Resilience Testing Lead, VP

SMBC Group is a global financial services group, operating in 40 countries with over 400 years of history and ambitions to continue to grow and evolve our business in the EMEA region.

Details

Job Title / Corporate Title: Resilience Testing Lead, VP

Department / Group: OPPD (Operations Planning Department) / Business Service Management

Location: London, UK

Purpose of Job

• As part of the Business Service Management (BSM) Group, the Resilience Test Lead will support the Head of Business Service Management and the Operational Resilience Lead to develop the Resilience Test Strategy, and plan, execute and coordinate a range of resilience assurance activities to validate service resilience or identify vulnerabilities for remediation.
• The Resilience Test Lead will be specifically responsible for working with senior sponsors, service owners, BC coordinators and other assurance SME’s across the EMEA region to maintain the Scenario Library, oversee and coordinate the execution of the Annual Resilience Test Plan, and facilitate the identification and completion of actions to improve the firm’s resilience and comply with assurance standards.

Background

• The Business Service Management (BSM) group within the Operations Planning Department (OPPD) is the capability which defines and supports consistent and standardised E2E Operations across key business services in order to drive efficiencies, effective controls, appropriate governance and support the implementation of priority change to meet strategy.
• This include the firm’s Operational Resilience function, responsible for the framework, policy/standards, governance and key assets which ensure compliance with UK (FCA/PRA) Operational Resilience regulation and in support of key elements for compliance with the EU Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA)
• Further, this includes the firm’s Resilience Testing function, responsible for standards, governance and the maintenance and coordination of key assets which validate the Operational Resilience of our Business Services and the validity of business continuity, recovery and communication across EMEA.

Facts / Scale

• The BSM Group is directed from London supporting Business Services across all SMBC EMEA entities.
• SMBC Group in EMEA provides a full suite of Banking and Securities Services to our clients to support their growth, with close coordination with other regional entities.
• Improving the ability to prevent, adapt, respond to, recover, and learn from operational disruptions is critical for improving the operational resilience of SMBC EMEA (as well as ensuring compliance with regulatordriven requirements in this space – such as Operational Resilience (FCA, PRA) and DORA (EBA/ESMA)
• The Resilience Test Team will work closely with other members of the BSM Group including Operational Resilience Team, BSM Analysts as well as Service Owners, BC coordinators and other assurance SME’s across the EMEA region to validate service resilience.

Accountabilities & Responsibilities

• Accountable for Resilience Testing in EMEA to ensure the firm complies with regulatory expectation / market standards and internal policy in order to evidence sufficient service resilience and business continuity, or identify gaps, vulnerabilities or areas for improvement to ensure we remain within tolerances.
• Accountable for the development and maintenance of the Resilience Testing Strategy, Standards, Annual Test Plan, Scenario Library and other key assets associated with test planning and execution.
• Accountable for the oversight and coordination of the Annual Test Plan where prioritised scenarios are executed across a range of assurance activities.
• Directly responsible for Testing Operational Resilience Scenarios, Business Continuity, and Business Recovery, Incident & Crisis, Recovery Suite, WFH, and Communication Plans.
• Responsible for coordinating with other resilience assurance activities to ensure appropriate scenario coverage, standardisation of approach, and sharing of lessons learned.
• Responsible for the identification and reporting of vulnerabilities identified from resilience testing and supporting appropriate prioritisation for their resolution.
• Responsible for Resilience Testing communication across EMEA, and where required across other regions.
• Responsible for developing maturity improvements for resilience testing by applying existing knowledge and experience or through exposure to industry best practice and peer firm insights.
• Responsible for developing and maintaining effective working relationships with key stakeholders including Service Owners, SME’s, Incident & Crisis teams to ensure good outcomes.
• Responsible for the day-to-day management of the BSM Resilience Testing team including mentoring, coaching, supporting and developing.
• Oversight and challenge to Resilience Testing team and the assets they produce and outcomes achieved

Knowledge, Skills, Experience & Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of Operational Resilience regulation in UK and EU
• Strong knowledge of Business Continuity best practice and ISO22301
• Good knowledge of Incident and Crisis Management and associated Communication
• Good knowledge of incident lifecycle and best practices to mitigate or reduce harm.
• Proficient understanding of core banking services, ideally covering both investment banking and capital markets
• Broad experience delivering a Testing capability for Operational Resilience and Business Continuity, ideally within financial institutions.
• Good experience of management and coordinating resilience testing across multiple entities or regions.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to tailor the delivery and content to the audience.
• Strong attention to detail, with the ability to navigate and challenge complex scenarios and identify areas of strength or weakness.
• Acts as an advocate for Operational Resilience and utilises best practice testing techniques to provide assurance or highlight areas for improvement.
• Strong awareness of dependency management and service mapping
• Ability to challenge stakeholders in the right way to clarify fact from perception
• Able to develop trust amongst sponsors, stakeholders and peers
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with the reality of what is proportional, appropriate and operationally viable.
• Proven facilitation skills

Challenges

• The role requires adaptability in order to work in a challenging regulatory environment, and requires a positive attitude to proactive changes
• The candidate should be able to ensure a strong and precise maintenance of the Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery Management System and Documentation System, so that the Bank may respond swiftly to unforeseen circumstances
• This role will require working in a multicultural environment and maintaining multinational relationships. The role requires proficient cultural sensitivity and patience, and positive collaboration