Director, Strategy and Operations

At Finastra, we’re a global leader in financial services software, dedicated to expanding access to financial services and shaping what’s next for the industry. Our technology powers mission‑critical solutions across Lending, Payments and Universal Banking, supporting over 7,000 customers, including 80% of the world’s top 50 banks, in more than 110 countries.

Finastra has signed an agreement to sell its Universal Banking business to Pollen Street Capital, with completion expected end 2026 / early 2027, subject to consultation and customary closing conditions. Upon completion, this role is expected to transition to the standalone Universal Banking business, creating opportunities to support its future growth and success.

This role acts as a senior execution partner to the Chief of Staff and the Universal Banking Leadership Team, responsible for driving strategy execution, business performance management, operational governance, and key transformation initiatives. The focus is on translating strategy into clear plans, effective reporting and governance, and measurable outcomes, while enabling the Chief of Staff to maintain focus on the highest-value priorities.

Key responsibilities

• Partner with the Chief of Staff to ope rationalise Universal Banking strategy, priorities, and LT objectives.
• Support annual and periodic planning processes and coordinate development of strategic and operational plans across the business, ensuring alignment between functional priorities, enterprise objectives, and agreed leadership outcomes.
• Drive the monthly and quarterly business reporting processes, working with the Strategy & Operations team and functional leaders to provide timely, accurate, and decision‑relevant insight to the LT.
• Continuously evolve M , Q , and executive reporting processes, including performance dashboards, KPIs, and supporting processes, ensuring they remain aligned to business priorities, provide meaningful performance insight, and support effective leadership decision‑making as needs evolve.
• Lead the development of business reviews, LT discussions, strategic updates, and executive decision materials, ensuring high‑quality insight, clear recommendations, and effective leadership discussions.
• Lead governance, tracking, and reporting for the Value Creation Plan and other priority initiatives, ensuring progress, dependencies, risks, and outcomes are clearly understood and acted upon.
• Support corporate development, M&A, partnership, and transformation initiatives impacting Universal Banking, including business case support, separation activity, Day 2 optimisation, integration planning, and value tracking.
• Design and maintain effective operational governance, including decision forums, escalation paths, decision tracking, and portfolio‑level visibility.
• Maintain the portfolio‑level view of initiatives, ensuring prioritisation, dependency management, risk visibility, and a consistent delivery cadence. Identify opportunities to simplify processes, improve organisational effectiveness, and strengthen execution across functions.
• Lead and further develop the established Strategy & Operations team, setting priorities, developing talent, and ensuring high‑quality, decision‑relevant outputs across governance, reporting, and analytics.

Experience profile

• Strong executive‑level communication, analytical, and synthesis skills.
• Proven ability to partner with senior leaders and drive execution through influence in complex, matrixed environments.
• Experience leading teams and developing talent in complex, matrixed environments.
• Experience in financial services, banking technology, enterprise software, or regulated environments strongly preferred, but not essential.

Success in role

• Provides the…