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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead security operations and manage risks to protect our systems and data.
- Company: Join AJ Bell, a fast-growing investment platform with a collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, generous holiday, health plans, and hybrid working.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in cybersecurity while developing your skills in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Expertise in Information Security and experience in financial services preferred.
- Other info: Be part of a team recognised as one of the UK's Best 100 Companies to Work For.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 ÂŁ per year.
We’re now recruiting a Head of Security Operations to support the Chief Information Security Officer in managing and reporting the Information Security Risks faced by Technology Services (TS) in delivering AJ Bell’s systems and services. Key to this is maintaining the confidentiality, integrity and availability of the data that resides upon those systems. The Head of Security Operations is responsible for ensuring alignment between AJ Bell’s business goals and our ability to proactively identify and respond to security incidents, underpinned by an ability to translate cyber risk into business risk and vice versa.
Responsibilities
- Ensure AJ Bell has the appropriate capability to detect and respond to security events and incidents.
- In partnership with the 3rd party managed service provider, ensure that AJ Bell maintains 24x7 operational security coverage.
- Proactively drive efficiency improvements via the use of automation and AI in security operations processes.
- Own and develop AJ Bell’s incident response framework and playbooks, including undertaking regular training and testing (including table top exercises) up to and including executive level.
- Develop and maintain AJ Bell’s threat intelligence capabilities to enable effective response to the evolving threat landscape, delivering and disseminating actionable intelligence to operations teams and key stakeholders.
- Ensure operational processes for managing AJ Bell’s supply chain risk are effective.
- Own the end-to-end vulnerability management process, including penetration testing, mitigation assessment and remediation tracking.
- Effectively communicate the security posture of AJ Bell with the development and delivery of regular MI and reporting, where gaps are identified work with the security engineering team to provide clear requirements for security solutions.
- Manage the operational security vendor relationships, overseeing regular performance reviews and commercial management.
- Manage and oversee the development of a team of security analysts responsible for maintaining BaU security operations and act as an escalation point for day-to-day security issues identified by colleagues.
- Identify the future needs of the business with respect to the security operations function and develop AJ Bell’s capability accordingly.
- Foster an environment of continuous improvement to grow and develop AJ Bell’s security capability by establishing repeatable, managed and measured processes.
About you
- Expert understanding and knowledge of Information Security risk management tools and techniques.
- Extensive experience of Information Security standards and frameworks.
- Awareness and understanding of the Information Security threat landscape.
- Knowledge of security investigations best practice including the use of Microsoft Purview and computer forensics as an advantage.
- Experience of utilising and monitoring Information Security solutions e.g. email / web gateways, SIEM, Endpoint protection etc.
- Strong awareness of Cloud services and supporting security solutions & standards.
- Good understanding of cloud native and devops practices including pipelines and associated processes.
- Hands on experience of managing and configuring systems including Microsoft Active Directory, Windows and Linux in an enterprise environment is highly advantageous.
- Hands on experience with internet proxies, end point security tools and data loss prevention systems also highly advantageous.
- Experience working within recognised Information Security frameworks and best practices such as ISO27001, NIST etc.
- Knowledge of relevant regulatory requirements (e.g. GDPR/FCA/PRA).
- Experience in an Information Security role gained in a financial services or e-commerce environment is preferred.
- Strong written communication skills, with ability to contribute to executive committee and Board level papers.
- Self‑motivated, professional, tenacious and enthusiastic.
- Strong ownership of tasks, attention to detail and following through to conclusion.
- Ability to challenge approach, strategy and implementation to ensure Information Security is consistently considered and improved.
- Ability to work under own initiative to plan and communicate effectively with colleagues and customers.
- Structured, self‑starting, flexible and enjoy working in fast‑paced environments.
- Effective communication skills, both written and verbal.
- Ability to plan, organise and follow through on assigned tasks and complete with little or no prompting from management.
- Ability to learn and develop new skills and take on new challenges.
- Excellent attention to detail.
About us
AJ Bell is one of the fastest-growing investment platform businesses in the UK offering an award‑winning range of solutions that caters for everyone, from professional financial advisers to DIY investors with little to no experience. We have over 620,000 customers using our award‑winning platform propositions to manage assets totalling more than £96.1 billion. Our customers trust us with their investments, and by continuously striving to make investing easier, we aim to help even more people take control of their financial futures. Having listed on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange in December 2018, AJ Bell is now a FTSE 250 company. Headquartered in Manchester with offices in central London and Bristol, we now have over 1,500 employees and have been named one of the UK's “Best 100 Companies to Work For” for six consecutive years and in 2024 named a Great Place to Work®.
Our Perks and Benefits
- Competitive starting salary
- Starting holiday entitlement of 28 days, increasing up to 31 days with length of service and a holiday buy and sell scheme
- A choice of pension schemes with matched contributions up to 8% (Increasing with length of service)
- Discretionary bonus scheme
- Annual free share awards scheme
- Buy As You Earn (BAYE) Scheme
- Health Cash Plan – provided by SimplyHealth
- Private healthcare scheme and dental plan
- Free gym membership, with an on-site gym providing a wide range of free classes
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Bike loan scheme
- Sick pay+ pledge
- Enhanced maternity, paternity, and shared parental leave
- Discounted nursery fees at Kids Planet on Exchange Quay
- Loans for travel season tickets
- Death in service scheme
- Paid time off for volunteer work
- Charitable giving opportunities through salary sacrifice
- Calendar of social events, including monthly payday drinks, annual Christmas party, summer party and much more
- Parking at Exchange Quay (subject to availability)
- Ongoing technical training
- Professional qualification support
- Talent development programmes
- Peer recognition scheme, with rewards including restaurant and shopping vouchers or time off
- Monthly leadership breakfasts and lunches
Hybrid working
At AJ Bell, our people are the heart of our culture. We believe in building strong connections by working together. That’s why we offer a hybrid working model, where you’ll spend a minimum of 50% of your working time per month in the office. For new team members, an initial period will be full‑time in the office to help you immerse yourself in our business and build valuable relationships with your colleagues.
Seniority level Mid‑Senior level
Employment type Full‑time
Job function Information Technology
Head of Security Operations in London employer: Aj Bell
Contact Detail:
Aj Bell Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Security Operations in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend relevant events, and engage with professionals on platforms like LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its security operations. Understand their challenges and think about how your skills can help them tackle these issues. Tailor your responses to show that you’re not just a fit for the role, but also for their culture.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Conduct mock interviews with friends or mentors to refine your answers and boost your confidence. Focus on articulating your experience with information security frameworks and how you've handled incidents in the past.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after interviews! A simple thank-you email can leave a lasting impression. Use this opportunity to reiterate your enthusiasm for the role and highlight any key points from the conversation that align with AJ Bell’s goals.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Security Operations in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Head of Security Operations role. Highlight your experience with Information Security risk management and any relevant frameworks like ISO27001 or NIST. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about security operations and how you can contribute to AJ Bell's goals. Keep it concise but impactful – we love a good story!
Showcase Your Communication Skills: Since strong written communication is key for this role, make sure your application is clear and well-structured. Use bullet points where necessary and avoid jargon unless it's relevant. We appreciate clarity and professionalism!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, it shows us you’re keen on joining the AJ Bell family!
How to prepare for a job interview at Aj Bell
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of Information Security risk management tools and techniques. Familiarise yourself with the specific frameworks like ISO27001 and NIST, as well as the latest trends in the threat landscape. This will show that you're not just a candidate, but a knowledgeable expert ready to tackle the challenges AJ Bell faces.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare to discuss your hands-on experience with security solutions such as SIEM, endpoint protection, and cloud services. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've managed security incidents or improved processes in previous roles. This will help demonstrate your capability to align with AJ Bell's operational needs.
✨Communicate Clearly
Since strong written and verbal communication skills are crucial for this role, practice articulating complex security concepts in simple terms. Think about how you would explain your strategies to non-technical stakeholders. This will highlight your ability to bridge the gap between technical and business perspectives.
✨Be Proactive and Engaging
AJ Bell values self-motivated individuals who can take initiative. During the interview, express your enthusiasm for continuous improvement and how you plan to foster a culture of security awareness within the team. Share ideas on how you would develop the incident response framework and engage with colleagues at all levels.
