Head of Portfolio Optimisation, Asia Pacific and Middle East

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If you’re looking for a career that will give you plenty of opportunities to develop, join HSBC and your future will be rich with potential. Whether you want a career that could take you to the top, or simply take you in an exciting new direction, HSBC offers opportunities, support and rewards that will take you further.

HSBC Corporate and Institutional Banking is a markets-led, financing-focused business that provides investment and financial solutions. Our sector-focused Banking relationship managers provide a single coverage point for multi-national clients. With our global capabilities and footprint, vast expertise, and local knowledge, our Banking teams connect clients to the products and services that meet their international financial needs. 

We are currently seeking a high caliber professional to join our team as  Head of Portfolio Optimisation, Asia Pacific and Middle East

Role Purpose

The primary purpose of this role is to create and lead a market leading Distribution function for Asia & Middle East, specializing in secondary distribution instruments including Portfolio and Single Name trades across CLOs, NPI, CDS, Secondary Loan Sales and other mechanisms.  Together with the Heads of Distribution in Europe and Americas, unlock balance sheet velocity with support of data and technology, strengthening HSBC’s market position to be a leading issuer of distribution products.

Balance Sheet Velocity & Execution

• Develop market-level distribution strategies and framework, partnering with Strategic Client Origination teams to maximise distribution activities in sites and identify new opportunities dependent on key client/portfolio objectives
• Increase existing and expand distribution product landscape and market appetite – target new asset classes and support the front line teams to originate higher returning distributable assets that meet investor appetite, increasing volume, efficiency and market access
• Alongside the CIB Head of FRM and Global Head of CCM, design and implement a partnership model to drive scale in CIBs Balance Sheet Velocity ambition
• Design and drive implementation of a digitised and automated end-to-end distribution journey – enable delivery at scale across and within markets to achieve ambitious growth targets and minimise manual interface

Stakeholder Engagement & Governance

 - Collaborate with risk, finance, legal, MSS and regulatory teams to execute products and meet market regulatory reporting requirements

 - Establish governance, policies, and controls to ensure effective risk management and decision-making.

Principal Accountabilities:

Impact on the Business

• Through the management and execution of balance sheet velocity initiatives, enhance returns for the CIB business
• Identification of new innovative solutions and channels for distribution strategies, expanding and enhancing product offering
• Partner with client facing teams to incentivise and increase originate to distribute
• Act as owner of any new / existing models that are necessary to support Distribution processes
• Participate in major change initiatives and articulate requirements that will enable streamlining of technology and process across the Distribution cycle

Customers / Stakeholders

• Liaise with relevant stakeholders within Global Businesses and Global Functions (e.g. Global Risk Analytics, Wholesale Credit Risk, Treasury, Finance & Balance Sheet Management)
• Actively participate in and contribute to working groups & steering committees
• Deliver fair outcomes for our customers and ensure own conduct maintains the orderly and transparent operation of financial markets

Leadership & Teamwork

• Demonstrate strong communication skills to by influencing others, including peers, senior management, colleagues within the regions/countries to removing barriers to change
• Influence the priorities of multiple teams to ensure projects and initiatives critical to the success of CCM’s strategy are executed on plan
• Develop and lead your team creating opportunities for them to learn and deliver against the overall department objectives
• Promote an environment that supports diversity and reflects HSBC brand

Operational Effectiveness & Control

• Comply with all required internal policies and external rules or laws ensuring take into account all of the relevant policies and rules applicable to any given business process
• Ensure all team members are aware of their obligations with regards to internal policies and external rules including those relevant to money laundering (ML), terrorist financing (TF), sanctions and other reputational risks

Major Challenges  (The challenges inherent in the role that require a continual test of the role holder’s abilities)

• The CIB asset classes, and business as a whole, are moving to a more technology, or digital, driven marketplace. Systematic quantitative analysis is an emerging discipline and the ability to engage with a broad range of stakeholders, with differing levels of technology awareness, will be necessary to successfully land new tools & techniques
• The business is investing heavily in its technology stack, but it is in the midst of a multi-year programme. As a result, all desired datasets & software tools may not be readily available. Subsequently, the ability to plan forward to ensure the wider quantitative analytics team has access to necessary inputs will be key.

Role Context  (The environment and operating conditions of the role including the extent of guidance and authority)

• Most activities encountered by the incumbent are non-repetitive in nature. Therefore, the incumbent needs to adapt to changes readily. The role holder must have an inquisitive mind and be able to show leadership by creating order in an unstructured environment.
• Monthly and annual planning require the creation of sustainable repeatable processes to inform the future use of financial resources
• Keeping up-to-date with changes in the regulatory requirements, financial services industry, and in the structure of  HSBC Group, is also a necessity.

Management of Risk (Operational Risk / FIM requirements)

• The role holder will ensure the fair treatment of our customers is at the heart of everything we do, both personally and as an organization.
• This will be achieved by consistently displaying the behaviors that form part of the HSBC Values and culture and adhering to HSBC risk policies and procedures, including notification and escalation of any concerns and taking required action in relation to points raised by audit and/or external regulators.
• Through the implementation the Global AML, Sanctions and ABC Policies, supporting Guidance, and Line of Business Procedures the jobholder will make informed decisions in accordance with the core principles of HSBC's Financial Crime Risk Appetite.
• The role holder will also adhere to and be able to demonstrate adherence to internal controls. This will be achieved by adherence to all relevant procedures, keeping appropriate records and, where appropriate, by the timely implementation of internal and external audit points, including issues raised by external regulators.

Observation of Internal Controls (Compliance Policy / FIM requirements)

• The role holder will also adhere to and be able to demonstrate adherence to internal controls. This will be achieved by adherence to all relevant procedures, keeping appropriate records and, where appropriate, by the timely implementation of internal and external audit points, including issues raised by external regulators.

Role Dimensions (e.g. balance sheet size, lending/expenditure limits, size/volume of transactions, budget. in USD’000)

The role has no lending/expenditure limits or credit approval authority. Distribution targets TBC

Knowledge & Experience / Qualifications

• Minimum of 15 years broad-based banking experience in financial services with preference for those who have focused on credit, rates or cash management markets
• Expert knowledge of Distribution products, e.g. primary, secondary, synthetic, originate to distribution and awareness of market restrictions
• Track record of high performance
• Exceptional frontline leader with broad-based experience across all banking products – proficient understanding of HSBC structure, product offering and pricing strategy
• Proven track record working with senior leaders across multiple geographies and businesses.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with experience of preparing and communicating key messages and recommendations to senior management and other stakeholders
• Strong influencing, interpersonal, negotiation and conflict resolution skills
• Result oriented and team player who can foster strong and collaborative partnerships with key stakeholders

The chosen candidate for this role will be required to undergo enhanced vetting. Subject to local laws, this will require the individual to satisfactorily pass a series of additional checks as part of the recruitment process and on an ongoing basis, if appointed to the role. HSBC Group reserves its position with regards to any steps which it may take in relation to any material adverse findings which arise either when the checks are originally completed, and/or if relevant, on an ongoing basis. For more information about the enhanced vetting for this role, please contact the recruiter for this role.

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