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Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Vice President

8 Dec 2025

London, LND, GB, EC2M 2AT

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

SMDAM UK is a subsidiary of Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Ltd, one of the largest investment management companies in Japan, offering discretionary investment management, investment trust and advisory services to a range of institutional investors, pension funds and government agencies worldwide.

Private Markets team is the department in SMDAM UK responsible for establishing and operating investment vehicles focused on providing investors with access to European LBO direct lending / private credit investments.

  • Private Markets (PM) is a fast-growing investment business with a differentiated proposition.
  • Set up to build and grow a fund & SMA product across the Private Debt spectrum, with an initial focus in Direct Lending, the strategy is to expand sequentially incorporate IG Private Debt, NAV, Asset Based Lending and Real Assets.
  • SMBC PM collaborates with SMBC (a leading global Japanese financial institution) and has access to origination and sourcing channels across EMEA.

SMDAM/SMBC specialises in many of the hard to access, growing areas of private markets and at a time when access and deployment are key to success this is key competitive edge.

  • The Private Markets team has overseen the successful launch of a first private debt fund and is in the phases of launching a successor fund.
  • The team began as part of SMBC with heritage at GE Capital but has now transferred to SMDAM UK (a subsidiary of Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Ltd, one of the largest investment management companies in Japan) to spearhead the growth of Private Markets.
  • SMBC and SMDAM are part of the SMFG group (the 14th largest bank globally) to benefit and provide regulatory and corporate services to the SMBC Private Markets team.
  • With the backing of SMBC as well as SMDAM the expectation for the business is to scale rapidly and to have access to capital from within the SMFG group as well as to institutional investors in Japan and globally.

SMBC was recently recognised as one of the top 10 private credit lenders in Europe (Octus, 2025).

Role Summary

The position has been created to manage the financial operations and reporting for a complex structure of investment entities, including General Partners, Special Limited Partnerships and Special Purpose Vehicles. The role is required a collaboration with SMDAM UK Private Market team and external service provider ensure that fund accounting is performed in a timely manner.


Section 5 – Accountabilities & Responsibilities

Finance & Accounting

  • Manage accounting and financial reporting for all fund entities
  • Oversee shareholder and management reporting processes
  • Support business planning, budgeting, and forecasting
  • Coordinate and review monthly balance sheet and P&L reports from the administrative service provider
  • Supervise and coordinate annual audits and liaise with external auditors
  • Provide financial analysis on a monthly and quarterly basis to support strategic decision-making

Expense Monitoring & Contract Management

  • Monitor and manage expenses across the organisation
  • Oversee payment processes and ensure timely execution
  • Maintain and manage contracts with vendors, service providers, and other third parties

Treasury & Capital Management

  • Support treasury operations, including cash flow forecasting and liquidity management
  • Assist with leverage and debt facility management
  • Coordinate capital call processes and quarterly distribution sizing

Fund Operations & Reporting

  • Review quarterly NAV packs and ensure accuracy of fund financials
  • Calculate and validate quarterly management fees and other fund-level fees
  • Oversee quarterly investor reporting processes and ensure timely delivery

Tax & Regulatory Compliance

  • Coordinate the preparation and submission of tax returns and regulatory filings
  • Review monthly/quarterly VAT returns and direct tax filings
  • Monitor intercompany loan structures and ensure compliance with transfer pricing policies
  • Support jurisdictional tax compliance and LP-specific tax requirements (e.g., US tax, side letter obligations)

 


Section 6 – Knowledge, Skills, Experience & Qualifications
  • Strong understanding of fund accounting, tax strategies, regulatory compliance, and financial reporting, with a strong focus on accuracy, timeliness, and strategic insight
  • Strong knowledge in IFRS, UK GAAP and Luxembourg GAAP a key advantage
  • Strong communication skills to enable clear and concise presentation of complex finance topics
  • Ability to manage external stakeholders and operate as relationship manager for service providers with a focus on efficiency of relationship and driving value for SMBC Private Market’s investment vehicles by constantly evaluating monitoring fee spend vs. quality of service and/or maintaining competitive tension between service providers. Experience running “request for proposal” processes
  • Awareness and understanding asset management in Private Assets a strong positive
  • Should have a relevant professional qualification (ACCA/ACA/ACT or similar)

 

Business Area

SMDAM Private Markets (PM) is a fast-growing investment business with a differentiated proposition.

Set up to build and grow a fund & SMA product across the Private Debt spectrum, with an initial focus in Direct Lending, the strategy is to expand sequentially incorporate IG Private Debt, NAV, Asset Based Lending and Real Assets.

SMDAM PM collaborates with SMBC (a leading global Japanese financial institution) and has access to origination and sourcing channels across EMEA.

SMBC specialises in many of the hard to access, growing areas of private markets and at a time when access and deployment are key to success this is key competitive edge.

Position Description

The Private Markets team has overseen the successful launch of a first private debt fund and is in the phases of launching a successor fund. Manages the financial operations and reporting for a complex structure of investment entities, including General Partners, Special Limited Partnerships and Special Purpose Vehicles

In collaboration with SMDAM UK Private Market team and external service provider ensure that fund accounting is performed in a timely manner . The team began as part of SMBC with heritage at GE Capital but has now transferred to SMDAM UK (a subsidiary of Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Ltd, one of the largest investment management companies in Japan) to spearhead the growth of Private Markets.

 

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.  

 

About SMBC

A trusted partner for the long term
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, we deliver a full suite of corporate finance products and solutions to our customers, including corporate, structured and trade finance, leveraged finance, loan market and treasury products. We can also provide investment banking and advisory services and a range of innovative solutions in global capital markets.
Find out more about what we do and who we are at www.smbcgroup.com/emea
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