Analytics Operations Director in London

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.

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. We hope you can enhance your skills and gain valuable experience, by joining us to support our clients transition to a sustainable future.

The Analytics Operations Director is a key new role in the Data Analytics Function, one of five functions within the EMEA Data Office. One of our key transformation initiatives is a multi‑year programme to ensure compliance with Basel Committee on Banking Supervision's Standard #239 (BCBS239 – Principles for effective risk data aggregation and risk reporting). This global programme of work covers several Technology and Data Workstreams and is particularly important to SMBC EMEA which is expected to be subject to ECB Onboarding from FY27 onwards.

In support of these significant strategic programs, this role will lead the building out of our Analytics Operations Capability across all EMEA departments, covering all EMEA entities including Securities and Banking subsidiaries. This will require them to establish and lead a team that will focus on providing maintenance and support services for a growing suite of EUC Tools and managing day‑to‑day operational support for these EUC tools to improve timeliness, accuracy, performance and user experience. To achieve this, they will need to leverage our location strategy to establish a support model that includes team members in multiple locations across the organisational footprint.

We’re looking for someone who has previous experience of leading data transformation initiatives that have delivered lasting change. The position requires a combination of strategic leadership, stakeholder engagement and delivery governance across project and BAU. The candidate must be willing to challenge the status quo in an empathic manner, while helping the wider Data Office to have an ethos of openness and transparency that will help us nurture real business innovation. Someone with a proven track record demonstrating measurable business impact who can thrive in ambiguous situations. If you want to make a real difference, and not just in one team but across the entire bank, we would love to speak to you more.

The Data Analytics Function is one of five “pillars” within the EMEA Data Office which is part of the Operations Planning Department (OPPD). We have a remit covering all EMEA entities (including Securities and banking subsidiaries) and all datasets. The Data Office is responsible for defining and implementing the EMEA Data Strategy, building out its data management capabilities, and focusing on how to exploit data more effectively and innovatively across SMBC.

As part of this work, the EMEA Data Office has established a new framework which encompasses cultural, behavioural, procedural, and system transformation to deliver the new strategy. This framework has initially concentrated on good governance by improved Data Architecture, Data Management and Data Quality, but is now starting to focus more on how to use Data to drive new ways of working and improved business outcomes. The Data Office has been established to drive data‑led transformation through the bank, and this is a terrific opportunity to join us on this exciting journey.

This is a greenfield opportunity where capability needs will be built from scratch. There is also limited understanding of the opportunities from new data and analytics capabilities. The ideal candidate will need to evidence a proactive engagement approach – incorporating both patience and persistence because significant business change is challenging.

The EMEA Data Office has been established for just three years, the department has seen rapid growth and is currently 100+ people and is expected to grow further over the next year. The Data Analytics Function within the EMEA Data Office has built rapidly over the last year and currently stands at 39 people, a mixture of permanent, contractor and consultant roles. The function is expected to grow further over the next couple of years. This role would have responsibility for managing a team of 10–15 roles, a mixture of permanent, contractor and consultant roles. The team is expected to evolve to become a hybrid team across multiple locations with some roles onshore and others offshore. This role would also be expected to matrix manage roles in other teams.

Accountabilities and Responsibilities

• Build out the Analytics Operations service catalogue and operating model working with relevant departments across the SMBC (both technical and business) to ensure there is an effective support model for existing products and new products that are delivered into production to support them in life.
• Oversee the day‑to‑day operations of the product support team, ensuring timely and effective resolution of customer issues and inquiries.
• Lead the delivery of a pipeline of initiatives for Analytics Operations, ensuring quality, traceability to requirements and adherence to project plans.
• Ensure that the Analytics Operations product catalogue, relevant metadata, documentation are completed to agreed standards for all reporting and analytics products managed by the team.
• Build out a support and maintenance service for all live products managed by the team that aligns with industry best practice and is underpinned by robust business continuity plans.
• Oversee effective review and management of decommissioning, transition and retirement processes.
• Be the primary contact point for key stakeholders for Analytics Operations - ensuring the team communicate progress, managing expectations, and navigating complex corporate environments.
• Manage risks, dependencies, and issue resolution pertaining to Analytics Operations - acting as the senior escalation point for the team's portfolio of products, services and projects.
• Lead, develop, and mentor individuals to build a high‑performing team – establishing their role as a bridge between data, technical and business teams.
• Build collaborative working relationships with other SMBC regions as part of our strategic globalisation goals.
• Build productive relationships with the wider Data Teams, Technology Teams and Business Departments to support effective delivery of project and BAU activities.
• Lead request for proposals (RFP) and assess responses as well as defining commercial terms (Statements of Work) pertaining to Analytics Operations work. Managing suppliers and overseeing their delivery against contractual milestones.
• Manage delivery and performance across contractors and consultants for Analytics Operations work – setting clear objectives, maintaining tight scope control, and actively manage the engagement.
• Define and report on key metrics to track the success of the Analytics Operations Team and communicate value realisation.
• Support the implementation of the EMEA Data Strategy.

Knowledge, Skills, Experience and Qualifications

Essential

• Experience of working in the financial services industry and knowledge of data related regulatory requirements for the financial service sector.
• Experience of working on transformation projects addressing BCBS239 compliance, experience of European Central Bank (ECB) onboarding would be a plus.
• Previous experience of setting up and leading a successful Analytics Operations capability, experience of leading change initiatives relating to EUC remediation would be a plus.
• A deep understanding of Data Analytics technologies and techniques and a good understanding of the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) and development best practices relevant to analytics and reporting.
• Credible experience implementing agile, hybrid, or scaled delivery frameworks.
• An outstanding problem solver who has an analytical mindset, is inquisitive and excellent with technology enabling a creative approach to solution scoping and delivery.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills. Able to communicate complex concepts to non‑technical stakeholders.
• Proven leadership ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive cross‑functional collaboration in complex, matrix organisations.
• Proven experience managing risks, dependencies, and issue resolution across a complex portfolio of project and BAU initiatives.
• Demonstrable experience managing, developing, and mentoring high‑performance teams.
• Experience leading proposals/RFP responses and defining commercial terms (Statements of Work).
• Experience managing vendor relationships and overseeing their performance.
• Excellent problem solving and decision making.
• Deep understanding of the governance frameworks and best practice in relations to Data, Analytics and AI.
• A good understanding of information management and information security principles as relevant to analytics and reporting.

Desirable

• Experience in using and configuring cataloguing tools, such as Collibra and/or Apparity.
• Knowledge of emerging trends and issues within the Data Analytics and Data Science landscapes.
• Experience with AI project delivery and governance considerations relevant to this.
• Experience of working in an organisation that has rolled out self‑serve analytics at enterprise level.
• Experience working with cloud environments & components (e.g. on Google Cloud Platform or equivalent).

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 in building your career and in being your best self, so we offer competitive company benefits centring around promoting positive well‑being 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 promote a diverse and inclusive culture and healthy work‑life balance including hybrid working, Sport & Social Clubs and Diversity and Inclusion networks.

• 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

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.