Financial Crime, Compliance & Regulatory Change Delivery - Director

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.

Purpose of Job

• The successful candidate will combine strategic leadership, programme delivery excellence and subject matter expertise to drive the successful execution of SMBC's Financial Crime and Compliance transformation agenda.
• Acts as a senior leader within the Financial Crime & Compliance Change portfolio, accountable for the successful delivery of complex regulatory, business and technology transformation programmes across SMBC EMEA.
• Provides programme leadership and subject matter expertise across a diverse portfolio including Client Lifecycle Management (CLM), KYC and Customer Due Diligence (CDD) enhancement, Financial Crime Analytics, Sanctions transformation, Financial Crime controls optimisation and other strategic compliance initiatives.
• Drives the delivery of regulatory commitments, target operating model transformation, process optimisation and technology-enabled change to improve the effectiveness, efficiency and scalability of Financial Crime and Compliance capabilities.
• Ensures all programmes maintain robust governance, transparency, risk management and regulatory oversight, with decision-making and delivery activities appropriately evidenced and audit ready.
• Responsible for achieving programme outcomes, benefits realisation and sustainable business adoption while maintaining alignment to enterprise strategy and regulatory expectations.

Background

• CMG 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 and management of projects.
• 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 the CMG ensures strategic alignment between business objectives and projects executed.
• CMG 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 reporting line to a Team Lead.
• While working on projects or programmes individual staff retain their report line to a Team Lead but for the purposes of the project have a dotted line to the Project or Programme manager and/or Sponsor. The teams handle the bank’s most complex programmes and projects that require strong regional or global co-ordination, are often regulatory deadline driven or key for business strategy, require close cooperation with multiple departments, offices and other regions and have significant budgets.
• The CMG remit includes management of the enterprise project portfolio.

Facts/Scale

The below are indicative rather than specific to this role:

• Responsible for monitoring, forecasting, approving routine expenditure and reporting budget variances.
• Programme length can range from 1-5 years in duration
• Range of number of direct reports – varied, potentially multiple project managers, consultants, subject matter experts and junior admin staff.
• Operates across multiple EMEA regulators, these may have differing standards and so may require innovative implementation solutions which can add to the complexity of the programme.
• Interfaces with C-level project sponsors and leads SteerCo/s. Must meet and brief C-level Sponsor on a regular basis and educate on the complexities of the change, regulation and help influence decision making.

Accountabilities & Responsibilities

Portfolio Leadership & Executive Delegation

• Deputise for the Executive Director across the Financial Crime & Compliance portfolio as required, providing leadership and oversight.
• Support portfolio strategy, prioritisation, investment planning, resource management and delivery governance across multiple concurrent programmes.
• Represent the Executive Director in SteerCos, executive forums, risk committees, regulatory interactions and senior stakeholder meetings.
• Provide leadership across portfolio risk management, issue resolution, dependency management and strategic decision-making.

Programme Delivery & Transformation Leadership

• Lead the end-to-end delivery of large-scale transformation programmes covering Financial Crime, Compliance, CLM, KYC, Customer Due Diligence, Screening, Sanctions and Regulatory Change.
• Direct programme managers, project managers, business analysts and cross-functional delivery teams to achieve strategic objectives.
• Ensure programmes deliver measurable business outcomes, regulatory compliance and operational improvements.
• Drive target operating model design, implementation and transition into business-as-usual operations.
• Establish and maintain programme governance frameworks aligned to SMBC standards and regulatory expectations.

Financial Crime & Compliance Subject Matter Leadership

• Partner closely with Compliance, Financial Crime, Operations and Technology leadership teams to define and implement strategic change priorities.
• Lead transformation initiatives focused on AML, KYC, Customer Risk Assessment, Client Lifecycle Management, Sanctions, Transaction Monitoring and Financial Crime Analytics.
• Support development of future-state capabilities including advanced analytics, AI-enabled controls, workflow automation and data-driven compliance solutions.
• Ensure programmes align with evolving regulatory requirements and industry best practice.

CLM & Client Lifecycle Management (preferred)

• Provide executive delivery leadership for the CLM programme and associated Fenergo implementation roadmap.
• Drive transformation across onboarding, periodic review, client maintenance, screening and client data management processes.
• Ensure successful adoption of strategic CLM capabilities and operating model enhancements across all stakeholder groups.

Vendor & Third-Party Management

• Maintain senior relationships with strategic delivery partners including Fenergo and other technology providers.
• Oversee vendor performance, commercial management, delivery commitments and strategic roadmap alignment.
• Ensure third-party delivery activities meet SMBC governance, control and quality expectations.

People Leadership

• Lead, coach and develop a high-performing programme delivery organisation.
• Create a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement.
• Build succession capability and strengthen programme management maturity across the wider portfolio.
• Act as a role model for leadership behaviours, stakeholder engagement and delivery excellence.

Knowledge, Skills, Experience & Qualifications

Education & Qualifications

The role requires the candidate to be educated to degree level.  Industry recognised modern programme and project management qualification such as MSP, PMP or APM preferred

Experience & Knowledge

Essential:

• Significant senior leadership experience delivering enterprise-wide Financial Crime, Compliance or Regulatory Transformation programmes within a global banking environment.
• Proven Programme Director experience leading complex multi-year change portfolios exceeding regulatory, operational and technology boundaries.
• Strong experience across multiple Financial Crime domains including KYC, CDD, EDD, AML, Sanctions, Screening, Financial Crime Risk Management and Regulatory Change.
• Demonstrated ability to operate effectively at Executive Committee, Board and regulator-facing levels.
• Extensive experience leading large multidisciplinary teams and managing multiple programmes simultaneously.
• Strong understanding of programme governance, portfolio management, risk management and benefits realisation.
• Proven track record of influencing senior stakeholders across business, operations, technology, risk and compliance functions.
• Ability to act as a credible deputy for Executive Director as required.

Preferred

• Experience leading enterprise CLM transformation programmes including Fenergo implementation.
• Experience delivering Financial Crime Analytics, data-led compliance transformation or AI-enabled risk and control initiatives.
• Experience delivering sanctions transformation and screening optimisation programmes.
• Deep understanding of UK, European and international Financial Crime regulatory expectations.
• Experience operating within a global banking environment with complex regulatory and organisational structures.

Challenges

• To successfully implement change, this role is required to motivate individuals from within an organisation that is highly focussed on business as usual.
• The organisation has a culture of long-standing tradition and can be change adverse

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!!