Assistant Vice President - Data Governance & AI-driven Operational Transformation (Risk Management)

Headquartered in Tokyo, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) is a leading global financial institution and a core member of Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMBC Group). Built upon our rich Japanese heritage since 1876, we put our customers first and provide seamless access to, from and within the Asia Pacific region.   SMBC is one of the largest Japanese banks by assets and maintain strong credit ratings across our global integrated network.  We work closely as one SMBC Group to offer personal, corporate and investment banking services to meet the needs of our customers.

With sustainability embedded within our strategy and operations, we are committed to creating a society in which today’s generation can enjoy economic prosperity and well-being, and pass it on to future generations.

Job Responsibilities

Data Governance and BCBS 239 Compliance

• Support the enhancement of risk data and reporting governance within RMDAP, ensuring alignment with BCBS 239 principles and the bank's data governance framework, under the supervision of senior staff.
• Work closely with departmental report owners, Data Management Office (DMO), and other relevant stakeholders to implement governance standards for risk reports, including Key Data Element (KDE) identification, data lineage documentation, and data quality monitoring.
• Assist in coordinating with internal and external parties to establish clear data ownership, data sourcing standards, and metadata management practices for RMDAP's reporting scope.
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of department level data governance procedures and documentation in line with regulatory expectations and global/regional requirements.

IT Infrastructure and Reporting Operations Enhancement

• Support the centralization and rationalization of data sources used in departmental risk reporting, reducing reliance on fragmented or manual data flows.
• Assist in identifying, assessing, and remediating End User Computing (EUC) applications, supporting the transition of critical processes to robust IT solutions where appropriate.
• Contribute to the design and implementation of risk management dashboards and visualization tools to improve the quality, timeliness, and accessibility of risk reporting outputs.
• Work with IT and technology functions, under the direction of senior staff, to evaluate and deploy tools and systems that support data aggregation, reporting automation, and operational efficiency.

AI-driven Operational Transformation

• Analyze current departmental operations and identify areas where AI and digital technologies can improve efficiency, accuracy, and scalability.
• Support the planning and execution of AI-enabled operational transformation projects in collaboration with RMDAP's internal groups and AI promotion departments, guided by senior staff.
• Assist in evaluating the risk and control implications of AI-driven initiatives, ensuring alignment with the bank's AI governance framework and regulatory expectations.
• Help disseminate best practices and lessons learned from transformation initiatives across the department and APAC branches.

Stakeholder Coordination

• Serve as a supporting point of contact for data governance and AI transformation matters, coordinating with multiple internal and external stakeholders across functions and geographies under the guidance of senior staff.
• Assist senior management in preparing updates, reports, and materials for governance committees and meetings.
• Support responses to internal audit, regulatory, and Head Office queries related to data governance and AI transformation.

Job Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in information systems, data science, engineering, business, risk management, finance, or a related field. Advanced degree or recognized certifications (e.g., FRM, PRM, CDMP) are advantageous.
• Minimum 5 years of practical experience in IT systems, operations, or data management within a financial institution.
• Hands-on experience in data governance, including familiarity with BCBS 239 requirements, data quality frameworks, data lineage, and KDE management.
• Demonstrated experience in contributing to business process re-engineering (BPR) or operational transformation projects, including EUC remediation, system migration, or reporting automation.
• Experience in coordinating with multiple stakeholders across departments, functions, and geographies.
• Strong interest in AI and digital technologies, with willingness to learn and apply new tools; prior experience with AI-driven initiatives is a plus.
• Proactive self-starter with strong organizational and project management skills.
• Able to multi-task under tight timelines.
• Native-level English proficiency required. Culturally sensitive and able to work in a diverse APAC environment. Japanese language proficiency is a plus.

Core Skill Set

• Data Governance and BCBS 239: contributing to governance frameworks for risk data, including KDE management, data lineage, data quality, and EUC controls.
• IT Infrastructure and Reporting: supporting data source centralization, reporting automation, dashboard design, and system deployment.
• Business Process Re-engineering: process analysis, redesign, automation, and change management support.
• AI and Digital Transformation: identifying and supporting the implementation of AI-enabled process improvements within risk management operations.
• Stakeholder Management: cross-functional coordination and communication with diverse internal and external parties under the guidance of senior management.
• Regulatory Intelligence: understanding of regulatory expectations related to data governance and AI in financial services (e.g., BCBS 239, MAS guidelines).