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.