Head of Operations and Technology (SMF24)
City of London
Permanent
Up to £140,000
cer Financial are working alongside an international bank, who are based in the City of London. They are seeking a Head of Operations who also has technical experience and holds SMF24, to work with them on a permanent basis.
The role:
· Lead strategic planning and delivery of operations, systems, outsourcing, and business continuity
· Develop and implement transformation programmes aligned with business needs
· Design and execute change strategies and implementation plans
· Manage third-party vendors to improve systems, processes, and reporting (e.g. dashboards)
· Drive operational efficiency and continuous improvement across the business
· Represent Operations at executive level and support decision-making with specialist insight
· Translate strategic objectives into actionable business plans with measurable outcomes
· Ensure delivery of business change projects in line with executive direction
· Allocate and manage resources (budget, headcount) effectively within approved limits
· Contribute to business strategy through operational assessment and improvement initiatives
· Oversee departmental budgets, approvals, and capital expenditure decisions
· Analyse and optimise processes, systems, and overall operational effectiveness
· Monitor performance against plans, identify gaps, and implement corrective actions
· Benchmark productivity and introduce measures to enhance performance
· Build and manage relationships with key internal and external stakeholders
· Maintain an efficient operating model and drive digital transformation
· Act as Data Protection Officer (DPO) and ensure regulatory compliance
· Participate in internal and external committees (e.g. ExCo, ALCO, Risk)
· Ensure effective risk management across operations
· Set strategic direction and performance expectations for teams
· Lead, mentor, and develop high-performing teams and direct reports
· Oversee capacity and project planning to meet resource requirements
· Monitor service quality and adherence to governance standards
· Identify training needs and support ongoing team development
· Maintain succession planning for leadership roles
· Handle escalations, grievances, and performance management processes
· Commit to ongoing personal development and effectiveness
The candidate will have:
· Must have banking operations experience - payments, settlements, operational resilience.
· Must have IT leadership experience: Tech/system upgrades, infrastructure, etc.
· Must have held SMF24.
· Strong FCA/PRA regulatory and compliance expertise
· Solid understanding of banking operations in highly regulated environments