Director - Finance Change - Global Banking Group - Up to £150,000 + Bonus + Full Benefits - City / London (with hybrid working)

Our client is an established global banking group with a positive working culture, being known for excellent staff retention and career development. The purpose of this role is to drive Finance change activity across all Finance functional teams. The role will involve using existing and new technology to the greatest extent possible through close liaison with various teams, influencing delivery and technology capabilities for the benefit of Finance. A key element of the role initially will be to focus on improvements to the Derivatives Product Control function – with a focus on increasing efficiency and control strength, so candidates who perhaps started their career in a Product Control role before moving their career into Finance Transformation and Change Management would be highly desirable.

Position and Responsibilities:

1. Assist in leading the design and execution of the Finance change roadmap, championing the integration of modern technologies, including AI, to enhance reporting capabilities and drive digital transformation across the function.
2. Challenge the status quo, bringing fresh ideas for process and technology capability in order to transition the team into a Finance function for the future.
3. Establish and cultivate strategic partnerships with internal and external Technology stakeholders, ensuring alignment with business objectives and long-term value creation.
4. Forge strong delivery partnerships with various teams, providing leadership and direction to ensure timely execution of Finance priorities.
5. Influence technology strategy for the benefit of Finance processes.
6. Provide executive-level visibility of project progress, delivering clear, concise updates and insights to senior stakeholders through structured governance forums.
7. Direct the full lifecycle of business solution delivery, from requirements definition through to design, development, testing, deployment, and post-implementation support—ensuring alignment with budget and timelines.
8. Lead the validation and approval of business requirements, guiding the creation of development specifications and overseeing UAT and implementation testing to ensure solutions meet strategic goals.
9. Drive strategic initiatives and respond to emerging priorities, taking ownership of ad hoc projects that align with Finance transformation goals.
10. Assist the Finance-driven change lead as required.

Search Criteria:

1. Candidate can be fully-qualified finance professional (ACA/CA/CPA/ACCA/CIMA) but our client will also consider those who don’t have an accounting qualification. What is essential however, is experience from the investment banking / capital markets sector.
2. Good working knowledge of major universal banking products (such as derivatives and fixed income products, for example). Very strong knowledge of Product Control processes and controls in an investment banking environment is essential. Our client is looking for a finance change professional with strong exposure to the Product (and Financial) Control function.
3. Good knowledge of Finance systems, general accounting and business knowledge.
4. Technology and change expertise relevant to Finance processes and reporting capability in a universal banking context.
5. Someone who is used to working in a hands-on and BA-centric change function with the ability to project / programme manage (rather than project and programme managers who just manage teams and work flow).