PERM - SPD - Planning - Head of Execution Support - Executive 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.

Business Area

Based in London, this is a newly created leadership role within Specialised Products Department ('SPD'), to manage execution support and drive operational excellence within SPD, which comprises product areas including Leveraged Finance, Real Estate, Subscription Finance and NAV.  The role will include leading SPD’s transaction execution support, AML KYC teams, also working closely with other teams within SPD (origination, portfolio management, legal, planning etc.) and SMBC/BI/EU stakeholders, to ensure best in class execution, control framework and operating environment for all SPD transactions.  The role will report into the Deputy Head of SPD.

Role Summary

This is a leadership role within Specialised Products Department ('SPD'), to manage execution support and drive operational excellence within SPD.  This will include leading SPD’s transaction execution support, AML KYC teams, also working closely with other teams within SPD (origination, portfolio management, legal, planning etc.) and SMBC/BI/EU stakeholders, to ensure best in class execution, control framework and operating environment for all SPD transactions, including Leveraged Finance, Real Estate, Subscription Finance and NAV product areas.

Other key elements of the role include:

• The role will drive productivity improvements and process excellence within SPD, through ensuring consistency of approach and providing independent rigour and challenge to SPD’s execution activities in order to achieve continued high standards of processes across London, Frankfurt, Dublin and Paris SPD teams.
• To enable change by achieving productivity improvements through continuous review, design and implementation of processes, procedures and systems to deliver efficiency of transaction execution within SPD.

Key Candidate Requirements

• Business Knowledge: Extensive knowledge of Commercial and Investment Banking products, services and documentation (ideally leverage finance, real estate and / or fund finance) and the end-to-end processes and infrastructure required to deliver these products and services to customers. Experience of identifying and addressing deficiencies in risk management and/or control operation across the full product lifecycle and/or end-to-end processes.

• Transaction execution: a good understanding of KYC and AML requirements and processes, extensive transaction execution experience, and a good understanding of legal documentation are necessary for effective functional oversight of the transaction execution process. Solution driven approach and meticulous organisation, requiring high attention to detail are essential.
• Stakeholder Management / Communication: Strong communication skills and demonstrable ability to effectively manage senior level internal and external stakeholders.

Position Description

• Responsible for leading SPD's key execution and operations team, with direct line management for 2-3 team leaders, in addition to 8-10 indirect reports

• Responsible for:

  • Operational Excellence for Transaction Execution : Oversight of key operational aspects of SPD to (i) provide independent rigour and challenge within SPD to ensure consistency of approach and continued high standards of processes across London, Frankfurt, Dublin and Paris SPD teams,  (ii) drive change and achieve continuous review and improvement in SPD’s policies & processes to ensure they are aligned to market conditions and customer expectations, including through achieving process excellence and effective collaboration of SPD with other stakeholder departments to increase efficiency of all operations, and (iii) develop SPD operational KPIs and targets.

  • Stakeholder Engagement and Management: Ensuring that all SPD’s stakeholders (including operations, financial crime middle office, money laundering risk officer, legal, compliance, tax, sanctions and external joint venture partners) have full visibility of the SPD transaction pipeline and can deliver to time. Triage and escalate any resourcing issues, proactively addressing stakeholder queries and maintaining open dialogue through the execution process.

  • Escalation of Execution Issues: Identifying, escalating and resolving stakeholder issues with respect to the execution of transactions and providing senior oversight and support to teams as required.  Practicably find solutions and obtain risk acceptance where needed

  • Operational Events:  Ensure rigorous investigation of any operational events or disruption to transaction execution (including transaction “360 reviews”) to ensure that root cause is identified and solutions to prevent reoccurrence are identified and implemented (where appropriate); conduct control testing.

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!!