Standard Chartered Reviews

Pros

Great talent and global imprint which really helps when looking at resources and networking especially in emerging markets across the world

Cons

It is mainly prominent in Middle East, Africa (Sub-saharan) and Asia. This is not so good for later things in Europe/North America

Advice to Senior Management

Its a great organization and unlike other banks the people are good to work with and willing to help. Probably not as use to interns in some offices/desks

Pros

Highly mobile across departments and countries, progressive in terms of talent development and aggressive in terms of performance targets

Cons

Lots of changes in past few years

Pros

Extreme flexibility Work from Home practice in some departments (min 2 days at home). Unaudited business travels. Flexibility to consume unused business air ticket for personal trip and offset from official Travel & Expense Claim. So flexible! Know me, Focus me, Care for me, Inspire me (KFCi) - just make sure you apply this to your boss, double promo within the year would be a guaranteed! Lead by Example - do what your boss do, spot award will be yours in no time! If u can 'perform' these with clear heart to deceive your good value practice, these are the best reasons to work in SCB.

Cons

One with good virtues, believe in doing the right thing and strong believer of Here for Good, SCB culture is way to far to achieve that. There is no real Owner in such Organisation - senior management are also employees who get paid every month (I mean fat pay), directors and share holders get pay fatty fats when cost is lowered! So how many would care for the Organisation which is made up of Workers in majority? Annual pay increment only effects in April for good effort put in the previous year - what happen to Jan, Feb and Mar - who cares that builds into the revenue!

Advice to Senior Management

Leadership is from the heart. Sincerity can be felt if one has a heart of a human. To the Workers money is important to sustain the family; To most of the Management money is wealth, status, superior, power and in turn can't afford to loose - so what do they do? Cause and Effect law which only those with wisdom truly understand and practice.

Pros

Take care of employees
Infrastructure is quite adaptible

Cons

Decision making at times takes too long

Advice to Senior Management

None

Pros

Upcoming dragon in financial industry

Cons

poor pay and bonus. long working hrs

Pros

Nice people, esp management tries hard to connect with employees; not as much back stabbing as in other top tier competitors

Cons

In Korea especially - after the merger with domestic bank, the Bank lost much of its unique color and became slow and bureaucratic to the core; recent margin squeeze; low - close to non-existent global recognition; lack platform (all specific to Korea)

Advice to Senior Management

Don't spare money on infra building! Front office can't do its job when IT lags and back office being laid off.

Pros

people are very helpful and international, good benefits ie. health insurance, # of days of vacation.
The company is very flexible -- if you find something you're good at, you can create your own job position and find support around you. You would never find this kind of thing at a more structured organization

Cons

bureaucracy often gets in the way of progress (this is true for all organizations, but even more so at SCB)
compensation is below market level
senior management often goes in circles around issues and don't contribute to any amount of work
there aren't enough low level hires to do the work

Advice to Senior Management

focus more on retaining talent and you'll get a lot more out of people have already been with the organization for a few years rather than letting them go because it's cheaper to bring in new talent. Often times, this new talent ends up being overpaid senior management who don't contribute to any significant amount of work

Stop outsourcing your core competencies. Build a strong base in only one location, and the efficiency of the company is sure to go up tenfold. Too often, problems are blamed on distance, time zones, and poor communication.

Pros

great brand
nice people
strong culture
support flexible working
Peter Sands
open, light working space
get real exposure to developing markets

Cons

very isolated in London - real action in Singapore
long, ponderous decision making
political - only good news can be given
some blockers have been there far too long
lacks a performance edge

Advice to Senior Management

Get faster and more courageous in decision making
Move HQ to where your markets are
Improve quality of some of the senior management team

Pros

Progressive environment.
Generally open to new ideas and ways to improve.
Willing to invest in human resource - However this could backfire as senior management rush to hire additional headcount or 'layers' who may not add any qualitative value.

Cons

Consistency and long-term strategy is either missing, or simply poorly communicated to the ground.

Politics quite thick, as expected in an organisation where senior management do not make it a point to be transparent about performance tracking and measurement. What constitutes good execution or success? What is not?

Incompetency at some senior levels, resulting in much political maneuvering in order to prove sense of worth/value in the system.

Advice to Senior Management

Senior management needs to talk among themselves a lot better, and communicate decisions/give feedback to the ground in a more consistent and clear manner.

Pros

international opportunities, empowerment and focus on learning and development
has emerged as a winner from the financial crisis by focusing on the basics of good banking and sticking to strategy

Cons

demand very hard work and flexibility. Relationship based organisation can be challenging to navigate for new joiners.

Advice to Senior Management

role model the right behaviours consistently at the top of the organisation.