Head of Front Office Systems Technology
New York, NY, US, 10172
SMBC Group is a top-tier global financial group. Headquartered in Tokyo and with a 400-year history, SMBC Group offers a diverse range of financial services, including banking, leasing, securities, credit cards, and consumer finance. The Group has more than 130 offices and 80,000 employees worldwide in nearly 40 countries. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. (SMFG) is the holding company of SMBC Group, which is one of the three largest banking groups in Japan. SMFG’s shares trade on the Tokyo, Nagoya, and New York (NYSE: SMFG) stock exchanges.
In the Americas, SMBC Group has a presence in the US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Peru. Backed by the capital strength of SMBC Group and the value of its relationships in Asia, the Group offers a range of commercial and investment banking services to its corporate, institutional, and municipal clients. It connects a diverse client base to local markets and the organization’s extensive global network. The Group’s operating companies in the Americas include Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. (SMBC), SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc., SMBC Capital Markets, Inc., SMBC MANUBANK, JRI America, Inc., SMBC Leasing and Finance, Inc., Banco Sumitomo Mitsui Brasileiro S.A., and Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing Co., Ltd.
The anticipated salary range for this role is between $228,000.00 and $265,000.00. The specific salary offered to an applicant will be based on their individual qualifications, experiences, and an analysis of the current compensation paid in their geography and the market for similar roles at the time of hire. The role may also be eligible for an annual discretionary incentive award. In addition to cash compensation, SMBC offers a competitive portfolio of benefits to its employees.
Role Description
We are seeking an experienced and visionary Head of FICC Technology to lead the development and delivery of technology solutions for our Fixed Income, Currencies, and Commodities (FICC) business. This role is critical in enabling efficient trading, risk management, and operational workflows across our global markets platform.
Role Objectives
• Develop and execute a comprehensive technology strategy for the FICC business aligned with the bank’s commercial and regulatory objectives.
• Oversee the design, development, and maintenance of trading, pricing, risk, and post-trade applications.
• Ensure systems are scalable, resilient, and compliant with industry standards and regulations.
• Champion modernization initiatives across platforms and practices.
• Build, mentor, and manage a high-performing team of software engineers, architects, and technical leads.
• Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Demonstrate leadership that emphasizes collaboration, transparency, accountability, and clear communication.
• Drive talent development and succession planning across the FICC technology organization.
• Lead the development of front-office and middle-office applications including trade capture, pricing engines, risk analytics, and market data integration.
• Ensure timely and high-quality delivery of technology solutions to meet evolving business needs.
• Promote best practices in software engineering, including modular architecture, automated testing, and performance optimization.
• Provide technical oversight and guidance on Java-based application development.
• Collaborate with infrastructure and middleware teams to ensure seamless integration and optimal performance of FICC platforms.
• Drive modernization efforts including cloud adoption, containerization, and microservices architecture.
• Ensure high availability and low latency of trading systems.
• Build strong relationships with FICC business leaders, peers across technology, and enterprise partners to drive alignment and progress.
• Partner with risk, compliance, and operations to understand priorities and deliver impactful solutions.
• Act as a liaison between technology and business stakeholders to ensure alignment and effective communication.
• Manage relationships with external vendors and technology partners.
• Stay abreast of industry trends in electronic trading, data analytics, and regulatory technology.
• Drive innovation by exploring new tools, technologies, and methodologies to enhance FICC capabilities.
• Lead initiatives to improve system performance, reduce operational risk, and enhance user experience.
• Apply SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework) principles to improve delivery efficiency and cross-team collaboration.
Qualifications and Skills
• 15+ years of experience in technology leadership roles, with deep expertise in FICC systems.
• Proven track record of delivering complex technology solutions in a global markets environment.
• Strong understanding of trading workflows, market data, risk management, and regulatory requirements.
• Hands-on experience with Java and related technologies in enterprise-scale systems.
• Familiarity with SAFe or other scaled agile methodologies.
• Deep knowledge of pricing, PnL, and FICC products such as CAPS, Index TRS, and other structured instruments.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to build strong relationships across business, technology, and enterprise functions to drive transformation and modernization.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field; Master’s degree preferred.
Additional Requirements
SMBC’s employees participate in a Hybrid workforce model that provides employees with an opportunity to work from home, as well as, from an SMBC office. SMBC requires that employees live within a reasonable commuting distance of their office location. Prospective candidates will learn more about their specific hybrid work schedule during their interview process. Hybrid work may not be permitted for certain roles, including, for example, certain FINRA-registered roles for which in-office attendance for the entire workweek is required.
SMBC provides reasonable accommodations during candidacy for applicants with disabilities consistent with applicable federal, state, and local law. If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application process, please let us know at accommodations@smbcgroup.com.
Nearest Major Market: New York City