Overview of Citi Planning Transformation Initiative

As part of Citi’s Finance Transformation effort, the Planning Initiative is responsible for implementing a defined, integrated, agile, well-controlled, and governed end-to-end integrated forecasting approach that drives effective decision making, informs effective management of the firm’s resources, supports our firm wide culture and strategic priorities, and is fully integrated with strategic risk appetite, risk processes, and capital planning. The Planning Initiative will focus on building Core Forecasting processes to enable central decision making and advancing the existing forecasting capabilities through automation, improved governance and enhanced controls. The activities are focused on all scenarios across the stress continuum, ranging from business as usual business planning to stress environments, including CCAR/DFAST, Recovery and Resolution. The Planning Initiative comprises seven key projects: (i) Process Design and Simplification, (ii) Models, (iii) Governance, (iv) Data, (v) Calculation Controls, (vi) Technology and (vii) Organization and Resourcing.

This is an excellent opportunity for a senior results oriented individual to join the Global FP&A GPO / Planning Transformation team based in Mumbai and drive transformation efforts for FP&A and Finance globally.  The GPO / Transformation team is responsible for driving large scale global transformation programs to enhance Citi’s planning and analysis capabilities enabling agile decision making by Citi leadership team.  The Transformation programs cover business planning / forecasting process and forecasting models transformation, short term performance management processes, Digital and Data Transformation and Future state Forecasting Infrastructure build / roll-out.  The Transformation team works closely with Citi CFO, Global FP&A heads, Business CFOs, Planning Transformation head and Finance Function heads to structure and drive these programs.

Job summary:

Citi is looking for a senior leader with well-rounded knowledge and experience in Business & Financial Planning, Re-engineering programs, Process improvement frameworks to drive transformation of Citi’s forecasting processes towards the end state vision.  Planning Process Design and Simplification role will be part of the Planning Initiative within the Transformation team.

The current opening is a part of an overall team based out of Mumbai and the individual will assist in developing and designing controls for the quarterly forecasting process along with the enterprise-wide stress tests. This role will require partnership with Finance Senior Leaders across Citi to drive end-to-end process transformation of the forward looking forecasting processes, with a focus on established objectives of process quality, efficiency and simplification while addressing needs of all the key internal consumers of the forecasts and adhering to all governance and control requirements.

In addition, they will participate in End-to End process analysis to identify control points and hand-offs for current key processes and to identify enhancement opportunities for controls.  This role will help define the resource requirements to stand up the Controls Function for the quarterly forecasting processes, including definition of skill sets required in addition to foundational Internal Controls skillsets (control standards, assurance, monitoring) and the location strategy for each activity.   This role will also define tools to be used by Controls Function for its processes.   This team will review and discuss current state controls with control stakeholders and owners to identify key performance indicators that are in place.  This team will develop plan to implement enhanced monitoring standards and reporting and will define key control indicators and reports for monitoring controls centrally for quarterly, multi-year forecasts

Further, they will need to ensure that the initiative milestones are executed in an efficient, effective, and controlled manner.  This role will work on initiatives that will provide a unique opportunity to gain a broad understanding of many key facets of Citi’s integrated planning process and stress continuum.  Additionally, the individual will need to coordinate further assimilation and understanding of their output with the other project workstreams.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead a small sized team in Mumbai to drive identification and development of controls and governance for Citigroup’s forecasting processes
• Overall program management of the multiple high visibility global process transformation efforts including strong governance / tracking of program execution partnering with key stakeholders
• Participate in process design workshops and identify key control points required to ensure process integrity and quality of outcomes
• Determine and define required controls in line with relevant Citi Risk and control policies
• Coordinate with GFT and infrastructure transformation (UI/ workflow, reporting and analytics) and process design teams to automate controls as much as possible
• Partner with all relevant stakeholders and ensure awareness and alignment with the risk and controls requirements for the forecasting process
• Partner with other Agile Planning workstreams (Data, Infrastructure/Tech, Models, Reporting & Analytics, UI/Workflow, etc.) to align efforts and program milestones required to achieve process transformation objectives
• On ongoing basis, continue to review established controls, it’s effectiveness and make improvements as required
• Establish control dashboard outlining key metrics required to measure effectiveness of controls and capability to highlight lack of adherence to controls in a live process
• Structure and execute on global process re-engineering to identity and implement tangible and measurable process improvements without impacting quality of outcomes
• Program management of programs and ensuring partnership and accountability  with all stakeholders
• Work in a cross functional collaborative team environment with an intense focus on impactful tangible outcomes
• Maintain focus on risk and controls while implementing process improvements and drive automation of controls for all planning processes
• Leverage process design workshops to identify key control points required to ensure process integrity and quality of outcomes
• Design process controls in partnership with the sub-process owners and drive automation of controls for all planning processes
• Determine and define required controls in line with relevant Citi Risk and control policies
• Work in a cross functional collaborative team environment with an intense focus on impactful tangible outcomes
• Partner with Digital Transformation teams to incorporate and integrate digital tools into the forecasting processes

Requirements:

• 12+ years work experience with significant part of that focused on driving large scale transformation efforts, Process Re-engg programs, Financial Planning and Budgeting leadership experience, preferably with global exposure, in Financial Services / Banks 
• MBA in Finance from a top tier institution and a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics, Information Systems, Economics, Computer Science, Engineering, Finance or a related quantitative discipline preferred
• Experience interacting with senior management on building consensus for contentious topics
• Experience establishing tracking of KPIs for processes and showing ongoing improvement
• Experience working in FP&A or related to business and operational planning and budgeting 
• Strong executive presence and experience running senior level workshops
• Expert knowledge and experience in storyboarding and creating compelling presentations along with strong written and verbal communication skills
• Expert knowledge of ongoing best practices related to controls for financial and capital planning processes and other risk and controls requirements relevant for global financial services industry
• Experience establishing tracking of KPIs for processes and showing ongoing improvement
• Past experience in managing and running global financial planning processes with a focus on process efficiency, continuous improvement and process performance analytics
• Past experience playing leadership role in driving programs in a matrix environment 
• Experience in process re-engg programs with strong knowledge of process improvement frameworks (like Lean)
• Knowledge of risk and control frameworks and knowledge of best practices to implement controls 
• Knowledge of digital tools incl visualization, AI, Machine learning a plus 
• Experience of partnership with multiple workstreams to drive acceptance and adoption of agreed process changes
• Knowledge of Agile methodology and experience in projects preferred
• Experience in process mapping using tools like Blue Works preferred
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills and track record of leading diverse teams
• Proficient in Microsoft office suite of products, including expertise in Excel and PowerPoint.