Assistant Vice President, Group Distribution Strategy & Governance

About FWD Group

FWD Group is a pan-Asian life insurance business with more than 13 million customers across 10 markets, including some of the fastest-growing insurance markets in the world. The company was established in 2013 and is focused on changing the way people feel about insurance. FWD's customer-led and digitally enabled approach aims to deliver innovative propositions, easy-to-understand products and a simpler insurance experience.

For more information, please visit www.fwd.com

CONTEXT

• Manage all governance-related requirements under GCDPO
• Evaluate the effectiveness of distribution financial (of the acquired channel/ portfolio and deep dive analysis to provide insights on channel / proposition performance and emerging risks etc. for timely intervention for improvement
• Provide support across the Group to grow profitably whilst optimising value, activation and productivity.

PURPOSE

• Be an effective support to the entire Group and contributor to the strategy and review of new business development metrics and manage co-ordination with internal and external stakeholders to achieve company's financial goals.
• Support GCDSGO in ensuring appropriate distribution governance is in place.
• Provide leadership, guidance and coaching to BUs and Group teams and improve sales quality and effectiveness.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Performance management support to GCDPO

• Be the main contact point for various GO functions including Product, Finance and Actuarial for all governance related matters.
• Oversee the financial management functions, regular deep dive insights to GEC/GCDPO on areas for improvement related to Persistency, Expenses and Claims, as well as sales effectiveness and quality management.
• Leading performance benchmark improvement covering financials metrics and resolving challenges through multi-functional co-ordination.
• Undertaking any other relevant analysis, as requested/required to support/drive senior management decision making.
• Engage and provide guidance to BUs to enhance appropriate financial controls are in place including strong focus expansion investment optimization (effectiveness of inorganic programs, driving organic growth etc).
• Lead the discussions around financial matters to unravel additional insights to gain deeper understanding of our business and remedial actions to address pain points.
• Provide periodic executive management and board updates, analyses, and/or data visualisation that answer the problem within designated markets.
• Stay abreast of relevant financial and corporate governance developments including areas effectiveness of compensation structure in driving desired proposition mix; and update GCDPO for timely intervention.

Governance

• Manage and facilitate all governance related approvals across the Group
• Provide direction and guidance to business units in collaboration with channel chiefs to improve overall channel design and risk score performance.

QUALIFICATIONS / EXPERIENCE

• Professional qualification in Actuarial Science or related discipline
• Considerable experience (15 years) working in and/or for a listed company (preferably in Hong Kong or Singapore) - knowledgeable in driving financial calendar communication needs
• Demonstrable evidence of developing and delivering plans, both internal and external, which build profile and influence
• Significant experience of leading BU distribution teams, channel management of business functions of similar size and complexity, preferably in multiple Asian countries in a fast-moving environment, with constructive working relationships relevant stakeholders.

KNOWLEDGE & TECHNICAL SKILLS

• Strong relationship management skills including working well with peers, juniors, customers and senior management
• Strategic orientation with keen customer focus
• Excellent quantitative skills and familiarity with insurance digitisation products and processes
• Demonstrated capabilities in dealing with different people from different cultures
• Good knowledge of Insurance business and insurance market in Asia
• Knowledge of business plans and operating models. Strong financial services market knowledge, with particular emphasis on financial management, sales, distribution management and proposition design.
• Wide knowledge of industry issues including economic and regulatory influences.
• Strong analytical capabilities and aptitude to distil and interpret key facts and actions required