Assistant Vice President, Head of Trustee… at Manulife · Hong Kong

Assistant Vice President, Head of Trustee Transformation & Control Modernization

Location: Hong Kong

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 stakeholders, including regulators, auditors, service providers, consultants, and strategic partners where appropriate.

People Leadership

• Recruit, develop, and lead a high-performing team of transformation, technology, governance, and operational specialists;

• Foster an innovative, collaborative, accountable, and results-oriented culture;

• Develop talent pipelines and institutional knowledge in trustee operations, fiduciary governance, controls, and transformation delivery; and

• Coach team members and future leaders while promoting continuous learning and professional growth.

How Will You Create Impact?

• Create a new capability that strengthens trustee oversight, operational resilience, and the scalability of Manulife’s trust business;

• Create pragmatic and technology enabled strategies to modernize important controls and operating practices across retirement and pension administration activities;

• Improve transparency, governance, and senior management visibility over critical processes and transformation delivery;

• Support disciplined growth by ensuring that new initiatives are backed by appropriate operating model, risk, control, and governance capabilities and

• Help embed a Member-first mindset across business change, operational decision-making, and service provider oversight.

What Motivates You?

• You thrive in roles where you can build new capabilities and solve complex business problems.

• You are comfortable working with ambiguity, influencing diverse stakeholders, navigating competing priorities, and creating practical execution plans.

• You enjoy bringing teams together across business, operations, technology, risk, and compliance.

• You care about strong governance, customer and Member outcomes, and sustainable business growth.

• You bring a balance of strategic judgment, operational detail, and pragmatic delivery discipline.

What We Are Looking For

• University degree in Finance, Accounting, Law, Information Systems, or a related discipline.

• Accounting or audit backgrounds would be an advantage, as would be professional qualifications such as CPA, CFA, FRM, PMP, Lean Six Sigma, or equivalent.

• 10+ years of experience in financial services, retirement services, asset management, banking, insurance, fiduciary services, fund administration, asset servicing, or a related industry. MPF, ORSO or pension experience would be a definite asset.

• Significant experience leading large-scale transformation, operational improvement, control enhancement, or business change initiatives.

• Proven experience managing complex, cross-functional programs involving multiple senior stakeholders and competing priorities.

• Strong understanding of operational risk management, governance, internal controls, regulatory expectations, and service provider oversight in a regulated financial services environment.

• Experience preparing and presenting materials to senior executives, governance committees, boards, regulators, auditors, or assurance functions.

• Demonstrated people leadership experience, including building, developing, and leading teams.

• Excellent communication, influencing, problem-solving, and stakeholder management skills.

• Experience using technology, including AI, to increase the effectiveness of financial controls, compliance, risk management or other controls.

What Can We Offer You?

• A growth trajectory that extends upward and across a leading global financial services company.

• Flexible work policies and strong work-life balance.

• Professional development and leadership opportunities in a purpose-driven business.

• An inclusive, values-led culture that supports accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

• The opportunity to make a visible impact on governance, resilience, member outcomes, and the future operating model of a growing retirement business.

About Manulife and John Hancock

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, helping people make their decisions easier and lives better. To learn more about us, visit https://www.manulife.com/en/about/our-story.html.

Manulife is an Equal Opportunity Employer

At Manulife/John Hancock, we embrace our diversity. We strive to attract, develop and retain a workforce that is as diverse as the customers we serve and to foster an inclusive work environment that embraces the strength of cultures and individuals. We are committed to fair recruitment, retention, advancement and compensation, and we administer all of our practices and programs without discrimination on the basis of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, religion or religious beliefs, creed, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions), sexual orientation, genetic characteristics, veteran status, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, family status, disability, or any other ground protected by applicable law.

It is our priority to remove barriers to provide equal access to employment. A Human Resources representative will work with applicants who request a reasonable accommodation during the application process. All information shared during the accommodation request process will be stored and used in a manner that is consistent with applicable laws and Manulife/John Hancock policies. To request a reasonable accommodation in the application process, contact hr@manulife.com.

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