LESLEY LOOK

Supports IFRS17 Programme Director and Head of Business Finance as finance business partner and strategic advisor.

• Spearheaded financial close-out of USD 160M IFRS17 programme, ensuring full compliance with governance requirements.
• Collaborated with cross-functional finance teams to present monthly insurance business insights and cost drivers to Group Exco and regional stakeholders.
• Developed business case and funding rationale for post-IFRS17 transformation phase (automation & process improvement).

Supports the Projects Execution and Governance team by managing project finance and analysing project data to improve delivery efficiency

• Developed financial models and metrics to support vendor migration business case; presented to executive team.
• Partnered with project governance teams to ensure finance requirements were embedded in project planning.

Led the Group IFRS17 transformation programme, overseeing financial tracking, reporting, budgeting, forecasting, resource management, and inter-company billing across multiple HSBC entities.

• Recognized as a top performer for two consecutive years for consistently delivering actionable insights and influencing key financial outcomes.
• Personally built and maintained detailed financial models to support USD 160M program planning and reporting.
• Partnered with global and local business leaders to deliver a detailed annual operating plan (AOP), including headcount and cost-type breakdowns, across 11 entities in 9 countries within a tight timeframe.
• Actively engaged in the end-to-end month end and financial year end closing process, from GL reconciliation to final reporting packs for Exco and Steerco.
• Proactively managed the global resource plan (~150 FTEs), balancing complex dependencies and communicating trade-offs to senior stakeholders across planning, scope, and budget.
• Supported vendor procurement process including SOW, MSA negotiation, purchase orders and invoice approvals.

• Supported regional project investments through expense management and financial analytics.
• Provided advisory services and facilitated decision-making processes with regional leadership.

Served in the Strategic Planning and Transformation Office within the Technology and Operations Business Unit, overseeing financial management of bank-wide technology projects.

• Led business case evaluations and portfolio governance to maximize technology value and drive business growth.
• Communicated portfolio risks and benefits to senior executives and drove alignment with strategic priorities.
• Collaborated directly with offshore and onshore teams to troubleshoot cost discrepancies and implement monthly reporting enhancements.

Supported the Asia Region transformation program as part of the Regional Finance team, reporting to the Regional Financial Controller and Chief of Transformation.

• Provided strategic financial management and insights across a €350M portfolio of major initiatives, including digital, data APIs, distribution, servicing, claims, customer centricity, and IT modernisation.
• Championed the implementation of a finance governance framework, enhancing cost transparency and earning executive support for stronger financial controls.
• Directed project finance steering committees across major regional transformation programs, ensuring on-time, on-budget delivery aligned with strategic objectives.
• Provided strategic budget oversight and forecasting for the regional project portfolio, presenting funding recommendations to the Asia Regional Executive Committee.
• Played a pivotal role in recommending the cancellation of a €50M project due to insufficient ROI, safeguarding resources for higher-value initiatives.
• Acted as trusted business partner to Project Managers and country CFOs, shaping and executing financial plans that supported local and regional initiatives.
• Led full-cycle project finance management, including cost capitalization, WIP reporting, inter-country billing, and balance sheet reconciliation to ensure financial integrity
• Collaborated effectively with the Project Management Office to reprioritise €100M worth of projects by identifying and addressing potential resourcing bottlenecks early.
• Supported IT and business leaders in developing and reviewing business cases, including the creation of KPIs to measure and track project benefits.

AXA Technology, the Group’s Tech and Data entity, reported to the Regional CFO with responsibility for financial planning, pricing, billing, and business case development for IT Infrastructure Services across the Asia Region, managing an annual IT spend of €45–50 million.

• Benchmarked cost structure vs. industry peers; achieved 15% cost advantage.
• Supported commercial pricing and client engagement for new technology offerings (cloud, end-user computing).
• Led bottoms-up annual budget process, delivering comprehensive cost analysis to support senior leadership decision-making