Operational Excellence Lead

NTERNAL

Job Title: Head Operational Excellence Financial Control

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

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 standardization & harmonization 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

D eploy 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

Strategic Partnership & Change Leadership:

INTERNAL

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

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.

Lead the country / business unit / function to achieve the outcomes set out in the Bank's Conduct Principles.

Effectively and collaboratively identify, escalate, mitigate and resolve risk, conduct and compliance matters.

Exercise authorities delegated by the Board of Directors and act in accordance with Articles of Association (or equivalent)

Key stakeholders:

GCFO COO MT

Relevant GPL

PPE Team

Global Op Ex team

ARIS GPT

SAP Signavio

ProHance team

Relevant Technology teams

Infrastructure & Security Teams

Qualifications:

Education & Certifications:

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