At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategy execution and governance for Universal Banking at a global financial services leader.
- Company: Join Finastra, a top player in financial services software with a diverse culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy unlimited vacation, hybrid work, health benefits, and career development opportunities.
- Other info: Be part of an inclusive environment that values unique perspectives and personal growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a high-stakes role with senior-level exposure and strategic influence.
- Qualifications: Extensive experience in strategic planning and strong problem-solving skills required.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
At Finastra, we're a global leader in financial services software, dedicated to expanding access to financial services and shaping what's next for the industry. Our technology powers mission-critical solutions across Lending, Payments and Universal Banking, supporting over 7,000 customers, including 80% of the world's top 50 banks, in more than 110 countries.
We are looking for a Strategy, Governance and Operations Lead to join our Universal Banking organisation. This is a high-impact, enterprise-level role reporting directly to the Chief of Staff, sitting at the centre of strategy execution, governance, and value delivery for one of Finastra's most important businesses. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who can combine strategic thinking with strong execution discipline, and who thrives in complex, matrixed environments with senior-level exposure.
Responsibilities
- Partner closely with the Chief of Staff to shape and operationalise Universal Banking strategy and Leadership Team priorities.
- Translate strategic objectives into clear plans, milestones, sequencing, and success measures.
- Act as a senior, independent thought partner on strategic choices, execution risks, prioritisation, and trade-offs.
- Lead the development of high-quality Leadership Team materials, including strategy updates, QBRs, annual planning cycles, and offsite content.
- Ensure materials are insight-led, concise, and focused on enabling high-quality decisions.
- Shape agendas and narratives that drive clarity, alignment, and action at senior forums.
- Contribute to business cases, strategic rationale, and value creation narratives.
- Support integration planning and ongoing value realisation tracking in partnership with relevant teams.
- Own the end-to-end portfolio view of initiatives, ensuring clear prioritisation and capacity awareness, dependency and interlock management, early visibility of risks and issues, and a consistent delivery and reporting cadence.
- Design and maintain effective operational governance, including decision forums, escalation paths, and portfolio-level reporting.
- Improve execution discipline and transparency without introducing unnecessary bureaucracy.
- Influence and align senior stakeholders across product, technology, operations, and commercial teams.
Qualifications
- Extensive experience in strategic planning, corporate strategy, corporate development, transformation, or top-tier strategy/management consulting roles.
- Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving capability, with the ability to assess complex business issues, identify key trade-offs, and shape clear recommendations for senior leaders.
- Proven ability to translate broad strategic priorities into focused plans, sequencing, and execution choices that drive measurable business outcomes.
- Excellent analytical and synthesis skills, with the ability to distil large volumes of information into concise, insight-led, decision-ready materials.
- Strong commercial and organisational judgement, including experience supporting prioritisation, business cases, value creation narratives, and portfolio-level decision making.
- Proven ability to operate as a senior individual contributor in complex, matrixed organisations, influencing senior stakeholders without formal authority.
- Strong executive-level communication skills, with confidence shaping narratives, challenging constructively, and bringing clarity to ambiguous or fast-moving situations.
- Experience in financial services, enterprise technology, or other regulated environments is preferred.
- A pragmatic, outcomes-focused mindset with a strong sense of ownership, pace, and accountability.
Benefits
- Flexibility: Enjoy unlimited vacation, subject to local regulations and business priorities. Benefit from hybrid working arrangements and inclusive policies such as paid time off for voting, bereavement, and sick leave.
- Well-being: Access confidential one-to-one support through our Employee Assistance Program, connect with our network of Wellbeing Champions and Gather Groups, and take part in monthly events and initiatives designed to help you thrive—in and outside of work.
- Health & Financial Security: Medical, life and disability insurance, retirement plans, lifestyle, and other benefits.
- Sustainability: Paid time off for volunteering and donation-matching opportunities to support causes that matter to you.
- Inclusion: Participate in inclusion communities such as Count Me In, Culture@Finastra, Proud@Finastra, Disabilities@Finastra, and Women@Finastra—open to everyone who wants to participate and contribute.
- Career Development: Access online learning and accredited courses through our Skills & Career Navigator tool.
- Recognition: Take part in our global recognition program, Finastra Celebrates, and share your voice through regular employee surveys that help shape our culture and ways of working.
At Finastra, each individual is unique—bringing their own ideas, perspectives, cultural backgrounds, and experiences. We learn from one another, value what makes us different, and create an environment where everyone feels included, supported, and able to be their authentic selves. Be unique. Be exceptional. Help us make a difference at Finastra.
Strategy, Governance and Operations Lead employer: Finastra
At Finastra, we pride ourselves on being a leading employer in the financial services software industry, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration. Our commitment to employee well-being is reflected in our flexible working arrangements, unlimited vacation policy, and robust career development opportunities, ensuring that every team member can thrive both personally and professionally. Join us in our mission to shape the future of finance while enjoying a supportive environment that values diversity and inclusion.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Strategy, Governance and Operations Lead
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry, especially those at Finastra. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insights that a job description just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by understanding the company’s strategy and values. Show us how your experience aligns with their goals, especially in areas like governance and operations.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your storytelling skills. We want to hear about your past experiences in a way that highlights your strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities. Make it engaging!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Strategy, Governance and Operations Lead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in strategic planning and governance. We want to see how your skills align with the role of Strategy, Governance and Operations Lead at Finastra.
Showcase Your Analytical Skills:In your application, emphasise your ability to distil complex information into concise, decision-ready materials. This is key for the role, so give us examples of how you've done this in the past!
Highlight Your Stakeholder Management Experience:We’re looking for someone who can influence senior stakeholders without formal authority. Share specific instances where you’ve successfully navigated complex environments and built strong relationships.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensure you’re considered for this exciting opportunity at Finastra.
How to prepare for a job interview at Finastra
✨Know Your Strategy Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into Finastra's strategy and recent developments in the financial services sector. Understand how their technology impacts lending, payments, and banking. This will help you articulate how your experience aligns with their goals.
✨Prepare Insightful Questions
Craft questions that demonstrate your strategic thinking and interest in the role. Ask about the challenges they face in operationalising their strategy or how they measure success in their initiatives. This shows you're not just interested in the job, but also in contributing to their mission.
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
Be ready to discuss specific examples where you've translated complex strategies into actionable plans. Highlight your ability to distil information into concise, decision-ready materials, as this is crucial for the role. Use metrics to showcase the impact of your previous work.
✨Demonstrate Stakeholder Influence
Prepare to share experiences where you've influenced senior stakeholders without formal authority. Discuss how you navigated complex environments and built consensus. This will illustrate your capability to thrive in a matrixed organisation like Finastra.
