Head of IT & Information Security

SALARY: Highly competitive package

Location: Manchester (Hybrid working available)

Our client is a highly regarded, progressive Financial Services organisation who are seeking to recruit a Head of IT & Information Security.

Reporting to the CTO the you will be a proactive and technically skilled leader who thrives in a fast-paced, regulated environment. It combines hands-on expertise in IT infrastructure and information security with strategic oversight and leadership capabilities.

Key Responsibilities:

Infrastructure Management

• Design and Oversight: Architect, implement, and maintain a reliable, scalable, and secure IT infrastructure.
• Strategic Planning: Develop a forward-looking infrastructure strategy aligned with business goals.
• Vendor Relations: Manage budgets, vendor contracts, and supplier relationships effectively.
• Disaster Recovery: Collaborate with the Operational Resilience Team to enhance disaster recovery (DR) and business continuity (BC) plans.

Information Security

• Security Strategy: Develop and execute a robust security framework in line with FCA, PRA, GDPR, and industry standards.
• Incident Management: Act as the first line of defence in managing security incidents and running incident response drills.
• Systems Security: Implement best practices for access controls, network security, and data protection in banking systems.
• Continuous Monitoring: Conduct regular security audits, vulnerability assessments, and penetration tests.
• Awareness Campaigns: Foster a culture of cybersecurity awareness through training and communication.

Regulatory Compliance

• Standards and Audits: Stay current with UK banking regulations and standards such as ISO 27001, Cyber Essentials Plus, and CBEST.
• Collaboration: Work closely with auditors, regulators, and stakeholders to ensure full compliance.

Team Leadership

• Building Teams: Lead, mentor, and inspire a high-performing infrastructure and security team.
• Performance Metrics: Set and monitor KPIs to drive accountability and excellence.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Risk, Compliance, and Operational Resilience teams to align objectives.

Must-Have Qualifications and Experience

• Proven leadership in IT infrastructure and information security, ideally within regulated financial services.
• Comprehensive knowledge of UK banking regulations (FCA, PRA).
• Hands-on expertise with secure, scalable IT solutions, both on-premises and in the cloud.
• Familiarity with security frameworks like NIST CSF, ISO 27001, CQUEST, and Cyber Essentials Plus.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with experience influencing at C-suite and board levels.
• A decisive, solutions-oriented approach to problem-solving.

Nice-to-Have Skills and Certifications

• Certifications such as CISSP or CISM.
• Proficiency with cloud platforms (Azure, AWS) and emerging technologies like DevOps and containerization.
• Experience leading large-scale infrastructure transformations and regulatory audits.

This position offers a unique opportunity to shape and secure the future of our technology landscape. If you’re a strategic thinker with a hands-on approach, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply today to join a company that values innovation, collaboration, and excellence.