At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead PMO activities to ensure successful delivery of complex projects at Pay.UK.
- Company: Join Pay.UK, the backbone of UK retail payment systems.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, generous leave, and a strong pension plan.
- Other info: Embrace a diverse and inclusive workplace with excellent growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on the UK's payment systems while developing your career.
- Qualifications: Experience in PMO or portfolio management is essential.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 65000 £ per year.
We are looking for a PMO Lead to support the safe, consistent delivery of a defined portfolio, programme, or large and complex project at Pay.UK. This is a 12 month fixed term role within our Chief Strategy and Transformation Office, fully assigned to a specific delivery scope and closely connected to the Enterprise Portfolio Office. In this role, you will focus on practical PMO delivery. You will apply our Change Framework and portfolio management practices day to day, support delivery teams with clear governance, and provide dependable insight through reporting, planning and assurance. Your work will help colleagues across Pay.UK understand where work is on track, where risks sit, and what needs attention next. You will be working in an organisation that operates UK retail payment systems processing billions of transactions each year, giving your role clear scale and purpose.
Accountabilities
- Apply the Pay.UK Change Framework and portfolio management practices within your assigned portfolio, programme, or project scope.
- Prepare and maintain accurate reporting covering delivery status, risks, dependencies, finances, and benefits.
- Coordinate planning activities using agreed tools and methods, including MSP, Planview, and quarterly planning events.
- Support governance by organising and servicing steering committees, working groups, and assurance reviews.
- Manage risk, issue, and dependency logs, ensuring timely escalation and clear follow up actions.
- Work with delivery leads and team members to agree resource plans and budgets, track actual spend and capacity against plan, and highlight variances early so we can take informed action together.
- Capture lessons learned and feedback, and feed practical improvements into PMO ways of working and tooling.
- Provide day to day oversight and guidance for PMO Analysts assigned to your scope.
- Apply the Pay.UK Change Framework within your assigned portfolio, programme, or project by setting up agreed governance, planning cycles, and reporting routines that teams can follow day to day.
- Prepare and update delivery reports that clearly show status, risks, dependencies, finances, and benefits, using data from Planview, MSP, and team inputs.
- Coordinate portfolio and programme planning activities, including maintaining plans in MSP and Planview and supporting quarterly planning events with accurate inputs and outputs.
Qualifications, Skills and Experience
- Experience leading PMO or portfolio management activities within complex programmes, portfolios, or large projects.
- Practical experience applying change or portfolio management frameworks in an organisational setting.
- Ability to prepare clear, structured reports for senior leaders, including executive or board level audiences.
- Experience working with portfolio and project management tools such as Planview, MS Project, Jira, and SharePoint.
Pay.UK Behaviours
At Pay.UK, our behaviours are central to who we are and how we operate. They bring our values to life, shape our culture, and guide how we make decisions, collaborate, and respond to challenges across the payments ecosystem. All interview processes will assess the following behaviours:
- Listen to Find Win-Wins - Empathy, Listening and Understanding
- Lead with Courage - Influence, Boldness
- Go Horizontal First - Cross Boundary Collaboration
- Take Ownership - Self Development
- Opportunity Mindset - Initiative
- Simplify - Achievement Orientation
Inclusivity
At Pay.UK, we value diversity and inclusivity. Research has shown that candidates from underrepresented groups may hesitate to apply unless they meet all the requirements listed. We encourage all qualified candidates to apply, regardless of how closely their skills and experience match the requirements. We are committed to supporting accessibility needs and creating a welcoming environment for all employees. Become part of our team and contribute to the creation of an inclusive work environment that values everyone's unique input.
Who we are
Pay.UK maintains and develops the UK retail payment systems and standards that are core to the economy being able to function on a day-to-day basis. From Bacs to Faster Payments and cheques – we act as the single operator for all UK retail payments. We put the needs of consumers and businesses at the heart of everything we do, working in the public interest to ensure that the systems the country relies on for its banking transactions are safe, open, innovative and resilient. Our payment systems underpin the services that enable funds to be transferred between people and institutions. In 2024, the UK's retail payment systems processed 11 billion transactions worth over £10 trillion through Bacs Direct Credit, Direct Debit, Faster Payments, and cheques, and our Current Account Switch Service has facilitated over 9 million switches since its launch in 2013. Every day, individuals and businesses use the services we provide to get their salaries, pay their bills and make online and mobile banking payments. Our vision for the future is to enable a vibrant economy, with Pay.UK delivering robust payment infrastructure and standards for the benefit of consumers and businesses nationwide.
Benefits & additional information
- 12% Non-contributory pension
- Discretionary annual bonus
- 30 days annual leave (excluding bank holidays)
- Private medical insurance, life assurance, income protection, health cash plan, dental insurance, Bupa medicals etc
- Employee assistance programme
- Cycle to Work Scheme
- Season ticket loan
- Annual fitness subsidy of up to £500 per annum
- Working from home policy - minimum 40% in the office (e.g. 2 days in the office over a 5 day working week)
Please note: Some of our benefits are only available to colleagues after meeting the requirements of the probationary period.
PMO Lead in London employer: Pay.UK
Contact Detail:
Pay.UK Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land PMO Lead in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections on LinkedIn or at industry events. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Pay.UK and understanding their Change Framework. Tailor your answers to show how your experience aligns with their needs, especially in PMO delivery.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Do mock interviews with friends or use online platforms to get comfortable with common PMO-related questions. The more you practice, the more confident you'll feel.
✨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 the Pay.UK team.
We think you need these skills to ace PMO Lead in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience with PMO and portfolio management. Use keywords from the job description to show that you understand what we're looking for.
Showcase Your Skills: Don’t just list your skills; provide examples of how you've applied them in previous roles. Whether it’s using Planview or managing risks, we want to see how you’ve made an impact.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it structured and to the point. We appreciate clarity, especially when it comes to reporting and governance, so make sure your application reflects that.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us quickly and efficiently, plus you’ll find all the info you need about the role there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Pay.UK
✨Know the Pay.UK Change Framework
Familiarise yourself with the Pay.UK Change Framework and portfolio management practices. Be ready to discuss how you've applied similar frameworks in your past roles, as this will show your understanding of their processes and your ability to adapt.
✨Prepare Structured Reports
Since you'll need to prepare clear reports for senior leaders, practice structuring your thoughts and data beforehand. Bring examples of reports you've created in the past, highlighting your ability to present complex information in a digestible format.
✨Showcase Your Collaboration Skills
Pay.UK values cross-boundary collaboration, so be prepared to share examples of how you've worked effectively with diverse teams. Highlight instances where you’ve led initiatives that required input from various stakeholders to achieve a common goal.
✨Demonstrate Risk Management Experience
Discuss your experience managing risks, issues, and dependencies in previous projects. Be specific about the tools you used, like MSP or Planview, and how you ensured timely escalation and follow-up actions to keep projects on track.