Investments & Cost Performance Analyst

Job description

Role Title: Investments & Cost Performance Analyst

Business: Finance
New or Existing Role? Existing
Grade: GCB4

Role Purpose
· Support cost performance goals and cost discipline for the bank. Achieved through the review and challenge of investments and costs submitted to the Cost & Investment Board (CIB), as part of the Group's targets around reducing Run the Bank costs, bringing tighter control to Change the Bank costs.

Role Overview
· Significant role within Group's Cost Performance Team, with the following responsibilities:
· Understand key drivers of group cost base
· Review and challenge monthly forecast results and cost goals to ensure financial control and alignment to target
· Preparation of monthly CIB pack and other ad-hoc cost-related materials
· Support the establishment of the new investment framework Group wide
· Guide programme teams in development of investment outlines/ cases
· Review and challenge outlines/cases/toll-gate pre-CIB
· Support investment portfolio monitoring
· External reporting: preparation of cost commentary for HSBC Group interim and annual reports, and to support the presentation of Group results on a quarterly basis.
· Operating in an exciting and challenging environment, the role will have opportunities to improve the way costs and investments are managed across HSBC.

CIB Overview
·
The main objective of the CIB is to manage the absolute cost base of the firm and bring it within firm-wide goals, and be seen by executive management as the sole forum to drive our cost objectives for the firm.

·
CIB has oversight for investments, monitoring of cost and FTE cap compliance, initiatives aimed at the cost base (eg. blueprint refresh, contractor cost review & other cost opportunities).

Key Accountabilities

Impact on Business

·
Support management of the absolute cost base of the bank

·
Support alignment of the CIB submissions with the AOP

·
Support control of investment outlines and investment cases as submitted by the programme teams

·
Scrutiny of programme costs and recommendation on suitable tool-gate for programmes

·
Management of other initiatives aimed at the cost base

· Supporting a quality investment framework process which drives down HSBC overall costs


Customers / Stakeholders

·
Build and ensure strong relationships with Cost Performance and Investments team and their other direct reports, adopting a joined up approach, to execute change at pace with minimum conflict.

·
Analyse stakeholder goals and effectively manage their expectations, addressing any misalignment.

·
Maintain contact with customer, suppliers etc. to identify and communicate status, progress, risks and issues.

· Support the management and negotiation of policy decisions and business solutions so that key stakeholders are accepting and bought into decisions that optimise effectiveness for HSBC.


Leadership & Teamwork

· Adhere to the high performance culture through strong leadership and effective people management.
· Use leadership skills to influence a distributed set of stakeholders in order to engage them in the common goals of the programme.

Operational Effectiveness & Control

·
Identify and implement opportunities for cost reductions to the CIB.

·
Compliance with external regulatory requirements, internal control standards and group compliance policy.

· Timely implementation of recommendations made by internal/external auditors and external regulators.

Major Challenges
·
The Global Businesses continue to operate in an environment where costs are heavily scrutinised, and have challenging Investments targets. The jobholder will need to be a strong advocate for ‘doing the right thing' and show courageous integrity.

· The jobholder will depend on a distributed network of professionals to help them be successful. The jobholder will need to build positive working relationships founded on trust and respect.

Role Context
·
The job holder will be required to ask and answer difficult questions with the aim of supporting Cost Performance and Investments gain the information required to make strategic decisions and attend senior executive briefings.

· It will require gravitas, influencing skills across a broad range of stakeholders, determined pursuit of accountable owners to ensure delivery of agreed actions, policy implementation and effective decision making support.

Role Dimensions
·
The role has significant breadth of oversight.

· HSBC's Operating Expense base is in the region of US $35 - 40bn per annum.

Management of Risk
·
The jobholder will continually reassess the operational risks associated with the role and inherent in the business, taking account of changing economic or market conditions, legal and regulatory requirements, operating procedures and practices, management restructurings, and the impact of new technology.

·
This will be achieved by ensuring all actions take account of the likelihood of operational risk occurring.

· Also by addressing any areas of concern in conjunction with line management and/or the appropriate department.

Observation of Internal Controls

· The jobholder will also adhere to and be able to demonstrate adherence to internal controls. This will be achieved by following 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.
· The jobholder will implement the Group compliance policy by following all relevant processes/procedures and by liaising with the Head of Cost Management/Compliance department about new business initiatives at the earliest opportunity. Also by ensuring adequate resources are in place and training is provided, fostering a compliance culture.

Desired profile

Qualifications :

Knowledge & Experience / Qualifications

· 
Understanding of the role of Cost Performance and the CIB to the strategic development of the Group

· 
HSBC finance systems detailed knowledge of the financial processes used across the Group an advantage

·  Professional accountancy qualification with a thorough understanding of management accounting, in particular planning and budgeting processes
·  10 years accounting and/or Finance experience.
·  Experience in managing, controlling and policing financials either across a region or business.
·  Influencing skills across a broad range of stakeholders, tenacious pursuit of accountable owners to ensure delivery of agreed actions, policy implementation and effective decision making support.
· 
Comfortable in briefing stakeholders on sensitive and emotive topics.

· 
Able to increase accountability and effectiveness of decision-making

· 
Very adept at promoting high standards in group cost control and investment approval standards

· 
Ambitious about providing the highest standards of delivery and embedding them in the team.

· 
Setting high goals for self and team and delivering them with courage and tenacity.

· 
Making considered decisions that protect and enhance HSBC values, reputation and business.

· 
Innovative, creative and comfortable working with considerable autonomy.

· 
Able to deliver creative solutions, displaying sound judgement to determine the most appropriate action in unfamiliar situations.

· 
Strong customer service ethos and high energy levels to be effective in a pressured environment.

· 
Exceptionally numerate, highly analytical, articulate, lateral thinker.

As a business operating in markets all around the world, we believe diversity brings benefits for our customers, our business and our people. This is why HSBC is committed to being an inclusive employer and encourages applications from all suitably qualified applicants irrespective of background, circumstances, age, disability, gender identity, ethnicity, religion or belief and sexual orientation.

We want everyone to be able to fulfil their potential which is why we provide a range of flexible working arrangements and family friendly policies.

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