Role Purpose
The Head of Business Planning for Payments & Unsecured Lending leads
strategy articulation, financial planning, performance management, and business governance for DBS Singapore's Payments (Cards, PayLah!, Digital Payments, Merchant Acquiring, Remit) and Unsecured Lending (Credit Cards, Personal Loans, BNPL‑type offerings) portfolios.
The role partners senior stakeholders across
Product, Risk, Finance, Technology, Operations, Analytics, and Distribution to drive
sustainable growth, superior customer outcomes, strong risk discipline, and regulatory compliance, in line with DBS's aspiration to be the
Best Bank for a Better World.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Planning & Business Direction
- Lead annual planning, rolling forecasts, and multi‑year strategy for Payments and Unsecured Lending businesses in Singapore
- Translate DBS Group and CBG strategy into clear business priorities, financial targets, and execution roadmaps
- Support strategic initiatives including:
- Card and payment ecosystem growth
- Customer engagement and usage‑led monetisation
- Digital payments and PayLah! ecosystem expansion
- Sustainable and responsible lending strategies
- Conduct ongoing market, competitor, and regulatory landscape assessments
- Financial & Performance Management
- Own P&L planning, budgeting, forecasting, and cost discipline across Payments and Unsecured Lending
- Track and manage key financial drivers:
- Fee and interchange income
- Interest income and net interest margin
- Credit cost, delinquency, and portfolio quality
- Rewards, marketing, and operating expenses
- Lead monthly and quarterly performance reviews, highlighting insights, risks, and recommended actions
- Support business cases and ROI assessment for investment and transformation initiatives
- Business Insights & Analytics
- Establish a robust management information and insights framework
- Translate data into actionable insights across:
- Customer acquisition, activation, and usage
- Spend, payment behaviour, and merchant penetration
- Credit limits, utilisation, and loss drivers
- Lifetime value and segment profitability
- Partner Analytics and Data teams to strengthen data‑led decision‑making
- Risk, Governance & Regulatory Alignment
- Partner closely with Credit Risk, Compliance, Legal, and Finance to ensure:
- Strong credit discipline and portfolio health
- Compliance with MAS regulations (e.g. unsecured credit framework, fair dealing, responsible lending)
- Robust product and pricing governance
- Prepare materials for Senior Management, Product Approval Committees, and regulatory discussions
- Ensure planning processes meet DBS standards for auditability, transparency, and control
- Execution & Transformation Enablement
- Drive strong execution cadence across initiatives and remediation actions
- Support DBS's digital and operational transformation priorities, including:
- Process automation and simplification
- Digital onboarding and servicing
- Cost productivity and scalability
- Act as a connective role to remove execution bottlenecks across functions
- People & Culture
- Lead and develop a high‑performing business planning and insights team
- Embed DBS values of PRIDE! (Purpose‑driven, Relationship‑led, Innovative, Decisive, Everything Fun!)
- Foster a culture of ownership, collaboration, and data‑driven accountability
Key Stakeholders
- Internal: CBG Payments & Unsecured Lending leadership, Risk Management Group, Finance, Technology, Operations, Analytics, Marketing, Distribution
- External (as required): Industry partners, vendors, regulators
Experience
Required Skills & Experience
- 15+ years of experience in banking, payments, or consumer finance
- Strong background in business planning, strategy, finance, or portfolio management
- Proven exposure to Payments and/or Unsecured Lending businesses
- Experience operating in a Singapore consumer banking and MAS regulatory environment
Skills & Competencies
- Strong commercial and financial acumen
- Deep understanding of consumer payments and unsecured lending economics
- Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills
- Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and storytelling capabilities
- Ability to balance growth, customer outcomes, risk, and governance
Education
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Economics, or related discipline
- MBA or professional qualification (CFA, CPA) preferred
Reporting Line & Seniority
- Senior leadership role within DBS CBG Singapore
- Reports to SG Head of Payments and Unsecured Lending
Location:
DBS Asia Central
Job:
COO Office/Business Mgt & Support
Schedule:
Regular
Employee Status:
Full time
