At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a major cloud migration programme in the London Market Insurance sector.
- Company: Albany Beck, a dynamic consultancy focused on transformative solutions for Financial Services.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and a supportive learning environment.
- Other info: Join a high-performing team with excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a significant impact by driving innovative technology transformations.
- Qualifications: Extensive experience in cloud migrations and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
Albany Beck is a Management Consultancy focused on providing specialist talent and transformative solutions to Financial Services clients. We combine subject matter expertise with innovative delivery models that help clients scale efficiently, while offering meaningful, long-term career opportunities to our people.
Albany Beck is seeking an experienced Programme Director to take ownership of a strategic, business-critical cloud migration programme within a leading London Market Insurance organisation. This is a high-profile transformation initiative focused on migrating critical infrastructure, applications and services from legacy data centre environments into Microsoft Azure. The successful candidate will provide overall programme leadership, establish clear direction and bring control, structure and momentum to a complex delivery environment.
The Programme Director will be accountable for the full programme lifecycle, from discovery, assessment and mobilisation through migration execution, transition and operational handover. They will lead multiple delivery workstreams across technology, infrastructure, security, architecture, operations and the wider business, ensuring alignment around a clear migration strategy and integrated delivery plan. This role requires a highly experienced and hands-on Programme Director with a proven track record of recovering complex technology programmes, resolving delivery challenges and successfully delivering large-scale cloud migrations within regulated organisations. Experience within the London Market Insurance sector would be highly desirable, although broader insurance or financial services experience will also be considered.
Key Responsibilities- Take overall accountability for the strategy, governance and successful delivery of a major enterprise cloud migration programme.
- Lead the programme from discovery and assessment through mobilisation, migration, implementation, cutover and transition into BAU.
- Review the existing programme position and conduct a detailed assessment of delivery status, risks, resources, governance and programme controls.
- Develop and execute a programme recovery plan where required, establishing clear priorities, ownership and delivery accountability.
- Define the programme vision, migration strategy, delivery roadmap, milestones and measurable business outcomes.
- Establish and maintain an integrated programme plan covering infrastructure, applications, data, networks, security, operational readiness and business change.
- Provide executive-level leadership across multiple programme workstreams and ensure alignment between business and technology teams.
- Manage programme scope, budget, resources, dependencies, risks, issues and delivery quality.
- Oversee the migration of critical applications and infrastructure from on-premise data centres into Microsoft Azure.
- Ensure migration activity is properly assessed, sequenced, tested and executed with minimal operational disruption.
- Lead application discovery, migration-wave planning, dependency mapping, cutover planning and legacy decommissioning activities.
- Drive the resolution of complex delivery blockers and escape critical risks where necessary.
- Establish robust programme governance, reporting, controls and decision-making frameworks.
- Chair steering committees, executive governance forums, delivery reviews and programme workshops.
- Provide clear and concise reporting to executive sponsors and senior leadership on delivery progress, financial position, risks and key decisions.
- Hold workstream leads, technology teams, vendors and delivery partners accountable for agreed outcomes.
- Manage third-party suppliers and implementation partners, ensuring performance against contractual and delivery commitments.
- Ensure alignment across architecture, engineering, cyber security, infrastructure, operations, service management and business teams.
- Maintain strong control over programme finances, including budgeting, forecasting, resource planning and supplier spend.
- Ensure cloud security, regulatory, resilience, operational and governance requirements are embedded throughout the programme.
- Oversee operational readiness, service transition, knowledge transfer and handover into BAU support.
- Build and lead a high-performing programme team, creating a culture of pace, ownership, transparency and delivery.
- Ensure lessons learned, programme documentation and delivery controls meet organisational and regulatory standards.
- Extensive experience operating as a Programme Director on large-scale technology and infrastructure transformation programmes.
- Proven experience leading multiple enterprise cloud migrations from discovery and assessment through to implementation and final delivery.
- Strong experience delivering migrations into Microsoft Azure within complex enterprise environments.
- Demonstrable experience recovering, resetting or stabilising complex programmes experiencing delivery challenges.
- Experience leading cloud, infrastructure, application migration or data centre exit programmes within regulated organisations.
- Strong understanding of application discovery, migration-wave planning, dependency management, cutover, transition and legacy decommissioning.
- Experience managing complex, multi-workstream programmes involving technology, security, architecture, infrastructure, operations and business teams.
- Proven ability to operate at both strategic and detailed delivery levels.
- Strong executive stakeholder management experience, including regular interaction with C-suite leaders, programme sponsors and senior governance forums.
- Significant experience managing programme budgets, resources, suppliers and commercial arrangements.
- Strong knowledge of programme governance, delivery assurance, risk management and financial control.
- Experience managing systems integrators, cloud providers, technology vendors and third-party delivery partners.
- Strong understanding of operational resilience, cyber security, service transition and regulatory requirements within Financial Services.
- Experience within London Market Insurance, commercial insurance or broader Financial Services would be highly desirable.
- Excellent leadership, communication, negotiation and decision-making skills.
- Relevant programme or project management qualifications such as MSP, PMP, PRINCE2 or equivalent would be advantageous.
Program Director employer: Albany Beck
At Albany Beck, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that champions your professional growth and personal development. Our collaborative work culture fosters innovation and creativity, while our commitment to meaningful career opportunities ensures that you will be at the forefront of transformative projects within the dynamic London Market Insurance sector. Join us to lead impactful cloud migration initiatives and thrive in an environment that values your expertise and contributions.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Program Director
✨Tap into Campus Networks
If you're still in uni, don’t forget to engage with your campus's career services and attend finance-related events. Banks often do presentations and recruitment drives on campus, so put yourself out there and make use of these opportunities to show off your passion for the field.
✨Get Certified
Consider pursuing relevant certifications like the CFA or ACCA while you’re job hunting. They not only beef up your CV but also connect you with professional bodies which can lead to networking opportunities and even job openings in banking and financial services.
✨Connect on Professional Platforms
Join finance-focused groups on platforms like LinkedIn and engage in discussions. This can really help you stand out from the crowd, allowing potential employers to see your knowledge and interest in industry trends. Plus, you might stumble upon job postings shared exclusively within the group.
✨Apply Directly and Be Proactive
Don’t shy away from reaching out directly to firms like Albany Beck. Use their websites and apply through them, but also consider following up with a polite email to express your enthusiasm. Being proactive can make a huge difference in getting noticed in the competitive financial services sector.
We think you need these skills to ace Program Director
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Numbers!:In the banking and financial services world, quantifiable achievements are key. Make sure your CV highlights your grades in relevant subjects, any financial certifications you hold, and specific projects where you've delivered measurable results. Employers love to see how your skills translate into real-world success.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Role:When applying for a full-time position, your cover letter should make a direct connection between your experience and the job description. Don't just state your enthusiasm for finance—dive into how your background in banking or financial analysis sets you apart. Let your passion shine through while being specific about what you can bring to Albany Beck.
Include Relevant Financial Software Experience:If you've worked with financial modelling tools or software like Excel, SAP, or specific analytical tools during your studies or internships, bring that up! Highlighting your proficiency can really make your application pop and show you're ready to hit the ground running in a full-time role.
Research and Reflect:Before hitting that 'apply' button on Albany Beck's website, do a little digging. Look up their recent projects, values, and culture. Reflecting their ethos in your application can make a huge difference and show you’re genuinely interested in being part of the team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Albany Beck
✨Brush Up on Financial Analysis Skills
Make sure you're well-versed in financial concepts and analytical techniques relevant to banking and financial services. Get comfortable with tools like Excel for modelling or financial forecasting, as technical questions in this area are common during interviews with Albany Beck.
✨Prepare for Case Studies
Expect to tackle case studies that demonstrate your problem-solving skills in real-world banking scenarios. Familiarise yourself with the types of problems you might face—think risk assessments or investment evaluations—and be ready to articulate your thought process clearly.
✨Show Your Passion for Finance
Since this is a full-time position, employers at Albany Beck will be keen to see your genuine interest in finance. Be prepared to discuss recent industry trends or news articles that excite you, showcasing your enthusiasm and engagement with the field.
✨Network with Industry Professionals
Before your interview, reach out to current or former Albany Beck employees on platforms like LinkedIn. They'll offer unique insights into the company's culture and the interview process, which can give us a delightful edge in showcasing a good fit for the team.
