Job description

fd Chief Information Officer

Big Bank Funding. FinTech Thinking.

First direct is consistently rated as one of the UK’s top retail banking brands, and is recognised for customer service across all sectors. The business is on a ground breaking journey to get back to pioneering and to protect its market leading position.

first direct has a bold strategy to be the most personal and relevant business in the UK, making people feel at ease handling their money. To deliver this strategy, first direct works as a truly joined-up organisation with technology, product, transformation and operational teams working together in pursuit of a shared ambition. first direct IT work within a value stream construct, with full line-of-sight to business outcomes allowing all colleagues to play a part in designing, building and running customer-centric services and capabilities.

first direct is one of the largest profit contributors to Wealth & Personal Banking in the HSBC Group. WPB serves more than 50 million customers worldwide with a complete range of banking and wealth management services to enable them to handle their finances and protect and build their financial futures. It is a global business that brings together management responsibility for Retail Banking, Wealth Management, Private Banking, Insurance and Asset Management with a focus on customer-centric propositions and innovative and efficient distribution channels.

We are seeking a validated leader to join the WPB UK team as Chief Information Officer for first direct. Sitting within the HSBC UK entity and reporting to the WPB UK CIO, the fd CIO is a member of the wider UK IT Manco and is directly accountable to the first direct CEO as a core member of the first direct Leadership Team.

The fd CIO is responsible for the provision and delivery of all technology services to first direct and its customers, as well as in forming and implementing the digital and technology strategy that delivers on fd’s bold 5-year strategy to “Challenge the Challengers”.

The role will also be responsible for developing the roadmap for fd platforms (taking in to account key technology wide priorities such as transitioning to cloud based technology solutions and the removal of legacy systems), sponsoring and driving the continued adoption and maturation of DevOps and agile principles, and ensuring platforms are well maintained, stable and secure

What you will be doing;

We need someone to;

• Lead and run the first direct IT team, accountable for 150+ headcount covering all technology fields, from engineering to service management to risk and controls to business management
• Accountable to WPB UK CIO for providing in-country oversight and coordination for all WPB Technology Services and in-country business relationships, leading resources from multiple Technology teams delivering into first direct, and oversight of all local execution and change portfolio.
• Responsible for ensuring that all country demand is clearly articulated within global portfolios and for ensuring that relevant information is collected to enable local demand to be prioritised at the global level
• Responsible for all WPB Technology fd people change related to restructuring within the country including relationship and alignment with local HR and industrial relations
• Act as a key partner to the fd CEO and wider Leadership Team, understanding and opining on matters across the business, as well as acting as a visible leader to the wider fd population
• Support the definition of the fd strategy, and be responsible for the local technology strategy that jointly delivers on the business and WPB/Group technology strategies
• Be directly accountable for the first direct Value Stream, responsible for a governed technology budget of circa $10-15m across CTB portfolios, and a further $3m of RTB cost.
• Responsible for ensuring that all first direct demands are clearly articulated to enable local demand to be prioritised at the global level where applicable.
• Responsible for direct cost, headcount management, and annual planning for country first direct Technology teams.
• Maintain technology services – from a day-today operational perspective (acting as a partner concern point for incidents, understanding regulatory protocols for reporting etc.) as well as a more strategic point-of-view, leading service sustainability programmes, the local control environment and other service governance & estate management for 40+ technology services
• Work with other partners and suppliers across WPB and wider technology to agree delivery of supplied services, and partner closely with the key business team members, namely the Digital Head, COO, Transformation Head and Commercial Head.
• Lead an effective relationship with partners and third party vendor to ensure successful delivery and efficient cost management.
• Be an active contributor to the UK IT Manco, as well as a visible technology leader for the first direct business
• Support the WPB UK CIO for wider deliveries of change and management of services impacting all UK brands.

Requirements

What you will bring to the role;

To be successful in this role you should have;

• A track record in delivery, particularly of digital products/services, demonstrating experience deploying to and running mobile and web channels
• A solid understanding and practical experiencing in implementing/iterating agile delivery methodologies, such as Scaled Agile Framework
• A strong understanding of the retail/personal banking environment, and workings of retail banking products such as current & savings accounts, secured and unsecured lending products, foreign travel, insurance and wealth products as well as the servicing models that underpin these.
• Experience establishing credible relationships within the business community with examples of driving wider IT/business change agenda, working at senior partner level
• Ability to handle risk, adopt a customer-first mind-set in running change, and make decisions to support the best outcomes for our customers, often when under pressure
• Excellent spoken and written communication skills with experience of adapting your style and approach to a senior audience
• Experience building and leading large diverse teams to deliver on a business vision
• Experience working in regulated environments, understanding regulator expectations as well as triggers for PSD2 breach reporting etc.

The base location for this role is Stourton, Leeds (but Sheffield will also be considered) with a hybrid working model (c.3 days a week in Leeds fd offices).

Come Power a Business that Defines How to Power the World

As a business operating in markets all around the world, we believe diversity brings benefits for our customers, our business and our people. This is why HSBC is committed to being an inclusive employer and encourages applications from all suitably qualified applicants irrespective of ethnicity, religion, age, physical or mental disability/long term health condition, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information (including characteristics and testing), military and veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by local law in the jurisdictions in which we operate. Within the work place you will have access to various employee resource groups which strive to promote and achieve a healthy work / life balance and support our diversity ambitions. HSBC has in place processes in order to avoid nepotism, which means to avoid crafting circumstances in which the appearance or possibility of conflicts of interest may exist within the hiring process.

We want everyone to be able to fulfil their potential which is why we provide a range of flexible working arrangements and family friendly policies.

As an HSBC employee in the UK, you will have access to tailored professional development opportunities and a competitive pay and benefits package. This includes private healthcare for all UK-based employees, enhanced maternity and adoption pay and support when you return to work, and a contributory pension scheme with a generous employer contribution.

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You can find out more about the recruitment journey and what to expect by viewing our Recruitment Process FAQs in HR Direct and by clicking here (only available via internal access).