Finance & Procurement Cross-Function Director in London

SMBC Group is a universal banking platform operating across EMEA, delivering corporate finance products, investment banking and global capital markets solutions. We are committed to an inclusive culture and sustainable growth, supporting teams to innovate and transform finance functions.

Role Summary

The Finance Change Lead develops and executes a delivery capability dedicated to Finance transformation. The position is based in London and spans EMEA, focusing on technology enhancements, process efficiency and enhanced controls.

Business Area

Strategic Planning Department – Finance. The Finance function across EMEA is approximately 150 strong, with a change team of 12 permanent and 8 temporary professionals.

Position Description

• Lead the design and execution of the Finance change roadmap, championing integration of modern technologies—including AI—to enhance reporting capabilities and drive digital transformation across the function.
• Establish and cultivate strategic partnerships with internal and external Technology stakeholders, ensuring alignment with business objectives and long‐term value creation.
• Own and govern the change development schedule, setting priorities, allocating resources, and driving delivery against strategic milestones.
• Forge strong delivery partnerships with ITSD teams, providing leadership and direction to ensure timely execution of Finance priorities.
• Oversee project portfolio management, adapting resource allocation dynamically to meet evolving business needs and ensure optimal impact.
• Provide executive‐level visibility of project progress, delivering clear, concise updates and insights to senior stakeholders through structured governance forums.
• Direct the full lifecycle of business solution delivery, from requirements definition through to design, development, testing, deployment, and post‐implementation support—ensuring alignment with budget and timelines.
• Lead the validation and approval of business requirements, guiding the creation of development specifications and overseeing UAT and implementation testing to ensure solutions meet strategic goals.
• Build and empower a high‐performing team, using existing training and development frameworks to support capability growth and succession planning.
• Drive strategic initiatives and respond to emerging priorities, taking ownership of ad‐hoc projects that align with Finance transformation goals.
• Provide senior oversight of Finance operations across EMEA, ensuring consistent service delivery to SMBC London Branch under the Agreement for the Provision of Services, and fulfilling dual‐hat responsibilities for NCM Finance teams as directed by EMEA F&C leadership.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Part or fully qualified accountant.
• Project Management qualification.
• Technology expertise relevant to Finance processes and reporting capability.
• Extensive experience delivering new technology, including AI, into a Finance function.
• Functional expert and certified business analyst in the banking sector and across multiple countries (UK, France, Belgium, Dubai, Italy, Germany, Spain, Ireland, Netherlands).
• Strong knowledge of data requirements within the Finance data domain.
• Financial product knowledge (IR & FX Derivatives, Securities, Equity, Loans, Deposits, Current Accounts) gained through working in the banking sector.
• Experience producing business requirements in liaison with Business reporting teams.
• Ability to interrogate and analyse data on Oracle/SQL platforms.
• Provide knowledge and documentation support for all aspects of the development life cycle (requirements, gap analysis, test plans, testing, issue and risk logs, user procedures and ongoing continual process improvements).
• Functional knowledge of upgrade procedures for system testing and end‐to‐end testing of new software.
• Leadership experience including managing and developing strong performing teams.
• Good knowledge of Finance systems, general accounting and business functions.
• Experience delivering Finance transformation projects.
• Experience building out strong delivery teams with extensive SME capability.
• Skills: Oracle SQL, MS Office Suite.
• Very IT literate with strong Excel and SQL skills.
• IT background with broad technical knowledge.
• Ability to manage all functional issues as they inter‐relate between forms and countries.

Personal qualities

• Self‐motivated.
• Proactive, key player in technology‐driven processes.
• Flexible and responsive to company needs.
• Ability to drive multiple complex projects simultaneously.
• Strong stakeholder management with excellent communication skills.
• Positive attitude to the team and customers.
• Ability to handle pressure of extensive urgent project with tight deadlines.

Competencies

• Customer Focus
• Driving Change
• Driving Results
• Embraces Diversity
• Enterprise Leadership
• Judgement and Decision Making
• Risk Management
• Strategic and Visionary
• Trust and Integrity

What we offer

• We provide competitive benefits centred on positive well‐being and work‐life balance, with hybrid working, sport & social clubs and diversity & inclusion networks.
• Hybrid and flexible working
• Competitive paid leave days
• Private medical insurance and life and invalidity insurance
• Robust behavioural health network with counselling and coaching services
• Wide range of learning and development opportunities and career progression
• Ambitious remuneration package

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 will offer reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process for disability or long‐term condition when requested.

About SMBC

SMBC Group delivers a full suite of corporate finance products and solutions including corporate, structured and trade finance, leveraged finance, loan market and treasury products.