Head of Product Governance - Asia

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Overall purpose of role

The Investment Platform & Product Manager, Asia will be accountable to the Global Head of ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Investment Services Platform & Product Management and the Head of Investment in Asia for the establishment and operation of the Asia Investment platform and products.

They will support the Head of Investment in Asia with the design and implementation of strategic and tactical product initiatives which ensure that best-in-class products are delivered to the right client segments and target markets in line with global ISP strategy, latest regulatory guidance and local best practices.

The role holder will also own the overarching Advisory and Suitability framework for Asia - enabling client wallet share growth in Advisory assets through the design of a compelling, client centric Advisory service.  This will be enabled by development of strong Advisory Portfolio Management capabilities across the end-to-end client service journey.  This will require expertise and co-ordination of key functions to deliver integrated solutions for these services.

The role holder is expected to be the conduit for leveraging Barclay’s global resources and capabilities, follow governance frameworks, and is expected to extensively use their internal Barclays network to efficiently coordinate and leverage group wide resources to support the Asia business to grow successfully in a controlled way.  

The role will be key to supporting and enhancing the PBWM’s investment capabilities whilst assisting in delivering key initiatives not just in Asia but globally. The role holder will be interacting on a daily basis with senior management, portfolio managers, investment specialists, distribution channels, third party vendors in addition to multiple other business units within the bank.

Key Accountabilities

• Support the Head of Investments in Asia to deliver the PBWM Singapore Investment Services Proposition Strategy. This will involve delivering a consistent, compelling and cost-effective service offering across the client continuum for Asia. Proposition includes the definition of access level to services and coverage model, pricing strategy, overall articulation of product marketing narrative.
• Delivery of Strategically Important Initiatives: Co-ordinating and driving key stakeholders on important initiatives which has impact both regionally and globally within the business.  This will involve being a Subject Matter Expert in Private Banking business drivers and processes as well as deep systems knowledge in market prevalent platforms such as Avaloq, Evooq, Edgelab, Aladdin, and Swissquant etc.
• Investments Product Development & Management: independently implement and maintain a robust framework to ensure that we distribute investment services to our clients in a compliant, efficient and sustainable way.  There are 4 key elements to achieving this objective:
  • Service Governance framework:  Designing, implementing and maintaining an industry leading Product and Sales Suitability Governance Framework for all PBWM Investment Distribution Services in Singapore.
  • Sales Process:  Ensuring our sales processes are clear and compliant with local regulation whilst maximising the capability of our Private Bankers in providing a consistent, high quality service to our clients across all investment distribution services.  Supporting automation and finding efficiencies where ever appropriate.
  • Product Structuring: Play an active role in engaging specialist support from across the Barclays Group and active development of key strategic growth projects in Asia.
  • Investments Pricing: ownership of Investment pricing governance and oversight over the pricing framework for Asia.
• Oversee the Product distribution framework of PBWM, ensuring that we are selling the right products to the right clients across segments and markets and maximising success of product sales strategy by providing Front Office teams and Investment teams with quality product sales narrative and seamless sales processes.

Purpose of the role

To develop and manage the success of specific financial products and services, providing in-depth expertise on a particular product line, bridging the gap between product development, marketing, sales, and customer service. 

Accountabilities

• Provision of SME expertise on specific products and services to customers and colleagues, including features, functionalities, benefits, limitations, risks and compliance.
• Identification of market trends, new features, regulatory requirements and potential risks, and analysis of data obtained from sales figures and, customer feedback, to support the product strategy and development process, and communicate key findings to relevant stakeholders to improve and implement new product offerings.
• Response to colleague and stakeholder inquiries, resolution of issues, and provision of guidance on product usage.  .
• Presentation of the advantages and features of the product to potential customers and stakeholders, building trust and encouraging adoption.
• Assistance with the development and execution of marketing materials for the product, such as brochures, presentations, and online content.
• Participation in and delivery of training sessions and workshops to share product knowledge and expertise with colleagues and other stakeholders.
• Participation in events, conferences, and other networking opportunities to showcase the product and generate interest.

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.