APAC & Middle East Corporate Banking Technology Director

Singapore, Singapore

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Key information

Date live: 12/17/2024

Business Area: Global Payment Services

Area of Expertise: Technology

Contract: Permanent

Reference Code: JR-0000026062

It’s happening at Barclays.

Be a part of a place where challenges are measured in billions, qubits and nanoseconds. Build your career in an environment where we’re advancing machine learning, leveraging blockchains, and harnessing FinTech. Working in Barclays technology, you’ll reimagine possibilities: learning and innovating to solve the challenges ahead, delivering for millions of customers.
We are shaping the future of financial technology.
Why not join us and make it happen here?

Where will you be located?

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Role Overview

The APAC & Middle East Corporate Banking Technology Director is a critical leadership role responsible for defining and driving the strategic transformation of corporate banking technology across the APAC and Middle East regions. This individual will lead efforts to enhance horizontal Risk & Control frameworks, strengthen Operational Governance, and deliver technology solutions to enable scalable and resilient corporate banking platforms. The role will involve overseeing complex, multi-region technology programs, beginning with the buildout of the Gift City Corporate Banking Platform and extending to Singapore and Hong Kong, while also optimizing delivery in UAE and India for UBS corporate banking programs.

In this role, the successful candidate will collaborate closely with Technology, Operations, Product, and Front Office teams to ensure alignment of technology solutions with business objectives, operational requirements, and product innovation priorities.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Transformation and Governance
• Define and implement the technology strategy to support the corporate banking business in APAC and the Middle East.
• Drive a robust horizontal Risk & Control agenda, ensuring alignment with regional and global corporate banking priorities.
• Establish and maintain strong Operational Governance frameworks to oversee execution quality and mitigate delivery risks.

Program Delivery and Buildout
• Lead the technology development and deployment for the Gift City Corporate Banking Platform, ensuring timely and high-quality execution.
• Oversee the subsequent buildout of corporate banking technology platforms in Singapore and Hong Kong, ensuring scalability, compliance, and efficiency.
• Enhance technology delivery and operational excellence for UBS corporate banking programs in the UAE and India.

Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Partner with Technology teams to leverage synergies and ensure end-to-end delivery of technology solutions.
• Collaborate with Operations teams to ensure systems are operationally robust and efficient.
• Work with Product teams to incorporate business innovation and new features into the technology roadmap.
• Liaise with Front Office teams to ensure the technology platform supports client-facing requirements and business growth strategies.

Leadership and Team Oversight
• Lead a team of senior technology professionals and cross-functional delivery teams, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and accountability.
• Provide strategic guidance and mentorship to India-based technology teams, driving delivery excellence.
• Champion agile execution practices to enhance responsiveness and adaptability to evolving business needs.

Qualifications and Experience

Technical Expertise
• Extensive experience (15+ years) in corporate banking technology, with a proven track record in leading large-scale, multi-region transformation programs.
• Strong understanding of Risk & Control frameworks and Operational Governance practices within banking technology environments.
• Expertise in building and scaling corporate banking platforms across diverse regulatory and operational landscapes.

Leadership and Stakeholder Management
• Demonstrated ability to influence and collaborate with senior stakeholders across business, operations, and technology functions.
• Proven leadership in managing geographically distributed teams, with a focus on fostering innovation and driving delivery excellence.
• Adept at navigating complex regulatory and compliance requirements in APAC and the Middle East.

Other Requirements
• Strong program and portfolio management skills, with experience delivering technology solutions in agile environments.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and organizational skills to manage competing priorities and ensure successful delivery.
• Familiarity with UAE, India, Singapore, and Hong Kong corporate banking landscapes is highly desirable.

Key Competencies
• Strategic thinking and problem-solving
• Strong risk management and governance expertise
• Results-driven, with a focus on execution and impact
• Collaborative leadership and team-building skills
• Adaptability in navigating complex, dynamic environments

Why Join Us?

This role offers a unique opportunity to shape the corporate banking technology strategy for one of the most dynamic and high-growth regions in the financial services industry. As a pivotal leader, you will drive transformational change, deliver impactful technology solutions, and strengthen the foundation for future growth across APAC and the Middle East.

Purpose of the role

To lead and manage engineering teams, providing technical guidance, mentorship, and support to ensure the delivery of high-quality software solutions, driving technical excellence, fostering a culture of innovation, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to align technical decisions with business objectives.

Accountabilities

Lead engineering teams effectively, fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture to achieve project goals and meet organizational objectives.
Oversee timelines, team allocation, risk management and task prioritization to ensure the successful delivery of solutions within scope, time, and budget.
Mentor and support team members' professional growth, conduct performance reviews, provide actionable feedback, and identify opportunities for improvement.
Evaluation and enhancement of engineering processes, tools, and methodologies to increase efficiency, streamline workflows, and optimize team productivity.
Collaboration with business partners, product managers, designers, and other stakeholders to translate business requirements into technical solutions and ensure a cohesive approach to product development.
Enforcement of technology standards, facilitate peer reviews, and implement robust testing practices to ensure the delivery of high-quality solutions.

Director Expectations

To manage a business function, providing significant input to function wide strategic initiatives. Contribute to and influence policy and procedures for the function and plan, manage and consult on multiple complex and critical strategic projects, which may be business wide..
They manage the direction of a large team or sub-function, leading other people managers and embedding a performance culture aligned to the values of the business. Or for an individual contributor, they lead organisation wide projects and act as deep technical expert and thought leader, identifying new ways of working and collaborating cross functionally. They will train, guide and coach less experienced specialists and provide information affecting long term profits, organisational risks and strategic decisions..
Provide expert advice to senior functional management and committees to influence decisions made outside of own function, offering significant input to function wide strategic initiatives.
Manage, coordinate and enable resourcing, budgeting and policy creation for a significant sub-function.
Escalates breaches of policies / procedure appropriately.
Foster and guide compliance, ensure regulations are observed that relevant processes in place to facilitate adherence.
Focus on the external environment, regulators, or advocacy groups to both monitor and influence on behalf of Barclays, when appropriate.
Demonstrate extensive knowledge of how the function integrates with the business division / Group to achieve the overall business objectives.
Maintain broad and comprehensive knowledge of industry theories and practices within own discipline alongside up-to-date relevant sector / functional knowledge, and insight into external market developments / initiatives.
Use interpretative thinking and advanced analytical skills to solve problems and design solutions in often complex/ sensitive situations.
Exercise management authority to make significant decisions and certain strategic decisions or recommendations within own area.
Negotiate with and influence stakeholders at a senior level both internally and externally.
Act as principal contact point for key clients and counterparts in other functions/ businesses divisions.
Mandated as a spokesperson for the function and business division.

All Senior Leaders are expected to demonstrate a clear set of leadership behaviours to create an environment for colleagues to thrive and deliver to a consistently excellent standard. The four LEAD behaviours are: L – Listen and be authentic, E – Energise and inspire, A – Align across the enterprise, D – Develop others.

All colleagues will be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Values of Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence and Stewardship – our moral compass, helping us do what we believe is right. They will also be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Mindset – to Empower, Challenge and Drive – the operating manual for how we behave.

Barclays welcomes applications from all candidates and is committed to ensuring reasonable adjustments (accommodations) are put in place to allow for a fair and inclusive recruitment process. For more information and how to request one, please review Adjustments to the recruitment process.

We’re a global, vital and highly respected financial organisation with an inspiring Purpose. Operating in 39 countries and employing around 100,000 people across the world, we help communities, individuals and businesses thrive. And we’ve created financial solutions and technology that the world now takes for granted. A career with us can offer incredible variety, depth and breadth of experience, and the chance to learn from some of the best minds in technology and finance.

To find out more about Barclays' strategy please click here.

Barclays offers a diverse, inclusive and engaged culture. A place where people can bring their whole selves to work and be respected for who they are, valued for what they do and celebrated for their contribution to our business and our community.

We are an equal opportunity employer and opposed to discrimination on any grounds. It is the policy of Barclays to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, colour, creed, religion, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or domestic/civil partnership status, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by law.

Barclays is required by law to confirm that you have the Legal Right to Work in any role that you apply for. If you currently hold a work visa sponsored by Barclays, or you would require sponsorship from Barclays, you must declare this as part of your application. Sponsored visas are role and entity specific and any changes must be reviewed. It is important that you ensure you are working on the correct visa at all times. Failure to accurately disclose your visa status or Legal Right to Work may result in your application or any employment offer being withdrawn at any time.

To find out more about Barclays' strategy please click here.

Who succeeds in
Tech at Barclays?

For a career with us, you need to be prepared to take big steps forward, curious to face the challenges ahead, and driven to focus on the outcomes. We need people with the Barclays mindset to make it happen here.

What you'll get in return

Competitive holiday allowance

Life assurance

Private medical care

Pension contribution

Our technology

Supporting our 48 million customers and clients worldwide takes a lot of forward thinking. It means harnessing technology to support the economy. It means making a difference to people’s lives. And it requires the maintenance and development of a global, technological infrastructure. At Barclays, technology helps us keep transactions moving, manages data, and protects our customers. Join a world where your work creates unique moments of impact. Make it happen here.

This is Barclays Singapore

Barclays has been a strong presence in Singapore for over 50 years. Our office is carefully designed to optimise the well-being of our colleagues. The center itself is an integrated live-work-play development, with shops, restaurants, gyms and an alfresco dining area.

Located in Marina Bay, you will have convenient options to commute, excellent views, and access to a range of amenities.

We’re utilising cutting-edge technology to deploy eco-friendly facilities like a eco-farm to cultivate fresh produce in our office.

Singapore is one of the wealthiest and safest cities in the world with low crime rates and zero corruption.

Our colleagues here in Singapore come from all around the world to create a richly diverse, wholly inclusive environment.

This is Barclays Singapore

Great location

Located in Marina Bay, you will have convenient options to commute, excellent views, and access to a range of amenities.

Sustainability and innovation

We’re utilising cutting-edge technology to deploy eco-friendly facilities like a eco-farm to cultivate fresh produce in our office.

A great city to live in

Singapore is one of the wealthiest and safest cities in the world with low crime rates and zero corruption.

A vibrant community

Our colleagues here in Singapore come from all around the world to create a richly diverse, wholly inclusive environment.

Working flexibly

We’re committed to providing an inclusive culture and environment, that recognises and supports ways to balance your personal needs, alongside the professional needs of our business. Providing the opportunity for all our employees globally to work flexibly empowers each of us to work in a way that suits our lives, as well as enabling us to better service our customers’ and clients’ needs.

Our approach to working flexibly is designed to support you to balance your life and to accommodate diverse needs, whilst still allowing us to meet our business needs. If you’d like to request a flexible working arrangement, please discuss this with your hiring manager.

Hybrid working: Our approach to hybrid working ensures there’s the right balance of working alongside colleagues at our onsite locations, as required for each role. For business areas that offer a hybrid working experience, this will be in a structured way, where colleagues work at an onsite location on fixed, ‘anchor’, days of the week. Some roles may require full onsite working. Please discuss the working pattern requirements for the role you are applying for with the hiring manager.

We continue to embed and review our hybrid working environment and remain in a phase of testing and learning. This means that working arrangements could change, with reasonable notice, to align with the needs of our business.

Barclays is built on an international scale.

Our geographic reach, our wide variety of functions, businesses, roles and locations reflect the rich diversity of our worldwide customer base. All of which means we offer incredible variety, depth and breadth of experience. And the chance to learn from a globally diverse mix of colleagues, including some of the very best minds in banking, finance, technology and business. Throughout, we’ll encourage you to embrace mobility, exploring every part of our operations as you build your career.

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