Director, Strategy & Planning, SMBC India 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 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.

Key responsibilities : 

• Plan, design and execute mid-to-long-term strategies for organic and inorganic growth aimed at further expanding/strengthening our franchise and presence in India.

• Drive collaboration, strategic alliances and synergies across entities and affiliates in India, investee companies and the broader SMBC Group ecosystem and network, including joint client coverage, product initiatives and shared platforms.

• Lead/support complex, multi-year strategic projects in India, including legal-entity restructuring and governance frameworks.

• Support cross-functional teams in potential future M&A deals, including feasibility assessments, financial modelling, due diligence, negotiations and transaction documentation.

• Drive business/operating model transformation, performance improvement and turnaround initiatives across different affiliates and entities in India.

• Strengthen governance, risk and internal control frameworks across key entities, affiliates and investee companies in India; support remediation of regulatory findings.

• Support Board and Board-Committee work by preparing high-quality materials and briefing notes and tracking action items for senior management and nominee Non-Executive Directors.

• Contribute to the build-out and scaling of the ‘Global Capability Centre’, including scope expansion, process standardisation and enhanced risk and compliance oversight.

• Support the expansion of the GIFT City branch (OBU), including the development of new products, securing licences/registrations for new business areas, and aligning documentation, disclosures and controls with regulatory expectations.

• Provide ongoing and regular support on key management and strategic priorities, managerial and financial budgeting, preparing and updating MIS, internal reporting to executive/senior management in India Division and HQ.

Requirements:

• Post-graduate degree in Business, Finance, Economics or a related discipline.

• Professional qualifications like Chartered Accountant (CA), Project Management Professional (PMP), Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), or Financial Risk Manager (FRM).

• Typically, 10–15+ years of experience in banking / financial services, consulting, corporate strategy, or risk / governance roles.

• Proven experience leading end-to-end business transformation projects (e.g., legal-entity restructuring, operating model redesign and transformation, large-scale process transformation).

• Previous experience in M&A deals, including due diligence, valuation, negotiations and documentation.

• Ability to independently build and back-test financial models such as ECL (Expected Credit Loss) and valuation models (DCF, trading comparables, scenario analysis), including challenging and validating underlying assumptions.

• Working knowledge of IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards).

• Basic understanding and common knowledge of international taxation (including BEPS, tax treaties (DTAAs) such as India-Japan and India-Singapore), particularly in the context of cross-border transactions, M&As structures and transfer pricing.

• Prior experience in a Japanese megabank or Japanese financial institution will be an advantage.

Skills & Competencies :

• Versatile skill set spanning strategy, corporate finance/M&A, risk, governance and execution; able to move seamlessly from high-level thinking to detailed financial and operational analysis.

• Strong understanding of the Indian financial services landscape and regulatory environment.

• Excellent project and program management skills, with the ability to manage multiple complex initiatives and a diverse set of internal and external stakeholders (including advisors, consultants and counterparties).

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to challenge and validate assumptions and synthesise complex issues into clear, actionable recommendations.

• Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills; comfortable preparing materials for and engaging with senior stakeholders and Board members – with minimal or no guidance.

• High learning agility and comfort operating in ambiguity/limited information.

• Demonstrated ownership mindset, with the confidence to take on significant responsibility and make sound judgements/decisions aligned with the institution’s core values, risk appetite and strategic priorities.

• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, while also being a strong team player who can collaborate effectively across functions, geographies and cultures.