Apac Programme Management Office

LOCATION:

- SINGAPORE
- JOB ID:

- 157
- CATEGORIES:

- ADVISORY
- JOB TYPE:

- PERMANENT

The role

We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Programme Director with PMO expertise to join our Advisory Team at Grant Thornton Singapore. This senior leadership role drives complex transformation programmes for global and regional financial institutions across EMEA and APAC, navigating evolving regulatory frameworks (e.g., MiFID II, DORA, SEAR). You will have direct accountability for delivering critical programmes and influencing executive decision-making across multiple jurisdictions, supporting cross-border change initiatives.

This hybrid role combines hands-on project delivery with PMO leadership. You will shape and execute large-scale programmes, focusing on governance, quality assurance, change management, and embedding practical PMO frameworks across APAC and EMEA.

We are looking for a proactive, solutions-oriented leader with extensive programme management experience in financial services. You will drive PMO best practices, continuous improvement, and contribute to developing local project management talent while supporting global clients.

**Responsibilities**:

- Lead the delivery of complex, multi-stream programmes and projects across global financial institutions, with a focus on IT and business change initiatives, particularly those involving the onboarding and offboarding of services, systems, and third-party products
design, govern, and execute complex onboarding programs across multiple jurisdictions, products, and client types (including hedge funds, private equity, and institutional investors). Ten years plus experience in this area is required
- Bring global best practices in programme governance, onboarding design, and PMO excellence, to the combined EMEA & APAC Programme Team, supporting capability development and mentoring of local delivery teams
- Lead and mentor the PMO team, ensuring consistent delivery standards, quality assurance, and alignment with strategic programme goals
- Support programme management activities, including governance enhancement, change management planning, and stakeholder alignment
- Drive project governance through structured frameworks, including Programme Management Groups, Senior Steering Committees, and Executive-level reporting, ensuring transparency and accountability at all levels
- Collaborate with workstream leads, delivery managers, and senior programme directors across APAC and EMEA, aligning delivery with both client methodologies and global best practices (e.g., Agile, Waterfall, hybrid)
- Design & maintain detailed project artefacts including RAID logs, stakeholder maps, communication plans, and PMO dashboards
- Utilise enterprise project portfolio management (ePPM) tools such as Clarity to support planning, tracking, and reporting across the programme lifecycle
- Support the development and enhancement of PMO standards, tools, and templates to drive consistency and quality across engagements
- Drive growth by supporting business development initiatives, preparing proposals for complex engagements, and contributing to the firm’s strategic global delivery plan

Qualifications & skills
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Business, Economics, Finance, or related fields
- 10+ years’ experience in client onboarding, programme delivery, operations, or client service within fund administration/financial services
- Possess strong stakeholder management, programme governance, and operational experience in the fund administration or banking sector
- Professional project management certification (e.g., PMP, PRINCE2, AgilePM)
- Proven ability to deliver large-scale, cross-border projects in banking and asset management
- Strong stakeholder engagement skills with experience influencing C-suite, Steering Committees, and global leadership
- Demonstrated ability to lead teams (direct or matrixed), providing direction, mentoring, and performance oversight
- Deep knowledge of fund structures (UCITS, AIFs, hedge funds, private equity), operational workflows, AML/KYC, compliance, and regulatory requirements
- Experienced in designing and executing multi-jurisdictional onboarding programmes, aligned with MAS, MiFID II, UCITS, AIFMD, DORA, SEAR, and other regulatory frameworks
- Able to interpret and operationalise regulatory obligations across jurisdictions, integrating compliance, legal, and operations
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously under tight deadlines
- Familiar with project lifecycle methodologies (Agile, Waterfall, hybrid/client-specific) and ePPM tools (e.g., Clarity) with PMO reporting exposure
- Vendor management experience, including onboarding/offboarding, contracts, and performance tracking
- Business development, proposal writing, and client engagement experience is an advantage
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Proactive, collaborative, and