View Vacancy - CPK - Head of Banking and Capital Markets, C4

This is a dynamic role for an exceptional individual to be the Head of Banking and Capital Markets to help to advance the trade and investment ambitions articulated in the Department for International Trade (DIT) Regional Trade Plan for the China and Hong Kong region, which are:

Objective 1 - Driving and inspiring UK exports to China, significantly increasing the UK market share of China's goods imports, and more than double the value of UK services exports.

Objective 2 – Consistent trade policy engagement with China to achieve incremental market access, mitigate business risk and prepare for future trade deals

Objective 3 - Broadening and deepening the UK-China investment partnership, positioning the UK as the top European destination for Chinese investment and providing strong support for UK investors.

The Department for International Trade (DIT) was established by the Prime Minister in July 2016 to integrate and elevate the Trade agenda; help secure a better deal for the UK as it negotiates a successful exit from the EU; and, establish new relationships with other countries around the globe. DIT promotes British trade across the world and ensures the UK takes advantage of the huge opportunities open to us, securing and improving the economic well-being and stability of the UK, and helping to create tens of thousands of jobs every year.

Led by Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for China and Hong Kong we are one of nine global regions and part of an overseas network that operates in 108 countries. The largest DIT overseas network in the world, with 200 staff across six posts - the British Embassy in Beijing, plus Consulates in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing and Wuhan – DIT, as part of the One HMG network in China and Hong Kong, offers a fast-paced place to work at the heart of UK: China Government relations.

Detail:

This is a fascinating job in an energetic, fun, cross-China team comprising roughly half British and half Chinese staff.

Reporting to the First Secretary for Financial and Professional Services DIT in Beijing, the job holder will be required to support engagement with firms in the banking and capital markets sectors in both Beijing and the UK, international representative bodies, and leading analysts in the field. In this task you will work closely with the DIT banking and capital markets team based in Shanghai.

In this role you will need to be able to build a strong network of contacts and good relationships with working level commercial and government relationship contacts in the banking sector and with officials in the Chinese government and regulators. You will then need to be able to leverage those networks to achieve quantifiable commercial outcomes, ensuring bilateral investment is promoted and secured through: identifying commercial opportunities to deepen bilateral banking and capital markets relationships; deliver strategic initiatives to develop deepen capital market connections between both countries; arranging meetings with the regulators for senior visitors and Embassy officials; leading on developing visit programmes for senior visitors; and supporting bilateral workshops, conferences and other events that seek to further bilateral trade.

The postholder needs to build on a strong understanding of issues affecting the banking and capital markets sector in China and be able to communicate this to a British audience, and be able to articulate what this means for UK business interests. As such, you will be expected to lead on ministerial briefing, drafting sectoral updates on China’s banking and capital markets and take forward discrete special reports on specific topics of interest in the Chinese banking and capital markets sector.

The postholder will play a pivotal role in supporting UK firms to increase their exports to China and securing inward investment to the UK from Chinese firms. You will need to be able to demonstrate an understanding of the opportunities and challenges for the banking and capital markets sector in China, and how the UK can best share expertise to influence policy and support the Chinese government to develop an open, efficient and sustainable financial system.

Strong written and oral English and Chinese skills are essential.

Roles and responsibilities:

Stakeholder management and ensuring commercial outcomes (65%):

The postholder will establish, develop and maintain a network of key contacts in the Chinese and British banking and capital markets sectors, helping firms in both countries deliver quantifiable commercial outcomes. They will also be instrumental in supporting initiatives to promote liberalisation of China’s financial services market to help increase UK financial services exports to China and encourage Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from Chinese firms into the UK.

Sectoral analysis ( 20%):

Accurate, timely and well-written reporting (in English) on developments in banking and capital markets in China, as well as delivering verbal briefings (in English) to visiting UK ministers and business leaders. Customers for this analysis include UK business, internal DIT stakeholders and key partners in HM Treasury, the Bank of England, the Foreign Office and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Inward visits and Events (10%):

Leading on and delivering successful visits to Beijing by UK government ministers, senior officials and business delegations related to banking and capital markets and the wider financial services industry. To do this you must be able to develop a strong network of contacts within the Chinese commercial sector, government and other organisations such as think tanks, universities, and international organisations in Beijing.  You will be expected to operate with considerable autonomy.

For the highest-level visits (including the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Prime Minister), you will support more senior members of the team.  This requires a willingness to get stuck-in and support the wider team during particularly busy periods.

Corporate Contribution (5%):

Play an active role in embedding the ‘DIT Spirit’ by identifying and progressing opportunities to promote the department’s values of being Expert, Engaged, Enterprising and Inclusive. Build capacity and share expertise with colleagues across the network.

The job-holder will be expected to interact directly with seniors including the Ambassador, UK diplomats across China and government officials in the UK and China, as well as key contacts in financial services 

As such, previous experience of communicating clearly and concisely in English is essential, including the ability to explain technical terms and processes to a non-technical audience.  

Applicants should have a strong understanding of the economy of China, and in particular policy and/or commercial understanding of recent developments in China’s banking and capital markets.