Department Head, Operations Strategy & Transformation

Overview Join a leading financial institution as Department Head, Operations Strategy & Transformation and play a pivotal role in shaping the future operating model of its banking operations platform. You will lead a high-performing team of Business Analysts and Project/Programme Managers to deliver enterprise-wide transformation across Securities, Payments, Trade Finance, Loan Operations and Account Services. This role is ideal for a senior banking operations and transformation leader who can translate strategy into practical execution—redesigning complex end-to-end workflows, building scalable operating models and delivering sustainable improvements in efficiency, control, cost and client service. Key Responsibilities - Lead the Operations Strategy & Transformation function, managing a team of 10+ Business Analysts and Project/Program Managers to deliver the bank’s operational transformation agenda. - Define and execute transformation roadmaps across Securities, Payments, Trade Finance, Loan Operations and Account Services, including process standardization, workflow redesign and target operating-model development. - Sponsor and oversee major change programmes, including system migrations, process re-engineering, digitization initiatives and the transition of selected activities to regional service centers. - Partner with senior stakeholders across Front Office, Operations, Technology, Risk, Compliance and Finance to secure alignment, manage dependencies and maintain executive sponsorship for transformation priorities. - Apply strong front-to-back banking operations expertise to ensure transformation initiatives improve efficiency, productivity, controls and service quality without creating unacceptable operational or regulatory risk. - Drive the adoption of automation, data-led performance management and continuous-improvement practices to deliver measurable capacity, cost and customer-service benefits. Requirements - At least 15 years of banking or financial-services experience, with strong knowledge of banking operations, business processes, risk controls and regulatory frameworks. - At least 7–10 years of experience leading complex transformation, change, operational-excellence or strategic programme portfolios within banking, financial services or Fintech. - Deep understanding of one or more core banking operations domains, including Securities and Payments, Trade Finance, Loan Operations and Account Services, with an ability to assess front-to-back impacts across functions. - Demonstrated expertise in business analysis, process mapping, requirements gathering, gap analysis, operating-model design and delivery of large-scale change initiatives. - Proven experience leading and developing sizeable multi-disciplinary teams of Business Analysts, Project Managers and transformation professionals, ideally with responsibility for 15–20 or more staff. - Strong executive stakeholder-management, influencing, problem-solving and communication skills, with excellent written and spoken English and Chinese, including Cantonese and Mandarin. If you are a senior banking operations transformation professional looking to lead a high-impact strategic function and shape the next-generation operating model of a major financial institution, please send your CV to Raymond Cheung for a confidential discussion about this opportunity.