Assistant Vice President, Head of Trustee Transformation & Control Modernization at Manulife in Hong Kong

Job description

Manulife Provident Funds Trust Company Limited (“MPFTC” or “the Trustee) is the trustee for the largest (by AUM) MPF scheme in Hong Kong. The Trustee is seeking an experienced and forward-thinking leader to establish and lead a Trustee Transformation & Control Modernization function within our retirement business, so as to prepare for future growth and to ensure the most robust controls and safeguards for our 2.1 million Members. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, this role will be responsible for driving strategic transformation initiatives, modernizing the trustee control environment, strengthening operational oversight frameworks, and enhancing governance capabilities across retirement and pension operations. The successful candidate will combine deep expertise in financial services operations, risk and controls, and large-scale business change delivery. They will play a critical leadership role in supporting business growth, regulatory readiness, operational resilience, and Member-focused outcomes. This role is ideal for an individual who enjoys building new capabilities, leading cross-functional initiatives, strategic influencing, and operating at the intersection of governance, operations, technology, risk, and business strategy. Responsibilities Transformation Leadership Establish and lead a newly formed Trustee Transformation & Control Modernization team; Develop and execute a multi-year transformation roadmap aligned with strategic business objectives and fiduciary responsibilities; Lead complex business transformation initiatives involving operating model redesign, outsourcing/insourcing, data migrations, service delivery enhancements, process re-engineering, technology enablement, and organizational change; Provide senior leadership oversight for major business integration, migration, outsourcing, insourcing, and operational efficiency initiatives; and Act as a trusted advisor to senior management on transformation priorities, execution risks, and change management strategies. Control Modernization & Operational Oversight Assess and enhance end-to-end operational control frameworks across retirement and pension administration activities, including with respect to scheme accounting and financial controls; Drive continuous improvement of key operational processes through automation, standardization, control optimization, and clearer management accountability; Establish monitoring frameworks, governance mechanisms, and management information to support effective oversight of critical operational activities; Partner with operational, technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) teams to identify control gaps, remediation opportunities, and emerging risks; and Promote a culture of accountability, risk awareness, operational discipline, and member-focused outcomes. Governance and Risk Management Work in partnership with the Trustee Services, Compliance, Risk, Operations, Technology, Sales and Finance teams to: strengthen governance practices supporting fiduciary and Trustee responsibilities in a regulated financial services environment; support the design and implementation of governance frameworks, policies, standards, and oversight processes; address audit findings, regulatory observations, control remediation programs, and process improvement plans; design and implement key risk-focused KPIs to inform senior leaders about emerging risks and trends. Stakeholder Management Build strong partnerships across operations, technology, risk, compliance, finance, investment, product, legal, and distribution teams; Influence stakeholders across multiple business units to achieve strategic outcomes and drive accountability without relying solely on direct reporting lines; Employing outstanding strategic influencing skills, coordinate large, cross-functional working groups involved in transformation, modernization, control enhancement, and operational readiness initiatives; and Support interactions with internal and external