Assistant Vice President - Sustainability Planning Team, SMBC Asia Pacific Division

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 maintains 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.

The successful candidate for this role will join the Sustainability Planning Team in SMBC Asia Pacific Division where they will support a number of regional programmes and initiatives. Housed under the Business Strategy Group, the newly established Sustainability Planning Team works collaboratively and cross-functionally with stakeholders across the region to ensure compliance with sustainability policies, standards and guidelines; develop sustainability risk management frameworks and practices; manage sustainable finance and financed emissions KPIs; support engagement with internal and external stakeholders; as well as maintain an overall robust sustainability programme in the region.  

Key Responsibilities

• Support efforts to meet the expectations and requirements of regulators in the region where sustainability risk is concerned.
• Engage subsidiaries in the region to ensure prompt adoption and localisation of the Bank’s sustainability policies as well as compliance with Group core standards.
• Support the management of sustainability policies and procedures, including developing and advising on new policies for identifying, managing, and monitoring environmental and social risks; and ensuring that they remain relevant and effective in building firm-wide resilience, as well as aligned with regulations and market best practices.
• Support sustainability KPI management in the region – including evaluation, monitoring, forecasting, reporting, etc.
• Conduct environmental and social due diligence for customer transactions, in line with the Bank’s guidelines and procedures.
• Provide hands-on support and guidance for sustainability-related working groups, forums and committee meetings helmed by the team.
• Provide support on internal business units-led sustainability initiatives and collaborating with the business units in enhancing the Bank’s sustainability communication through all available channels.
• Oversee green deposit control and reporting.
• Facilitate sustainability capability building efforts within the Bank.

Key Attributes and Skills

• Minimum five (5) years’ working experience in a corporate sustainability, ESG policy and compliance, ESG risk management or relevant discipline – with at least 4 years’ experience working in a sustainability or ESG role.
• Relevant academic studies in environmental science, environmental management, environmental law, sustainable development, sustainable and green finance, etc.
• In-depth understanding of sustainability, ESG and environmental risk topics, international reporting standards and frameworks, regulatory trends in Asia, as well as industry best practices.
• Proven experience in developing and implementing sustainability compliance programmes, policies and controls in the banking sector.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with a high attention to detail.
• Possesses professional and interpersonal skills to establish good working relationships with stakeholders.
• A team player with the ability to work independently.
• Excellent organizational, presentation and communication skills.
• Excellent writing skills; ability to synthesise information quickly and concisely.
• Experience in qualitative and quantitative analysis, with prior experience in a data-driven environment.
• Resilient and adaptable mindset, with the ability to thrive in a collaborative and fast-paced environment.
• Experience in the banking sector is preferred.
• Fluency in English; additional languages are an asset.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office products including Excel, PowerPoint, Word and Teams.