Product Governance specialist - VP

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

Is the next step in your career at SMBC Group EMEA? We’re looking for a VP‑level Product Governance specialist to assist with strategic product initiatives and product reviews across our Global Markets Fixed Income department, covering Securities Finance, Credit Trading, Macro Rates, FX and Risk Solutions.

The role will work closely with the Business Managers, Product COO’s, Heads of the Trading Desks and the S&T Head of Product to deliver new products aligned to the strategic product roadmap, and to the goals of the wider S&T mid-term plan across AD and EMEA.

ESSENTIALS OF THE ROLE

-Assist in the delivery of the strategic product roadmap aligned to the overall S&T strategy by coordinating the approval of new products for Sale s& Trading (S&T) across the EMEA and Americas Division (AD)

-Collaborate effectively with global trading and sales teams, downstream functions, and IT partners to help prepare the required business cases, and understand the conditions required for successful approval by the New Product Committee (NPC)

-Help to drive governance uplift in terms of product/entity landscape, trader mandates, data lineage by developing and maintaining key artefacts such as S&T Standards for Product Governance, Booking Arrangement Schematics, Trader Mandate/Venue documents.

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS

-Good understanding of Fixed Income products including bonds, repo, credit, derivatives, and FX

-5 years experience in a governance role in the financial industry, regulatory knowledge an advantage

-Exceptional organisational skills, ability to organise data and present information simply and clearly

-Experience in developing new processes and guiding change in front and back office environments

-Team player – ability to forge strong working relationships across trading desks and downstream functions

Business Area

Sales & Trading (S&T) EMEA comprises Securities Finance, Credit Trading, Macro Rates, FX and Risk Solutions desks based in London, supported by sales teams located across major European financial centres. S&T is required to grow significantly in the coming years. To do so, a more efficient product approval process is necessary, as well as better coordination of the development of new products across business area and across key front to back functions at SMBC including IT, Operations, Risk, Legal, and Compliance.

Strategic initiatives will include:

-The launch of SMBC capabilities in EU: Paris and Frankfurt

-The development of enhanced Securities Finance and Credit Trading capabilities

-The enhancement development of derivative trading capabilities

-A strong product specialist is required to partner with the businesses and help expedite the execution of these initiatives, with a clear strategy for combined technology and client solutions across regions to better meet our client’s needs and grow our franchise.

Position Description

New Products Co-ordination:

-Co-ordination of the successful approval of new products for S&T aligned to strategic roadmap

-Partner with business managers and traders/sales on new product opportunities

-Assist the Business Managers with the required presentation material for the New Product Committee

-Work closely with Business Resource Management and business managers to understand the business case for each new product (e.g. revenues, clients, volumes, usage of business resources – ROE, RWA, funding, scalability etc.) and assist in curating/improving the business case where required

-Work closely with downstream functions and understand the product impacts as part of the NPC conditions for approval

-Partner with the Transformation Project Manager to ensure the NPC conditions are addressed and closed out so the product can go-live

-Assist in the immediate post approval review that monitors profits, transactional volumes, and any risks or regulatory concerns post the initial implementation

-Assist also in periodic lifecycle product reviews to ensure existing products remain within risk appetite and continue to satisfy the relevant risk frameworks

Policy, Procedures and Governance Uplift:

-Partner with the Operational Risk Management Department (RMD) on NPC policy, and governance uplift in S&T

-Help to draft standards within S&T to complement the RMD NPC policy and drive improvements to S&T processes, including developing diagrams and visual aids for process uplift

-Understand the product/entity landscape, trader mandates and trading venues for each desk and help to build and standardise governance and controls

-Partner with the E-Trading Business Manager on algorithmic products and changes to the Algorithmic Trading Policy

-Help to specify MIS reports to improve product governance tracking and trader mandate compliance

-Map the lineage of approved products within S&T from systems-of-record and through downstream functions and systems

-Maintain the key artefacts of booking arrangement schematics and booking inventories

-Help to deliver an upgraded product taxonomy across AD/EMEA for S&T in partnership with the Data Office

-Assist in internal audits and curate data on current and planned improvements for inclusion in reports to external regulators

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!!