DFIR Lead Cyber Operations Analyst in Knutsford

Join Barclays as a DFIR Lead Cyber Operations Analyst, a VP-level role at the centre of the bank’s cyber defence, delivering advanced digital forensics and incident response. You will analyse malware, malicious samples and network activity to support complex investigations, working closely with internal teams, external partners and law enforcement. This is a highly technical, hands-on position suited to an experienced cyber or digital forensics professional, with passion for deep investigation, and the ability to produce clear, high-quality reporting in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment. Please note that this role includes an on-call support rotation. Occasional additional support may be required, including extended hours and weekend work.

To be successful in this role, you will need the following:

• Digital forensics and incident response expertise, including host, network, cloud and live forensic analysis, supported by rigorous documentation practices.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate complex technical findings to senior stakeholders and non-technical business teams.
• Proven leadership under pressure, including coordinating investigations, managing cross-functional stakeholders, and operating effectively within a regulated banking environment.

Some other highly valued skills may include:

• Cloud investigation experience across platforms such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud.
• Scripting and automation capabilities, using languages such as Python, PowerShell, Bash, or JavaScript.
• Relevant industry certifications, such as GCFA, GNFA, GCFE, or GREM.

You may be assessed on the key critical skills relevant for success in role, such as risk and controls, change and transformation, business acumen, strategic thinking and digital and technology, as well as job-specific technical skills.

The successful candidate will be based in Knutsford (Radbroke Hall).

Purpose of the role

To monitor the performance of operational controls, implement and manage security controls and consider lessons learned in order to protect the bank from potential cyber-attacks and respond to threats.

Accountabilities

• Management of security monitoring systems, including intrusive prevention and detection systems, to alert, detect and block potential cyber security incidents, and provide a prompt response to restore normal operations with minimised system damage.
• Identification of emerging cyber security threats, attack techniques and technologies to detect/prevent incidents, and collaborate with networks and conferences to gain industry knowledge and expertise.
• Management and analysis of security information and event management systems to collect, correlate and analyse security logs, events and alerts/potential threats.
• Triage of data loss prevention alerts to identify and prevent sensitive data from being exfiltrated from the bank's network.
• Management of cyber security incidents including remediation & driving to closure.

Vice President Expectations

To contribute or set strategy, drive requirements and make recommendations for change. Plan resources, budgets, and policies; manage and maintain policies/processes; deliver continuous improvements and escalate breaches of policies/procedures. If managing a team, they define jobs and responsibilities, planning for the department’s future needs and operations, counselling employees on performance and contributing to employee pay decisions/changes. They may also lead a number of specialists to influence the operations of a department, in alignment with strategic as well as tactical priorities, while balancing short and long term goals and ensuring that budgets and schedules meet corporate requirements.

If the position has leadership responsibilities, People Leaders are expected to demonstrate a clear set of leadership behaviours to create an environment for colleagues to thrive and deliver to a consistently excellent standard. The four LEAD behaviours are: L – Listen and be authentic, E – Energise and inspire, A – Align across the enterprise, D – Develop others. OR for an individual contributor, they will be a subject matter expert within own discipline and will guide technical direction. They will lead collaborative, multi-year assignments and guide team members through structured assignments, identify the need for the inclusion of other areas of specialisation to complete assignments. They will train, guide and coach less experienced specialists and provide information affecting long term profits, organisational risks and strategic decisions.

Advise key stakeholders, including functional leadership teams and senior management on functional and cross functional areas of impact and alignment. Manage and mitigate risks through assessment, in support of the control and governance agenda. Demonstrate leadership and accountability for managing risk and strengthening controls in relation to the work your team does. Demonstrate comprehensive understanding of the organisation functions to contribute to achieving the goals of the business. Collaborate with other areas of work, for business aligned support areas to keep up to speed with business activity and the business strategies. Create solutions based on sophisticated analytical thought comparing and selecting complex alternatives. In-depth analysis with interpretative thinking will be required to define problems and develop innovative solutions. Adopt and include the outcomes of extensive research in problem solving processes. Seek out, build and maintain trusting relationships and partnerships with internal and external stakeholders in order to accomplish key business objectives, using influencing and negotiating skills to achieve outcomes.

All colleagues will be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Values of Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence and Stewardship – our moral compass, helping us do what we believe is right. They will also be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Mindset – to Empower, Challenge and Drive – the operating manual for how we behave.