At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a modern PMO, shaping how we deliver change and make confident decisions.
- Company: Join a value-driven organisation focused on Purpose, Ambition, Respect, and Trust.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, 25 days holiday, and generous health benefits.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with opportunities for personal and career development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by influencing senior leaders and driving effective change.
- Qualifications: Experience in leading a PMO and strong stakeholder management skills required.
The predicted salary is between 60045 - 72984 £ per year.
Are you looking for a role where you can shape how an organisation delivers change, balances assurance with pace and makes confident decisions? If you have experience leading a PMO in portfolio, project or product environments and want to help evolve a modern PMO function, this role could be for you.
Contract: Permanent
Working hours: 35 hours per week is full time. We are open to part time/flexible working patterns where possible. Please let us know in your application your desired working pattern.
Salary: This role offers a salary range of £60,045 – £72,984 per annum. The final offer will reflect the successful candidate’s skills, experience, and interview performance.
Location: London
Reporting to: Head of PMO
Our permanent hybrid policy expects colleagues to work at least four days across a fortnight in the office. As well as extensive opportunities for personal and career development.
About Us: The effective management and delivery of an ambitious portfolio of change is central to our organisational strategy. As PMO Lead you will play a leadership role in shaping and operating a modern Portfolio Management Office that supports projects, programmes and product-led delivery.
You will be responsible for the oversight, assurance and enablement of our portfolio, ensuring that decisions are informed by clear insight including risk, capacity and delivery confidence. A core part of the role is to continually evolve our portfolio governance and delivery frameworks so that they remain proportionate, effective and align to how teams deliver change.
You will provide executives and senior leaders with a clear, trusted view of the portfolio health and delivery confidence enabling timely, evidence-based decisions across the portfolio. This includes risk, dependency and resource management alongside portfolio prioritisation with an understanding of the impact on both our operations and customers.
The PMO represents the first line of defence within our transformation assurance framework. In this role you will be balancing strong governance and control with a practical, pragmatic and enabling approach that supports our teams delivering change using a range of approaches, including traditional, agile and hybrid models as well as ongoing product delivery environments.
Strong relationships at senior levels are fundamental to success in this role. You will work closely with senior leadership and executive stakeholders, influencing decision-making, building confidence in delivery and ensuring the PMO is seen as a value-add strategic partner and business function.
Key responsibilities
- Delivering accurate and insightful reporting on across the portfolio of change for Executive and senior governance forums
- Building strong relationships across the Senior Management group and Executive team to secure the data, insight and engagement needed for effective portfolio oversight
- Developing and continuously improving approaches to portfolio, programme, project and change management, including benefits tracking, risk management, resource management, governance and assurance
- Driving consistent adoption of portfolio, programme and project management processes and tools to improve transparency, control and decision support
- Ensuring governance frameworks are effective, proportionate and responsive to the needs of an expanding portfolio spanning projects, product delivery and continuous improvement
- Supporting high-quality decision-making by identifying delivery risks, dependencies, trends and trade-offs, and by strengthening proposals ahead of governance discussions
- Supporting the Head of PMO and Director of Transformation with Executive update and decision-making forums, continually improving how those forums operate and the value they provide
- Maintaining an external perspective and applying best practice to strengthen PMO methods, standards and continuous improvement across the portfolio
Minimum Criteria
- Significant experience of leading or operating within a Portfolio Management Office or equivalent portfolio-level delivery function.
- Producing portfolio reporting from multiple sources to provide clear insight for Executive-level stakeholders and support decision-making
- A strong track record of working with and influencing senior leaders and executives across a complex organisation.
- Broad delivery experience across areas such as projects, programmes products or transformation, with sufficient depth to confidently advise and challenge delivery teams.
- A solid understanding of delivery fundamentals including planning, resourcing, risk and dependency management alongside governance and reporting.
- Supporting senior governance and decision-making forums in a way that adds value through analysis, judgement, challenge and continuous improvement
Desirable
- Applying recognised project, programme and change delivery methodologies such as PRINCE2, MSP, MoP, P3O, PMP or APMP in a pragmatic way
- Coaching, mentoring and developing colleagues to strengthen project, programme and change delivery capability
- Improving systems, processes or ways of working to increase consistency, efficiency and control across a portfolio environment
- Understanding organisational priorities, spotting complexity and interdependencies, and shaping the right portfolio-level approach across multiple pieces of work
Why You'll Love Working with Us:
- We are a value led organisation. Our values – Purpose, Ambition, Respect and Trust - shape our culture, decisions and strategy.
- Flexibility and hybrid working.
- A strong focus on wellbeing and inclusion.
- Investment in learning, development and progression.
We also offer:
- 25 days holiday entitlement, with the option to buy extra or sell days
- Generous pension
- Various Family Friendly Policies, including enhanced maternity pay, carers and dependants leave
- Employer provided benefits such as Private medical insurance, virtual GP, Critical illness cover, Life assurance cover, to name a few
- Choice of voluntary benefits including Technology scheme, Cycle to work scheme, Will-writing service amongst others
- Gym membership discounts, and a fully equipped on-site gym open 24/7 in London only
Please complete the attached questionnaire and upload a copy of your CV. Please send in applications by Midnight on Friday 10th July. Due to high application volumes this advert may close early. A full job profile is available on request and will be provided to candidates shortlisted to the first stage of the assessment process which will include an online assessment.
The Financial Ombudsman is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all team. We view diversity as fundamental to our success and welcome applications from underrepresented groups across all communities.
Don’t miss out be part of the journey and take advantage of this opportunity.
PMO Lead employer: Financial Ombudsman Service
Join a dynamic team at the Financial Ombudsman, where our values of Purpose, Ambition, Respect, and Trust create a supportive and inclusive work culture. As a PMO Lead in London, you'll benefit from flexible working arrangements, extensive personal and career development opportunities, and a strong focus on employee wellbeing. With a commitment to diversity and a range of generous benefits, including private medical insurance and gym membership discounts, we invite you to help shape how change is delivered across our organisation.
Contact Details:
Financial Ombudsman Service Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land PMO Lead
✨Tip Number 1: Get Involved in Consulting Case Competitions
Look for case competitions hosted by universities and consulting firms. They’re a fab way to showcase your problem-solving skills and meet industry players. Plus, winning one can seriously boost your CV, which we know is key when applying for roles like PMO Lead at Financial Ombudsman Service!
✨Tip Number 2: Leverage Alumni Networks
Tap into your university’s alumni network; many consultants love to help out new talent. Reach out to alumni who are working in management consulting, they might have insider knowledge about openings at firms like Financial Ombudsman Service or be willing to refer you for that PMO Lead position!
✨Tip Number 3: Attend Industry Events and Conferences
Keep an eye on management consulting events, workshops, or panels. These are prime opportunities to network with top professionals and get your name out there. You might even bump into someone from Financial Ombudsman Service who’s on the lookout for their next PMO Lead star!
✨Tip Number 4: Polish Your Consulting Skills Online
Engage with online platforms that offer consulting simulations or courses. Prove your chops by completing relevant projects — this not only beefs up your experience but also gives you concrete examples to chat about during interviews for that full-time PMO Lead role at Financial Ombudsman Service!
We think you need these skills to ace PMO Lead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Problem-Solving Skills:In management consulting, it's all about problem-solving—so make sure your CV highlights your analytical and critical thinking skills. Include examples from your studies or previous roles where you tackled complex issues or came up with innovative solutions. Quantify your achievements whenever possible to demonstrate your impact!
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to explain why you're a perfect fit for the consulting world. Focus on your motivation for joining the industry and how your skills align with the requirements of the role at Financial Ombudsman Service. Remember to mention any relevant coursework or projects that showcase your understanding of strategic frameworks or business models!
Highlight Team Experience:Consultants often work in teams, so it's vital to showcase your collaborative skills. Include experiences where you've worked effectively with others, whether in academic group projects or internships. Discuss your role in the team and how you helped achieve common goals, demonstrating you can thrive in a consultancy environment.
Professionalise Your Online Presence:Make sure your LinkedIn and any other professional profiles are up to date, reflecting your career aspirations in management consulting. Connect with industry professionals and follow relevant groups—show you’re serious about entering this field. Applying through our website is a great way to get noticed, so showcase your personality and enthusiasm there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Financial Ombudsman Service
✨Master the Case Study Game
In management consulting, case study interviews are all the rage. Make sure to practice structuring your thoughts and analysing data on the fly. Use resources like example case studies to get comfortable with frameworks and solutions. Remember, it’s not just about getting the right answer but showcasing your thought process, so talk us through your reasoning!
✨Know Your Numbers
Be prepared for some numerical and analytical questions. Brush up on your mental math and be ready to interpret data from charts or graphs. We might throw some business scenarios at you that require a quick turnaround on numerical analysis, so practice these skills to feel confident and swift!
✨Show Your Leadership Flair
As this is a full-time role, we want to see your potential as a seasoned consultant. Be ready to discuss experiences where you've led a project or a team. Think about times you've influenced decisions or navigated challenges—this is your chance to show how you can thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
✨Be a Cultural Fit
We’re not just looking for brains; we want to see if you vibe with our company culture at Financial Ombudsman Service. Prepare to share how your values align with ours. Have a think about what makes a great team environment for you and how you can contribute to that. A good cultural fit goes a long way in management consulting!
