At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead security initiatives and manage vulnerability programmes to protect our innovative banking solutions.
- Company: Join Crown Agents Bank, a rapidly growing UK bank transforming payments in emerging markets.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, hybrid work, and support for your professional development.
- Other info: Be part of a small, agile team where your contributions are valued and visible.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in cybersecurity while working on cutting-edge financial projects.
- Qualifications: 7-8 years in information security with strong technical and governance experience required.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
Crown Agents Bank is a vastly growing and regulated UK bank that connects emerging and frontier markets to the rest of the world, using FX and payments technology. We are transforming the way payments and FX move through emerging markets, reducing friction so that more money gets to those who need it. Our solutions help fix these pain points, ultimately connecting traditionally hard-to-reach regions to global financial infrastructure.
Role Purpose
This is a specialist dual-focus role at the intersection of secure delivery and security assurance. You will own two primary programmes of work for Crown Agents Bank:
- Security in Change: Acting as the security voice in project delivery — conducting risk assessments, reviewing architecture, maintaining the Secure SDLC framework, and providing formal security sign-off on material changes.
- Security Assurance: Running the Bank’s security testing and vulnerability management programme — commissioning and managing penetration tests, owning vulnerability reporting and trend analysis, managing attack surface visibility, and working collaboratively across the business to drive remediation.
You will be technically credible enough to challenge architects and developers, and clear and persuasive enough to land risk decisions with senior stakeholders. As part of a small, high-trust CISO team, you will also flex across the wider service catalogue beyond your primary accountabilities.
Role Responsibilities
PILLAR 1 — Security in Change
- Own and maintain the Secure SDLC framework, ensuring security requirements, controls, and standards are embedded across all material change programmes and project deliveries.
- Conduct security risk assessments on new projects, significant changes, architecture proposals, and new technology initiatives, producing clear risk documentation and recommendations.
- Provide architecture review and formal security sign-off for project delivery, acting as the gating authority for security acceptance of changes into production.
- Define and maintain application security standards including OWASP-aligned secure coding guidelines, security requirements, and application security testing criteria.
- Act as the embedded security adviser to project and engineering teams, providing practical, timely guidance that enables secure delivery without impeding pace.
- Contribute to third-party and vendor risk assessments for new solutions and integrations, ensuring security due diligence is conducted as part of onboarding.
PILLAR 2 — Security Testing & Vulnerability Management
- Own the vulnerability management programme end-to-end: aggregate and analyse data from Tenable and other scanning tooling, maintain prioritisation logic based on exploitability, asset criticality, and business context, and produce governance-ready reporting for ORC and senior stakeholders.
- Commission, scope, and manage penetration tests (infrastructure, application, and where appropriate red team/social engineering), tracking findings through to remediation closure.
- Own attack surface management — maintain visibility of the firm’s externally exposed assets and services, identify unmanaged or unexpected exposure, and feed findings into the vulnerability management and pentest scoping pipeline.
- Conduct technical analysis of vulnerability and assessment data to produce actionable prioritisation recommendations, distinguishing between critical risk and noise.
- Work collaboratively with Production Services, engineering, and infrastructure teams to promote and track remediation — owning the reporting and assurance of remediation progress.
- Maintain and continuously improve vulnerability management tooling, processes, and SLA frameworks in line with the firm’s risk appetite.
Contributing Responsibilities
- Support ISO 27001, Cyber Essentials, SWIFT CSP, DORA, and NYDFS Part 500 compliance activities within areas of ownership, including evidence collection and control testing.
- Contribute to security incident response where technical expertise in vulnerability exploitation, application security, or network threat analysis is relevant.
- Support security awareness activities including specialist training content and targeted communication.
Qualifications
- Degree or equivalent professional experience in a relevant technical or security discipline.
- Professional certification — one or more of the following is desirable: AWS Security, AZ-500, SC-200.
- Minimum 7–8 years’ experience in information security roles, ideally with exposure to both technical delivery and governance functions.
- Demonstrable experience owning or managing a vulnerability management programme, including use of Tenable, Qualys, or equivalent scanning platforms.
- Experience commissioning, scoping, and managing penetration tests and tracking remediation to closure.
- Strong understanding of Secure SDLC frameworks (OWASP SAMM, BSIMM, or equivalent) and practical application security knowledge (OWASP Top 10, secure coding, security requirements).
- Excellent communication skills — able to engage technical teams, project managers, and senior stakeholders with equal clarity.
- Working knowledge of ISO 27001, SWIFT CSP, DORA, NYDFS Part 500, or Cyber Essentials.
- Hands-on experience with Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, Sentinel, or equivalent security tooling.
- Innovative mindset with a genuine interest in the evolving threat landscape, including AI-driven threats and offensive tooling developments.
Why Join Us?
- Be part of a small, agile, and collaborative team where your impact is direct and visible.
- Opportunity to work on cutting-edge financial services and security projects.
- Competitive salary and benefits, including training and development support.
- Hybrid working arrangements and a culture that values innovation and initiative.
Benefits include:
- Contributory personal pension plan: Minimum: Employee 2% and Employer 7%. Employer matches contributions in 1% increments to a maximum of: Employee 5% and Employer 10%.
- Life Assurance – 4 times annual salary.
- Group Income Protection.
- Private Medical Insurance – this may include cover for partner and or children at company cost. Cover includes Optical, Dental and Audiology.
Cyber Security Manager employer: Crown Agents Bank Ltd.
Crown Agents Bank is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and collaborative work environment where your contributions are both impactful and visible. With a strong focus on employee growth, competitive benefits including a generous pension plan, private medical insurance, and opportunities for professional development, CAB fosters a culture of innovation and initiative, making it an ideal place for those looking to advance their careers in the evolving field of cyber security.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Cyber Security Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with folks in the cyber security field. Attend industry events, webinars, or even local meetups. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio that highlights your past projects, especially those related to vulnerability management and secure SDLC frameworks. This will give potential employers a clear view of what you can bring to the table.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your technical knowledge and soft skills. Be ready to discuss your experience with penetration testing and risk assessments. Practice common interview questions and think about how you can demonstrate your problem-solving abilities.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at Crown Agents Bank.
We think you need these skills to ace Cyber Security Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Cyber Security Manager role. Highlight relevant experience, especially in security risk assessments and vulnerability management. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter should tell us why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of your past work that relate to security in change and assurance. Let your personality shine through while keeping it professional!
Showcase Your Technical Skills:Don’t forget to mention your technical expertise! Whether it's your hands-on experience with Tenable or your knowledge of Secure SDLC frameworks, we want to know what makes you stand out in the cyber security field.
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 our team at Crown Agents Bank!
How to prepare for a job interview at Crown Agents Bank Ltd.
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of Secure SDLC frameworks and vulnerability management. Be ready to discuss your hands-on experience with tools like Tenable or Qualys, as well as your approach to conducting security risk assessments.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
This role requires clear communication with both technical teams and senior stakeholders. Prepare examples of how you've effectively communicated complex security concepts in the past, and be ready to demonstrate your ability to engage with diverse audiences.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that test your problem-solving skills in real-world situations. Think about past projects where you had to manage vulnerabilities or conduct risk assessments, and be ready to explain your thought process and decision-making.
✨Understand the Company’s Mission
Familiarise yourself with Crown Agents Bank's mission to connect emerging markets to global financial infrastructure. Be prepared to discuss how your skills and experiences align with their goals, especially in terms of reducing friction in payments and enhancing security.