Project Management qualifications would be advantageous.

Strong numerical and financial skills with the ability to interpret financial information and to design and use financial models.

Prior experience performing Finance-based testing for new products onboarding process highly desirable.

Prior experience working within Commercial Banking and/or Investment Banking environment and familiarity with accounting treatments for vanilla banking products (incl. derivatives).

Practical experience working with Corporate and Investment Banking systems such as Gloss (securities), and LoanIQ (loans) advantageous.

Business practical experience using Oracle Cloud and Oracle on-prem GL systems desirable.

Proven track record documenting, actioning and testing business requirements and change requests. Creating runbooks and coordinating the delivery to plan.

Strong communication skills and is comfortable presenting in front of various audiences: experience delivering training content and conducting requirements gathering workshops would be advantageous.

Some EMEA travel required.

Competencies

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!!