Ian Appleton Fcca Email & Phone Number

London, Gb

London, Gb

London, England, United Kingdom

As Head of Global Business Management for Retail Banking & Strategy IT, I oversaw a $600 million budget and workforce of 4,500+ FTE, leading financial governance, risk management, vendor engagement, and transformation. I restructured business management functions to align with value streams, driving operational efficiency and achieving significant cost savings.I integrated Agile methodologies to foster collaboration, streamline workflows, and boost productivity, which led to enhanced project outcomes. Additionally, I implemented strategic cost reduction initiatives that strengthened the organization’s financial health. Leading a 30-member team, I built a collaborative, high-performance culture that consistently met business objectives and delivered measurable results.

London, United Kingdom

As COO / Head of Global Business Management for Channels, Retail Business Banking, Global Standards, and Service Sustainability IT, I managed a $400 million budget and a team of 1,000+ FTE, overseeing finance, risk management, workforce, and vendor operations. I drove over $10 million in cost savings through effective financial oversight and established a strong operational framework that improved project governance, built stakeholder trust, and elevated service quality.To enhance efficiency, I introduced Kanban workflows and daily stand-ups, improving team collaboration and project visibility. I also led the launch of a cost-effective location in Poland, guiding the strategic transition, resource allocation, and capability building to optimize processes. Additionally, I developed core business management functions into a center of excellence, providing aligned, high-impact support with strong governance and service standards.

London, United Kingdom

As Global Strategic Planning and Finance Manager for Retail Banking and Wealth Management IT, I built a high-performing financial management team from the ground up, managing a $1 billion+ budget with a strong focus on planning, budgeting, and cost control. I introduced a structured financial framework with standardized processes and tools that streamlined operations and enhanced financial visibility. Additionally, I developed an Annual Operating Plan to align our financial strategy with corporate goals, ensuring effective budget management.In this role, I implemented cost management strategies that achieved significant savings and strengthened financial discipline across the organization. I also established a comprehensive reporting system to provide senior leaders with timely, actionable insights, supporting better decision-making. My efforts drove financial transparency and accountability, fostering trust and confidence with key stakeholders.

London, United Kingdom

As Global Planning and Analysis Manager for HSBC Group Legal, I enhanced financial efficiency and operational excellence across the legal function in over 60 countries, directly supporting the Group Legal COO. I implemented a comprehensive Global Accruals process to strengthen financial control and accuracy and restructured governance frameworks to meet executive requirements, leading to streamlined, efficient operations. Additionally, I created a Global Order Book management system, enabling more accurate forecasting and planning for external legal expenses.In this role, I acted as a strategic financial advisor, collaborating with Global Finance to deliver timely, insightful performance reports for the Legal CRAO. My detailed analyses of global legal expenditures uncovered cost-saving opportunities and provided data-driven insights that informed effective financial planning. This proactive approach helped maintain financial discipline and supported high-impact decision-making within the Group Legal function.

London, United Kingdom

As Senior Planning and Analysis Manager in HSBC’s Global Change Delivery team, I drove financial planning and operational improvements to support strategic change across the bank. I enhanced cost visibility by creating a vendor invoice tracker, implemented a compliant cost recovery model aligned with HSBC’s Transfer Pricing policies, and automated month-end processes to improve efficiency and control. To foster collaboration and clarity, I established monthly Financial Management Discussion meetings, which strengthened team alignment on financial goals and deliverables.In this role, I also supported quarterly forecasting and business planning, providing senior management with financial insights for data-driven decision-making. By managing budgets to ensure financial discipline and proactively addressing financial risks, I helped maximize resource utilization and safeguard financial integrity. My work with cross-functional teams promoted the seamless integration of change initiatives, contributing to the success of HSBC’s transformation projects.

London, United Kingdom

As Global Financial Controller for Asset Management & Global Banking IT, I managed a $150 million budget with a focus on financial discipline and strategic alignment. I implemented a new financial reporting system and a global budget allocation model, streamlining processes and ensuring fair resource distribution across business units. I also developed a financial dashboard for senior leadership, delivering real-time insights into financial performance, which supported faster, data-driven decisions. My commitment to cost control led to a 15% reduction in IT finance operating expenses.In this role, I led a high-performing global finance team, fostering a collaborative culture focused on accuracy and compliance. I established standardized tools and robust budgeting processes that aligned with HSBC’s standards, enhanced reporting efficiency, and improved financial integrity across the functions. This proactive approach enabled more efficient operations and provided leadership with clear financial roadmaps for strategic decision-making.

As UK Financial Controller at HSBC Asset Management, I led a major corporate restructure that ensured smooth financial integration and full regulatory compliance. By outsourcing the finance department to India, I achieved $975K in annual savings and streamlined operations. I also redesigned processes and strengthened internal controls to align financial reporting with evolving business needs, while consolidating UK accounting functions to enhance data integrity and overall financial management.In this role, I oversaw regulatory reporting, maintained FCA compliance, and introduced FSA reporting capabilities for timely and accurate submissions. My responsibilities included leading planning, forecasting, and budget control processes, implementing automated financial controls to boost accuracy, and managing financial risks as the Business Information Risk Officer. This proactive, data-driven approach optimized team efficiency and supported strategic decision-making across the department.

London, United Kingdom

Led a finance team responsible for the general ledger at Aviva Insurance Group, ensuring robust reconciliation, compliance, and accurate financial reporting. I streamlined processes, cutting ledger close time by 50% and reducing inter-company balances by 90%. Additionally, I achieved a £1 million annual saving by outsourcing finance functions to Sri Lanka, reducing the workforce by 15 employees, and implemented SOX compliance controls and process automation to enhance efficiency and accuracy in reporting and planning.

Led financial reporting and consolidation efforts across the group, ensuring accuracy and compliance with IFRS, UK GAAP, and FCA standards. I drove strategic financial planning and budgeting, supported M&A activities, and provided insights to senior leadership, while overseeing a team of accountants to maintain high standards of reporting and regulatory compliance.

Oversaw financial reporting, budgeting, and regulatory compliance for a regulated asset management business, ensuring accurate financial statements aligned with UK GAAP and IFRS standards.