Head of Operations and Technology

PERMANENT| PER ANNUMRECRUITER: | Charlie Watson Head of Operations and Technology (SMF
24)
City of London Permanent Up  to 140,000cer 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 SMF
24, 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 SMF
24.Strong FCA/PRA regulatory and compliance expertise

Solid understanding of banking operations in highly regulated environments