Head Of Finance Systems & Change in Swindon

Finance is going through a significant period of change. We are bringing together Nationwide and Virgin Money capabilities, modernising our systems and data landscape, and changing how we organise and deliver transformation across Finance. We're looking for someone to lead the next stage of our Finance change delivery capability. This is a broad leadership role sitting at the heart of Finance transformation.

You'll bring together the Finance change portfolio, create greater clarity over priorities and dependencies, and make sure our teams have the right structure, capacity and disciplines to deliver change safely and effectively. We are happy to consider flexible working approaches to help you perform at your best. The working hours (per week) for this role can be between 30 and 35 hours. This is a 24-month secondment opportunity. At Nationwide we offer hybrid working wherever possible. More rewarding relationships are supported through our hybrid approach, bringing colleagues together across our UK wide estate, whilst also supporting generous access to home working. We value our time in the office to solve problems, to learn, and to feel connected. For this job you'll spend at least two days per week, or if part time you'll spend 40% of your working time, based at either our Swindon or London office.

If your application is successful, your hiring manager will provide further details on how this works. You can also find out more about our approach to hybrid working here. Nationwide is committed to the redeployment of our employees impacted by change, as such applications for redeployment candidates will be prioritised in this recruitment process.

Responsibilities

This role will lead the integrated Finance change portfolio, providing a clear view of priorities, dependencies, capacity, risks and outcomes across all activity. It will strengthen the Finance delivery model by creating clearer accountability between Finance leaders, programme teams, business owners, and our project and analysis capability, while ensuring that Finance strategy is translated into actionable and achievable delivery plans.

A key focus will be improving prioritisation and resource deployment, enabling informed decisions about where limited Finance capability is invested. The role will also create greater predictability and transparency through simple, consistent management information and earlier visibility of risks, dependencies and trade-offs, helping stakeholders make better-informed decisions.

The role will strengthen change disciplines across Finance, including planning, governance, readiness, testing and assurance, while joining up change activity across Finance and Technology. This will ensure Finance has a coherent position on major programmes and their associated dependencies, supporting successful delivery across the organisation.

In addition, the role will build a high-performing delivery capability by developing our programme, project and business analysis community and reducing dependency on individual knowledge. It will also drive continuous improvement in the way we work, simplifying processes and making effective use of data, automation and AI where they can genuinely enhance delivery outcomes.

About you

You'll be comfortable operating across a complex change environment and bringing clarity where there are competing priorities. You'll bring:

• Significant senior leadership experience across transformation, change or portfolio delivery.
• Experience leading complex, cross-functional change involving multiple programmes and stakeholders.
• The ability to connect strategic priorities to practical execution.
• Strong portfolio management, dependency management and prioritisation skills.
• Experience developing operating models and improving delivery disciplines.
• The ability to influence and challenge senior stakeholders constructively.
• A track record of building effective teams and capability.
• Sound judgement, particularly where priorities, resources and accountabilities aren't immediately clear.
• Deep knowledge of Treasury and/or Finance reporting platforms, associated data flows, controls, and regulatory reporting expectations.

Our customer first behaviours put customers and members at the heart of how we work together. They are the set of behaviours that every colleague needs to display, in every role:

• Feel what customers feel - We step into our customers’ shoes, using their feedback and insights to empathise with them and to understand their needs, so that every decision we make starts and finishes with our customers in mind.
• Say it straight - We are brave in speaking out and saying what we think – we’re honest and direct with good intent, openly sharing diverse perspectives to reach the best conclusions and using language everyone can understand.
• Push for better - We don’t settle for mediocrity, we challenge the status quo, taking responsibility for continuous improvement and personal development.
• Get it done - We prioritise what will have the greatest impact, we are decisive, and we take accountability for delivering brilliant customer outcomes.

You can strengthen your application by showing how our customer first behaviours resonate with you, and where you may have already demonstrated these.

Qualifications

The extras you’ll get

There are all sorts of employee benefits available at Nationwide, including:

• 30 days holiday, pro rata
• Private medical insurance
• A highly competitive pension to help you build a strong foundation for retirement
• Access to an annual performance-related bonus
• Training and development to help you progress your career
• A great selection of additional benefits through our salary sacrifice scheme
• Life assurance to provide peace of mind for you and your loved ones in the event of your death
• Wellhub – access to a range of free and paid options for health and wellness
• Up to 2 days of paid volunteering a year

Banking – but fairer, more rewarding, and for the good of society

We forge our own path at Nationwide. As a mutual, we’re owned by our members - those customers who bank, save or have a mortgage with us. We challenge the financial sector status quo. We don’t see customers as the engine of our own profit. We share our profits with them and put their needs first. Always there when they need us. Supporting them and their lives.

If you’re inspired by fairer finances, passionate about making a meaningful impact, and truly care about our customers, you’re one of us. At Nationwide, you are challenged to grow and rewarded for doing so. Valued. Recognised. Inspired to be your best. As a community, we want our working lives to count. As a team, we celebrate what we achieve. As a standard-setter, we work for the good of customers, communities, and broader society. We are purpose-driven. Uncompromisingly customer. Unstoppably Nationwide.

What to do next

If this role is for you, please click the ‘Apply Now’ button. You’ll need to attach your up-to-date CV and answer a few quick questions for us. We respond to everyone, so we will be in contact shortly after the closing date to let you know the outcome of your application. Keeping your data and personal information confidential is important to us.

Disability Confident

We’re not just guided by data, we’re driven by the real experiences of our people. We’re a Disability Confident Level 3 Leader, the highest level. That’s why we’re constantly evolving our policies and practices to make sure everyone feels genuinely supported, valued, and empowered to champion inclusion. Whatever your needs, we’re here to support you. If you need any additional support throughout your application journey, email our team at Recruitment Support.

Apply safely with Nationwide. Recruitment scams can look convincing, so take a moment to check the role is listed on our official careers site and read our guidance on Don’t be conned by a job scam.