The Director, Senior Business Analyst is a senior transformation leader within the APAC Strategic Transformation Office (STO), responsible for driving strategic change initiatives that support SMBC's regional and global priorities. The role acts as a trusted advisor to senior management, partnering with business, operations, technology, risk, compliance, and global stakeholders to identify, shape, and deliver transformational opportunities across the organization.
The incumbent will lead complex business analysis activities across enterprise-wide programmes, translating strategic objectives into actionable transformation initiatives, future-state operating models, and sustainable business outcomes. The role requires a combination of deep banking expertise, strategic thinking, analytical rigor, and strong stakeholder management capabilities to influence decision-making, challenge existing practices, and accelerate the Bank's transformation agenda.
Job Responsibilities:
Strategic Transformation and Business Advisory
- Partner with senior executives and business leaders to define strategic objectives, identify transformation opportunities, and develop executable roadmaps aligned to SMBC's corporate and regional priorities.
- Lead business analysis efforts across large-scale strategic, regulatory, digital, and operational transformation programmes.
- Evaluate current-state business models, processes, organizational structures, and operating frameworks to identify opportunities for optimization, standardization, and automation.
- Develop future-state operating models, business capabilities, and target processes that support long-term business growth and operational excellence.
- Facilitate strategic discussions and provide data-driven insights and recommendations to support executive decision-making.
Stakeholder Management and Executive Engagement
- Build and maintain trusted relationships with senior stakeholders across Front Office, Middle Office, Operations, Technology, Finance, Risk, Compliance, and other support functions.
- Act as a key advisor and thought partner to programme sponsors, senior management, and executive committees.
- Lead workshops, executive forums, and cross-functional working groups to drive alignment, consensus, and successful delivery outcomes.
- Effectively communicate complex issues, risks, dependencies, and recommendations to executive audiences.
- Influence decision-making across multiple stakeholder groups while balancing competing business priorities.
Business Analysis and Solution Design
- Lead requirements management for complex transformation initiatives involving multiple jurisdictions, business units, and technology platforms.
- Translate strategic objectives into business requirements, functional specifications, user stories, and operating model recommendations.
- Evaluate solution alternatives and provide recommendations based on business value, implementation feasibility, risk considerations, and strategic alignment.
- Work closely with project managers, technology teams, and subject matter experts to ensure solutions meet business objectives and deliver sustainable benefits.
- Maintain traceability between strategic goals, business requirements, solution design, and implementation outcomes.
Process Improvement and Operating Model Transformation
- Analyze end-to-end business processes and client journeys to identify improvement opportunities that enhance efficiency, controls, client experience, and scalability.
- Design and implement process improvements leveraging Lean, Six Sigma, Agile, Design Thinking, and other transformation methodologies.
- Support the development and implementation of target operating models across business and support functions.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives and contribute to the Bank's broader operational excellence agenda.
Data Analytics and Strategic Insights
- Utilize data analysis, visualization, and business intelligence tools to identify trends, uncover insights, and support strategic decision-making.
- Develop executive dashboards, performance metrics, and management reporting frameworks to track programme outcomes and business benefits.
- Conduct quantitative and qualitative analysis to assess business impacts, investment opportunities, and transformation priorities.
- Support the adoption of data-driven decision-making across transformation programmes.
Governance, Risk and Change Management
- Support programme governance through structured reporting, issue management, risk assessment, and benefits tracking.
- Ensure business requirements and transformation initiatives align with regulatory obligations, internal policies, and risk management frameworks.
- Proactively identify implementation risks, dependencies, and organizational impacts, recommending mitigation strategies where necessary.
- Support change management activities, including stakeholder engagement, communication planning, training, and business readiness assessments.
- Contribute to post-implementation reviews and benefits realization activities to ensure intended business outcomes are achieved.
Job Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree in Banking & Finance, Business Administration, Economics, Technology, Engineering, or a related discipline.
- 10-15 years of relevant experience within financial services, management consulting, strategic transformation, or programme delivery environments.
- MBA, Master's degree, or equivalent advanced qualification preferred.
- Professional certifications in Business Analysis, Project Management (PMP, PgMP, PRINCE2), Agile, Lean Six Sigma, Change Management, or related disciplines are highly desirable.
- Strong understanding of corporate and institutional banking products, operating models, risk management frameworks, and regulatory environments.
- Exceptional communication, presentation, facilitation, and stakeholder management capabilities.
- Demonstrated success leading large-scale transformation, digitalization, regulatory, operating model, or process re-engineering initiatives within banking or financial services organizations.
- Deep understanding of corporate banking businesses, products, client journeys, and supporting operational processes.
- Proven experience partnering with senior executives, management committees, and programme sponsors to shape strategy, build consensus, and drive execution.
- Experience managing complex, cross-functional initiatives involving business, operations, technology, risk, compliance, finance, and external stakeholders.
- Strong track record in operating model design, business process optimization, business case development, and benefits realization.
- Experience representing regional priorities and requirements within global programmes and governance forums.
- Experience working within a top-tier management consulting firm, strategic transformation office, or enterprise change function is highly advantageous.
- Strategic thinker with the ability to connect transformational initiatives to broader business objectives and measurable outcomes.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities with the ability to simplify ambiguity and develop practical solutions.
- Highly collaborative leader with exceptional interpersonal and relationship management skills.
- Strong commercial acumen and understanding of the drivers of growth, efficiency, risk, and client experience within financial services.
- Results-oriented with a demonstrated commitment to execution excellence and value realization.
- Resilient, adaptable, and capable of operating effectively in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.