Strategic Planning Manager

About the Role

We're a B2B AI-native tech company helping financial institutions streamline their Know-Your-Business (KYB) compliance and counterparty due diligence process. Our team is small, the ownership is real, and we're looking for someone who's serious about building a career at the intersection of financial technology. You'll work directly with financial institutions in a growing fintech company. Our structure is flat and international - you'll have the opportunity to be exposed to cutting edge technologies and global companies.

Key Responsibilities

Business & Financial Operations

● Own end-to-end payment operations, including review of workflows for vendor and partner payments, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and audit-readiness.

● Design and maintain internal controls and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for finance and administrative workflows, reducing operational risk in a lean-team environment.

● Monitor payment cycles and vendor/client account reconciliation, escalating discrepancies and process gaps to leadership.

● Experience developing process flows, operations manuals, and key controls for a SaaS company to obtain industry standard certifications.

Project & Process Management

● Lead cross-functional projects spanning operations, HR, and finance, translating COO priorities into structured project plans, timelines, and deliverables.

● Establish lightweight, scalable project governance (tracking, reporting cadence, milestone reviews) suited to a lean organization. Coordinate across different systems to provide visibility to senior management on the status, risks, and issues of a project portfolio.

● Coordinate across internal stakeholders and external vendors/partners to ensure on-time execution of key initiatives.

Regional Market Development

● Track European fintech market dynamics (regulatory shifts, competitive landscape, partnership models) to inform the company's broader international positioning and expansion plans.

● Liaise directly with Mandarin-speaking partners, counterparts, and prospective clients in Greater China, serving as a bilingual bridge to the Singapore office.

● Support the company's expansion into Hong Kong and Taiwan and other key markets in Asia through market, competitor, and regulatory research that informs go-to-market planning.

HR Operations

● Support core HR operations including onboarding, employee records management, policy administration, and coordination of HR-related vendors.

● Maintain HR process documentation to support the company's scaling headcount needs.

Requirements

● Master of Business Administration (MBA) or Master’s degree in Business, or a related discipline strongly preferred.

● Prior experience in Big 4 accounting/consulting firms (e.g., Risk Assurance, Financial Advisory, Management Consulting) or direct experience within the FinTech/Technology sectors is highly advantageous.

● Native or professional fluency in both English and Mandarin (written and spoken) is required to effectively lead direct engagements with Greater China partners, manage cross-border stakeholders, and interpret regional market intelligence.

● Working knowledge of, or strong interest in, European market and regulatory dynamics relevant to fintech/financial services.

● Demonstrated ability to manage financial/payment processes with a high degree of accuracy and integrity.

● Strong project management skills, with the ability to build processes and structure in an environment with limited existing infrastructure.

● High ownership mentality; comfortable operating with limited guidance across multiple functions simultaneously.

● Support core HR operations, including onboarding, employee records management, and policy administration.

● Proven track record in managing cross-border financial and payment operational workflows with strict accuracy, integrity, and internal governance.

● Demonstrated success in establishing operational frameworks, project governance, and scalable processes in structured or fast-evolving business environments.

● Take ownership of ad hoc initiatives as directed by the COO, reflecting the shifting priorities typical of an early-stage, lean organization.

● Deep domain familiarity and hands-on exposure to East Asian commercial landscapes, specifically Hong Kong and Taiwan, to drive market growth and regional initiatives.