Product Owner - Core Banking in London

Role: Product Owner

Location: London, UK

Type: Contract

Working Model: Hybrid – 4 days per week onsite

Start Date: Immediate or max 2 week notice

Positions: 1

Experience Required: 10–12 years (Record of Reference / Core Banking preferred)

Role Overview

We are seeking an experienced Product Owner – Record of Reference (RoR) to lead the definition, evaluation and implementation of a minimalistic, next generation core banking layer. This foundational platform will act as the authoritative system of record for key banking, client and transactional data and will sit at the heart of the organisation's wider technology transformation. The ideal candidate will combine strong domain knowledge (core banking, ledger, reference data), experience delivering complex platform implementations and a deep understanding of integration across payments, FX, finance, risk, and compliance.

Key Responsibilities

• Define the long-term vision, scope and boundaries for the organisation's Record of Reference (RoR) platform.
• Own the product roadmap for a lightweight, minimal core aligned to the company's architectural principles.
• Ensure the RoR effectively supports B2B banking operations, multi-currency products and complex global structures.
• Lead structured evaluations, RFP processes and vendor assessments for RoR components (core, ledger, customer/static data, workflow).
• Own proof-of-concepts and pilot activities to validate functional fit, scalability and integration complexity.
• Drive buy-versus-build decisions focused on long-term value, regulatory suitability and operational efficiency.
• Own end-to-end requirements across regulatory, finance, operations, payments and FX domains.
• Translate business needs into clear epics, user stories and acceptance criteria.
• Lead delivery across configuration, integration, migration and controlled release activities.
• Define golden sources for customer, account, product, limits and reference data.
• Ensure strong data governance, lineage, auditability and compliance with regulatory expectations.
• Prevent duplication and functional overlap across upstream and downstream systems.
• Own integration models between the RoR and surrounding platforms (payments, FX, AML, finance, reporting, digital channels).
• Champion API-first, event-driven and service-oriented integration patterns.
• Collaborate closely with architecture teams to ensure alignment with long-term technology strategies.
• Embed regulatory requirements (UK PRA/FCA, audit, reporting, controls) into RoR design and implementation.
• Work with Operations and Finance to ensure reconciliation, GL alignment, controls and reporting requirements are supported.
• Ensure delivery meets operational readiness, support structures and resilience standards.

Skills & Experience

• Strong experience as a Product Owner/Product Manager within core banking, ledger or system-of-record platforms.
• Experience implementing modern cloud or composable banking solutions.
• Deep understanding of minimal core and composable architecture models.
• Demonstrable experience leading product evaluations, PoCs and vendor selections.
• Proven track record delivering complex system implementations involving multiple integrations.
• Highly Desirable: Experience in wholesale banking, transaction banking or B2B focused environments.
• Exposure to payments, FX, finance, AML, compliance and reporting platforms.
• Experience simplifying, modernising or rationalising legacy core banking environments.