Director - IT Department

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.

I. Key Responsibilities and Duties:

• Lead Information Technology Department of Vietnam in alignment with business goals and regulatory requirements.
• Responsible for IT operations and developments including infrastructure, application and system governance to ensure reliable and compliance of banking services.
• Lead IT projects including system development, upgrades, compliance and digital initiatives ensuring timely delivery, within budget and scope.
• Maintain effective communication with other business units, senior management, regulatory bodies, and external partners to understand requirements and issues related to IT.
• Manage IT budget (CAPEX and OPEX), procurement, and vendor contracts to optimize costs and service quality. Negotiate and oversee service level agreements (SLAs) with vendors.
• Collaborate with other department in charge of security, risk and compliance to ensure compliance with local banking regulations, cybersecurity standards, and internal IT policies.
• Manage IT risk assessments, audits, and implement controls to mitigate risks.
• Support strategic deployment projects from Head Office and Regional Office, maintain procedure manuals following regional standard processes and guidelines.
• Support to conduct regular / periodic Disaster Recovery (DR) drills to ensure readiness of regulatory infrastructure in DR site.
• Conduct event, incident, problem, and capacity management routines to ensure that the regulatory environment is always available as and when required either from main office or DR site.
• Manage and track demands for IT department versus resource capacity to ensure continuous IT delivery capability. Lead, motivate and develop IT staffs to enhance their skills and performance to manage existing systems and deliver new technologies

II. Position Requirements:

Competencies:

• Strong knowledge in operations of banking IT systems, infrastructure, cybersecurity, cloud services, and software.
• Intensive experience in leading complex IT projects, digital transformation programs, proficient in resource allocation, budgeting, stakeholders and tasks management
• Ability to develop and implement IT strategies aligned with business goals and regulatory requirements with excellent analytical skills in planning, governance and risk management.
• Proven experience as IT leaders, motivating diverse IT teams in FSI sector, across infrastructure, application development, support, or security.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Servers, Virtualization, network, security knowledge as well as SDLC, programming languages, application architecture, QA/testing and security best practices.
• Solid underatanding Vietnam domestic payment, cross boarder payment, AML/KYC, MIS/data mart, treasury & investment banking, etc.
• Effective and confident communications skills through executive level conversation with senior management, business units to clear and detailed explanation to peers and subordinates
• Well-versed in the regulatory framework governing IT operations, cybersecurity, data protection, and compliance within Vietnam's banking sector.
• Solid understanding and practices of ITSM processes with track record of effective ITSM monitoring and control over IT services.

Qualification

• University degree or master’s in Computer Science, Manage Information Science, Commerce / Business Administration, Banking and Finance or equivalent
• Possess IT professional certifications related to IT service management, project management, or infrastructure/application/security (e.g. ITIL, COBIT, PMP, CISSP, CISA, CCNA/CCNP, Azure/AWS certs, etc.)
• English level: Upper intermediate and advanced level who can express themselves fluently, flexibly and effectively for all purposes.

Working Experience

• 10+ years progressive experience in IT roles, with at least 5 years in management or leadership positions within IT department of banking or financial services sector.