Director Operational Excellence

INTERNAL

Job Title: Head Operational Excellence - BU

Job Summary

• A Strategic role partnering with Senior leadership & Global Controller to drive process optimisation and operational efficiency across the financial Controllership function. • This position leads initiatives that span complex, enterprise-wide processes and diverse technology ecosystems to enhance financial reporting accuracy, accelerate close cycles and modernise financial operations • This is pivotal role reports directly to the GPLs and partners with central Process Performance Excellence (PPE) team to elevate operational maturity across GCFO workstreams • Drive PPE Framework & Op Ex Strategy within relevant GPL workstream to identify optimisation opportunities • Collaborate with GPLs and work on Book of work to focus to uplift the maturity of the processes and making it leaner etc. • Play a critical role in process mining, identifying KPIs & dashboards to drive process insights.

Key Responsibilities

Process Transformation & Innovation • Lead end-to-end process redesign initiatives across financial Controllership operations, managing large-scale, cross functional initiatives that touch multiple geographies, business units and stakeholder groups to standardise workflows and eliminate inefficiencies. • Architect scalable operating models that support business growth while reducing complexity & operational risk • Champion automation & digital transformation leveraging RPA, AI/ML, and intelligent workflow solutions • Establish PPE governance frameworks with clear ownership, controls, & performance metrics • Drive standardisation & harmonisation of processes across regions & business units • Drive technology enablement and integration across a complex systems landscape including SAP, non-SAP ERP applications, and emerging AI solutions, ensuring seamless data flow and process automation that reduces manual effort and strengthens controls. • Pioneer the adoption of Agent AI and intelligent automation within controllership processes, evaluating use cases, managing implementation, and realizing measurable benefits in efficiency, accuracy, and strategic value delivery.

Operational Excellence & Quality Management • Spearhead financial reporting transformation initiatives, streamlining reporting processes and leveraging automation to deliver timely, accurate insights that support strategic decision-making across the organization. • Design & implement comprehensive quality assurance frameworks with zero-defect mindset • Deploy Lean Six Sigma methodologies to eliminate waste, reduce variation, & optimise resource utilization • Build continuous improvement culture through kaizen events, process mining, & root cause analysis • Operationalise KPI dashboards & real-time monitoring capabilities for proactive issue resolution • Lead defect prevention programs & implement mistake-proofing techniques across critical processes

INTERNAL

Strategic Partnership & Change Leadership • Serve as a trusted advisor to senior finance leadership and the Global Controller, providing strategic insights on operational improvements and transformation initiatives that enhance controllership effectiveness and support business growth objectives. • Lead cross-functional teams through complex change initiatives with strong stakeholder engagement • Champion critical book close excellence by identifying bottlenecks, implementing best practices, and orchestrating improvements that consistently meet aggressive timelines while maintaining the highest standards of accuracy and compliance. • Develop business cases demonstrating ROI for process improvement & technology investments • Foster collaboration between Finance, Technology, Operations & Risk teams

Regulatory & Compliance Excellence • Ensure process designs meet regulatory requirements (UK ACG, Basel, PRA, IFRS, tax & Regulatory compliance) • Strengthen controls environment while simplifying processes & reducing operational burden • Support audit readiness through robust documentation, testing protocols, & evidence management • Drive remediation of audit findings & regulatory observations with sustainable solutions

Capability Building • Develop training programs to upskill finance teams on process improvement methodologies • Create centre of excellence for process optimization, automation, and quality management • Mentor Process leaders on operational excellence principles & change management

Reporting lines • (On Hiring) this role will be reporting to Process Performance Excellence GPL • (From H1’26 onwards) This role will be reporting to Financial Control GPL with matrix reporting line to Process Performance Excellence GPL

Regulatory & Business Conduct • Display exemplary conduct and live by the Group’s Values and Code of Conduct. • Take personal responsibility for embedding the highest standards of ethics, including regulatory and business conduct, across Standard Chartered Bank. This includes understanding and ensuring compliance with, in letter and spirit, all applicable laws, regulations, guidelines and the Group Code of Conduct. • Effectively and collaboratively identify, escalate, mitigate and resolve risk, conduct and compliance matters.

Key stakeholders • GCFO COO MT • Relevant GPL • PPE Team • Global Op Ex team

INTERNAL

• ARIS GPT • SAP Signavio • ProHance team • Relevant Technology teams • Infrastructure & Security Teams

Qualifications

• MBA, Master's in Finance, or equivalent advanced degree • Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification required; Master Black Belt preferred • Professional certifications (CA, CPA, CFA, CIMA, or equivalent) highly valued

Experience & Expertise: • 20+ years in finance operations, with 5+ years leading operational excellence or transformation programs • Proven track record delivering large-scale process transformation in banking or financial services • Deep domain expertise across multiple finance functions (Accounting, Financial Reporting, FP&A, Treasury, Tax) • Hands-on experience with process improvement methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, Value Stream Mapping) • Demonstrated success implementing automation solutions (RPA, workflow tools, AI-enabled platforms) • Strong understanding of regulatory environment and compliance requirements in banking

Skills and Experience:

Technical & Analytical Skills • Expert in process mapping, analysis, and redesign using tools like ARIS, Signavio, or Celonis • Proficient in data analytics and visualization platforms (Tableau, Power BI, Alteryx) • Strong knowledge of ERP systems (SAP, Oracle) and finance technology ecosystem • Experience with project management methodologies (Agile, Waterfall, hybrid approaches) • Advanced Excel and data manipulation capabilities for complex analysis

Leadership & Soft Skills • Exceptional change management skills with ability to influence without authority • Strategic thinker with strong business acumen and commercial orientation • Outstanding communication skills; ability to present complex concepts to C-suite executives • Proven ability to build consensus and drive results in matrixed, global organizations • Results-driven leader with high standards, attention to detail, and execution excellence • Cultural sensitivity and experience managing diverse, geographically dispersed teams