Our client is a globally recognized investment management firm with a strong heritage of delivering long-term value to clients. With an international footprint and a collaborative, forward-thinking culture, the organization is focused on driving sustainable growth through innovation, operational excellence, and strategic execution. Teams work closely across regions and functions to deliver impactful initiatives that enhance both client outcomes and business performance.

 About the Role

The Business Services Manager / Senior Manager is a key role within the Japan-based team, responsible for delivering strategic initiatives that support business growth and operational effectiveness. Reporting to the Head of Business Services, Japan, this position plays an integral role in executing the local distribution strategy while also contributing to selected regional and global projects.

The role requires close collaboration with Sales, Marketing, and other business functions to identify challenges, develop solutions, and implement improvements. It is well-suited to a candidate who combines strong analytical capabilities with execution skills and thrives in a dynamic, cross-functional environment.

• Lead the end-to-end delivery of strategic initiatives, ensuring projects are completed on time, within scope, and within budget.
• Partner with stakeholders across business functions including investments, distribution, operations, technology, risk, and compliance to define and achieve objectives.
• Translate business requirements into clear functional specifications, process enhancements, and operating model improvements.
• Analyse current processes and business challenges, identifying gaps and recommending practical, value-driven solutions.
• Develop business cases, management information, and analytical insights to support prioritisation and decision-making.
• Support and oversee selected regional or global initiatives, ensuring alignment with local business priorities.
• Communicate effectively with senior stakeholders, providing clear updates and escalating risks or issues where necessary.
• Contribute to change management efforts to ensure successful implementation and adoption of new initiatives.
• Participate in cross-functional programmes, representing business priorities and ensuring alignment across teams.

• Experience within the asset management or broader financial services industry in Japan.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a structured and logical approach to complex challenges.
• Proven experience in managing or supporting strategic projects and change initiatives.
• Ability to translate business needs into actionable plans and deliver measurable outcomes.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to influence across functions and seniority levels.
• Self-motivated and proactive, with the ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities under tight timelines.
• Collaborative mindset with a strong focus on delivering results.
• Interest in leveraging emerging technologies, including AI, to improve business processes and outcomes.
• Proficiency in standard business tools and applications.
• Fluency in both Japanese and English is essential; additional languages are a plus.

This is an excellent opportunity to join a high-impact team at the center of strategic execution within a leading global organization. The role offers exposure to senior stakeholders, involvement in meaningful transformation initiatives, and the chance to work across local, regional, and global projects.

You will gain hands-on experience in driving business change, enhancing operational effectiveness, and contributing directly to growth initiatives in a key market. For candidates seeking a blend of strategy and execution within a collaborative, international environment, this role provides strong career development potential and visibility.