In the world of financial crime compliance, stability is often measured by the strength of one’s track record. For Bobby Tan, however, that stability was shaken by an unexpected corporate restructuring. Suddenly, a seasoned leader with deep regulatory experience found himself at a crossroads.

Bobby’s record was impeccable. With nearly eight years at UBS leading large regional AML (Anti-Money Laundering) teams across Singapore, Hong Kong, India, and Japan, Bobby’s professional identity was deeply rooted in operational leadership.A banking veteran and experienced leader, Bobby soon learned that he had to pivot in his career.

A banking veteran and experienced leader, Bobby soon learned that he had to pivot in his career.

However, the corporate landscape shifted unexpectedly in early 2025. A major restructuring meant that his long-standing role was impacted, forcing a sudden and daunting pause in a career that had only ever moved forward.

"It was a moment that shook the stability I had always associated with my career path," Bobby admits. "Despite my experience, I felt lost in a competitive job market after a sudden disruption."

At a Crossroads

The months following the restructuring were a period of profound reflection.

Despite a decade of navigating high-stakes regulatory frameworks and leading regional teams of up to 50 professionals, Bobby found himself at a daunting crossroads. He was certain that his future remained in financial crime compliance, yet he felt increasingly sidelined in a hyper-competitive market that seemed to demand a different kind of 'pitch.'

It was during this half-year journey of navigating the unknown that Bobby signed up for a career advisory session with IBF Careers Connect. His career adviser, Sherlyn Soh, provided the outside-in perspective he needed to stop looking backward at what was lost and start looking forward at his untapped potential.

The Bridge to Clarity

While many view career advisory as a functional service for job seekers, Bobby’s experience proved it is a vital pillar for mid-career professionals navigating difficult transitions. The career coaching sessions provided more than just practical tips; they offered a space for deep reflection.

"My adviser showed empathy, industry awareness, and a genuine commitment to align my strengths with evolving market needs," Bobby explains. "She helped me connect my leadership in AML operations and regional stakeholder management into a coherent value proposition."

From "What I Did" to "What I Can Do"

One of the most valuable insights Bobby gained was the ability to reframe his experience. In a fast-evolving sector, being experienced isn't always enough; one must be "future-focused."

Through the coaching sessions, Bobby shifted his narrative. He moved away from simply describing past operations to highlighting his capabilities in transformation, automation, and regulatory change leadership. He began to communicate his achievements not as a list of responsibilities, but as strategic outcomes that met the modern needs of financial organisations.

This shift in "pitch" bore fruit half a year later when Bobby landed a pivotal new role: Head of Compliance Transformation and Reporting at Manulife.

Crossing Industries from Banking to Insurance

Joining Manulife marked Bobby’s first career step outside of global banking - a move that required him to translate years of banking-specific financial crime expertise into the nuances of the insurance sector. While the core principles of compliance remain, the operational landscape differs. To bridge this gap, Bobby has adopted an agile learning attitude, refusing to rest on his laurels despite his seniority.

He is currently focused on deepening his knowledge across the end-to-end insurance business, including product design, distribution channels, underwriting practices, claims processes, and customer experience. Bobby recognises that this broader understanding is essential to "drive more impactful and relevant compliance transformation" in his new environment.

Bobby empowers his team to think critically, creatively and to embrace digital tools.

His current mandate is clear: to make compliance processes "easier, better, and faster." "I chose Manulife because it offered a clear mandate to modernise compliance," he says. "I’m now focused on looking end-to-end across our workflows to identify what can be simplified or automated to strengthen governance."

Advancing His Skills with Purpose

Following the advice of his career adviser to remain future-focused and outcome-driven, Bobby has fully taken charge of his career trajectory at Manulife. Bobby is now developing his capabilities in data analytics and visualisation to enable predictive reporting and better risk management. By bridging his deep AML background with RegTech solutions - including automation, AI-enabled monitoring, and next-generation workflow platforms - he has gained renewed confidence to chart the next phase of his career.

Tapping on his rich experience in banking, Bobby is also focused on deepening his expertise across the full spectrum of the insurance business - from product design and distribution channels to underwriting, claims, and customer experience. This broader understanding is crucial for driving impactful and relevant compliance transformation at Manulife.

In addition, he is honing his leadership skills to empower his colleagues to think creatively and to challenge assumptions.

Having led diverse teams across different regions, Bobby hopes to leverage on his experiences to inspire innovation and open-mindedness amongst team members.