External Reporting Editor

Job description

Role Title: External Reporting Editor

Business: Accounting and Finance

New or Existing Role? Existing

Grade: GCB4

Role Purpose

· This role, based within HSBC's Global Finance team, focuses on maintaining a high standard of communication, language and consistent application of Group style in HSBC's external reports. The jobholder will be expected to build on the financial reporting transformation programme which has improved the quality and clarity of the writing in HSBC's annual and interim reports and to work closely with the Corporate Publishing team within Global Communications.
· The role is suitable for flexible working arrangements as the outputs vary throughout the year. However, full-time working is mandatory during the busy reporting periods of January, February and July/early Aug.

Key Accountabilities

Impact on Business

· Responsible for the processes that deliver clear communication and high quality writing for the external financial reports of the Group, and also to the major legal entities of the Group.

· Works jointly with the various stakeholders to ensure they are able to convey their message and underlying business drivers in a clear and succinct manner that is consistent with the Group's strategy and priorities. This will include editing, writing and advising stakeholders on best practice.

· Assists stakeholders with drafting any wording/commentary to accompany new disclosure requirements/sections.

· Challenge and negotiate with stakeholders where necessary, to ensure the highest possible standards.

Customers / Stakeholders

· Collaborates proactively with Group Chief Accounting Officer, and major entity financial reporting leads.

· Works closely with all contributors to the Group's external reports (including HR, CoSec, Risk and Legal).

· Works with Global Communications to help ensure consistency of message across all corporate publishing.

· Liaise with external stakeholders such as the design.

Leadership & Teamwork

· Collaboration across Global Finance, and various section owners outside Finance, with a culture of “One Team”.

· Values diverse cultures and contributions, drives high standards of delivery in others and supports broader education and development of those who draft content.

Operational Effectiveness & Control

· Ensures procedures are effective and operate robustly such that they meet internal and external audit and regulatory expectations consistent with our market-leading reputation for transparency and quality.

· Controls focused and able to anticipate, identify and mitigate operational risk in an appropriate, cost effective manner.

Major Challenges

· Working with stakeholders from across the Group to continuously improve their sections of the external reports, helping them to convey their messages clearly and succinctly.

· Work with Global Communications to help ensure consistent corporate messaging across HSBC.

· Integrating with the Global Communications to ensure that lessons identified and best working practices are shared between colleagues conducting similar work.

· Ensuring stakeholder buy-in and consistency across the Group's reports.

· Sharing best practice from HSBC Holdings plc's financial reports process with our major subsidiaries, helping to ensure consistent language, tone and quality across the Group.

· Adhering to strict controls around change management because the implications of getting something wrong can be costly – to our reputation and in financial terms.

Role Context

· The role will support the Group's Chief Accounting Officer and be responsible for all the business-as-usual (BAU) editing requirements.

· The role will work directly with section owners across HSBC (ie not restricted to Finance).

Role Dimensions

· Edit the Group's external reports to continuously improve how we communicate with external stakeholders. This includes Group's quarterly reports and the annual ESG report.

· Ensure new sections/disclosures added to external reports are as succinct and accessible as possible.

· Help shape the external editorial agenda for HSBC, by developing ideas for content aligned to our priorities and values and improving the way we communicate with external stakeholders.

· Ensure all in-scope external content is accurate, engaging and written to the highest possible standards.

· Meet professional publishing standards and help shape and improve processes while retaining creative flair.

· Demonstrate a clear understanding of Group strategy and priorities and use this to improve our content.

· Avoidance of all reputational embarrassment by following diligent, controlled and thoughtful production procedures.

· Work closely with colleagues around the world to ensure a smooth production process and consistent editorial standards which comply with Compliance, copyright, Legal and reputational rules and guidelines.

· Take responsibility for report production rules and guidelines.

· Support colleagues by providing content and editing advice. Be passionate about collaborating closely with other teams, work on a wide variety of topics and adapt to the varied requirements of the role, which may evolve over time.

· Provide editorial support to Pillar 3 regulatory disclosures and annual Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) reporting.

· Contribute directly to the Communications Function outside core financial reporting periods, helping to shape and deliver priority content. This may including writing and editing news, opinion and corporate information.

· As well as improving sections of our external reports, the role may gradually assume greater responsibility for coordinating the production process; managing stakeholders as necessary and a small proof reading team.

· Be prepared to perform a broader production/management role where needed – including ensuring consistency and liaising with business stakeholders and writers to ensure a smooth and timely production process.

Management of Risk

· The jobholder is responsible for ensuring there is an effective risk management framework in place in accordance with the GSM and Finance FIM. Pro-active risk management / robust internal controls are essential in this regard. The jobholder will also continually reassess the operational risks associated with the role and inherent in the business, taking account of changing economic or market conditions, legal and regulatory requirements, operating procedures and practices, management restructurings, and the impact of new technology. This will be achieved by ensuring all actions take account of the likelihood of operational risk occurring and by addressing any areas of concern in conjunction with line management and/or the appropriate department.

Observation of Internal Controls

· The jobholder is a restricted person for dealing purposes and therefore subject to strict controls and confidentiality. The jobholder will also adhere to and be able to demonstrate adherence to internal controls requirements in particular relating to Sarbanes Oxley. This will be achieved by adherence to all relevant procedures, keeping appropriate records and, where appropriate, by the timely implementation of internal and external audit points, including issues raised by external regulators.

· The jobholder will implement the Group compliance policy by containing compliance risk in liaison with Global Head of Compliance, Global Compliance Officer, Area Compliance Officer or Local Compliance Officer. The term ‘compliance' embraces all relevant financial services laws, rules and codes with which the business has to comply. This will be achieved by adhering to all relevant processes/procedures and by liaising with the Compliance department about new business initiatives at the earliest opportunity. Also, when applicable, by ensuring adequate resources are in place and training is provided, fostering a compliance culture and optimising relations with regulators.

Desired profile

Qualifications :

Knowledge & Experience / Qualifications

·  Technical Skill Requirements
·  Skilled at editing annual reports (or similar documents) in order to ensure clarity of message and improve the accessibility of the language used.
·  Familiar with general financial services terminology and willing to learn technical language in order to advise content owners on revisions.
·  Impeccable writing and grammar skills.
·  A strong background in communicating with audiences using the written word to convey organisational messages clearly.
·  An understanding of how to write for different audiences (e.g. expert and non-expert) and platforms (e.g. print and website).
·  Educational Requirements
·  A strong degree with a significant component being based on communicating effectively in written English.
·  Personal Skill Requirements
·  The role holder will need to be comfortable working to tight deadlines, especially during reporting periods.
·  An ambitious change mindset and a determination to deliver continuous improvement to how the bank communicates.
·  Diligent and with outstanding attention to detail.
·  Strong awareness of compliance and the need for tight controls on financial reporting
·  A relationship builder, who excels at and enjoys working with a diverse range of stakeholders to deliver outputs collaboratively that are stronger as a result of effective teamwork.
·  Strong organisational skills with ability to guide others.
·  Demonstrate good team work and sharing of ideas and best practice.
·  Keen eye for detail, factual inaccuracies, grammar, spelling mistakes and reputational issues and risks.
·  Able to take the initiative to learn about HSBC and its focus and priorities.
·  Capacity to develop broad knowledge of economic, business, financial, political and investor issues.
·  Able to guide, manage and educate others by working collaboratively to develop content and writing ability.
·  Willingness to be flexible and adapt to evolving priorities, for example, sitting with other teams in order to build relationships and deliver results as required.
·  Comfortable organising a change project; eg planning out milestones and timetables.
·  The ability to deliver the leadership needed to drive timely change in a complex stakeholder environment.
·  Experience
·  Editing annual reports or similar large and complex documents.
·  Working within the financial services industry or a related field.
·  Improving the written communication from an organisation to its external stakeholders.
·  Dealing with a wide variety of stakeholders in a global company and building positive relationships to deliver change / improvement.
·  Very strong organisational and time management skills to drive efficient processes.
·  Experience of juggling multiple priorities and demanding requirements from different stakeholders.
·  Sensitive to navigating the complexities of producing quality editorial within a corporate environment.
·  Used to working under pressure.

We are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to creating a diverse environment.