SVP, Head of Operations (Global Transaction Banking)

SVP, Head of Operations (Global Transaction Banking)

Description

Our client is a leading international banking group with an established presence across APAC and EMEA. The bank offers a comprehensive suite of corporate and investment banking solutions, including trade finance, cash management, treasury and lending products to corporates and financial institutions.

Singapore serves as a key hub for its regional activities, supporting cross-border trade and financing flows. As part of its ongoing growth in Asia, the bank is seeking to appoint a Head of Operations to lead its Singapore-based Transaction Banking Operations function.

Responsibilities

Reporting to the Regional COO, you will lead the Transaction Banking Operations team in Singapore, managing a team of approximately 10-15 staff.

You will be accountable for end-to-end operations across Trade Finance, alongside coverage of at least one additional product area (Payments, Loans or Treasury). The role will have a strong focus on Trade Finance operations, including documentary credits, guarantees and trade processing lifecycle.

Key responsibilities include:

• Ownership of day-to-day operations delivery, ensuring efficiency, control and service quality
• Oversight of the full trade finance lifecycle, including documentation, settlement, reconciliation and client servicing
• Management of associated functions such as Credit Administration and KYC / Client Services
• Close partnership with Relationship Managers and clients, supporting transaction execution and resolving operational issues
• Ensuring compliance with local regulatory requirements (MAS), including strong oversight of trade-related controls, sanctions and trade-based financial crime risks
• Driving process improvements, system enhancements and operational standardisation, working closely with Technology and Change teams
• Engaging with internal stakeholders across business, risk and regional functions

Qualifications

You should be degree qualified with at least 15 years of operations experience, including strong hands-on Trade Finance operations exposure across the full lifecycle (e.g. LCs, guarantees, documentary processing).

The successful candidate will:

• Have experience covering Trade Finance and at least one additional operations area (Payments, Loans or Treasury)
• Demonstrate strong Singapore market experience, with sound understanding of local regulatory and MAS requirements relating to Trade Finance
• Bring an operations leadership background within Transaction Banking or broader banking operations, ideally within an international or mid-sized bank environment
• Be a hands-on leader, comfortable managing lean teams while maintaining direct oversight of BAU delivery
• Possess strong stakeholder management, communication and problem-solving skills, with the ability to engage both internal partners and external clients
• Have familiarity with risk and control frameworks within Trade Finance, including sanctions and financial crime considerations, which would be advantageous

To Apply

Please submit your resume to [Confidential Information], quoting LM35895.

Due to the high volume of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

Registration: R1109874
License: 16S8060