Sector Director – Banking, Financial Services and Insurance in Manchester

Locations: London, Cambridge, Manchester

Softwire is a leading UK technology and strategy consultancy. From enterprise to government, we help visionary organisations turn strategic ambitions into results at scale. Our practices cover AI transformation, data platforms, systems engineering, advanced CX and experience design. Trusted by well-known organisations across the public and private sector, Softwire has grown into a business that consistently delivers large, high-profile digital projects for the UK’s leading brands.

Softwire was founded on one simple idea: if we can create the best possible culture and working environment then everything else will fall into place. And it seems to be working – we were recently voted number 1 company to work for in the UK in the Best Company awards, and we have a loyal and growing client base who trust us with their hardest problems and their mission critical projects.

When you work with Softwire, you’re not only becoming part of a team with in-depth technical skills and delivery expertise – you’ll be working in a high-trust, high-energy environment full of smart, kind, fun people passionate about building something amazing.

In brief, the Sector Director (BFSI) is the senior leader accountable for the overall performance, growth, and strategic direction of Softwire’s Banking, Financial Services & Insurance business unit. You will define strategy for the business unit and take full ownership of the P&L, taking accountability for the overall business unit revenue target (£15m in 2026 and looking to grow significantly in the future) and gross margin targets and for managing broader business unit budget and objectives.

You will bring deep sector expertise, strong commercial acumen, and be well networked with and highly credible in front of our target audience of BFSI CIOs, CTOs, CDOs and COOs. You will use your experience and strategic insight to shape which subsectors, propositions, and client types Softwire pursues. You will develop and execute the strategy to take these to market and to differentiate us from our competitors in the minds of our target buyers.

You are an experienced leader able to execute through others and build high performing teams of senior professionals. You are comfortable in sales, pre-sales and strategic account management processes, setting strategy and leading teams to deliver commercial outcomes. You will directly manage Sales Directors, Client Directors and Marketing Executives who are responsible for day-to-day demand generation, sector specific marketing, account development, and opportunity execution, and work closely with Delivery Directors, who lead the successful delivery and on-sell within major programmes.

As Sector Director, you are accountable for building the right team to deliver the strategy and achieve the objectives, and for the performance of that team.

• Business Unit Leadership & P&L Ownership: Full ownership of the P&L for BFSI, including developing sector strategy and associated business unit budget and objectives, hitting the business unit revenue target, gross margin target, and delivering the strategic objectives. Fully owning Business Unit performance against commercial objectives: forecasting, reporting, and taking action to ensure they are hit. Primary commercial objectives will include proposition development, validation and scaling; new client acquisition; and expansion of existing accounts into new areas and services.
• Go-To-Market Strategy and Proposition Development: Defining which BFSI subsectors, client personas, and market opportunities Softwire should target, based on commercial potential, route to market, our ability to differentiate, and alignment to Softwire’s commercial objectives. Leading proposition definition in partnership with our core Practices — ensuring offerings are commercially viable, deliverable, and compelling in the BFSI market. Developing and delivering the BFSI go-to-market strategy, ensuring alignment across sales, marketing, propositions, and delivery.
• Brand, Market Positioning & Thought Leadership: Defining how Softwire should position itself within BFSI to become a partner of choice. Taking overall accountability for brand perception and reach within our chosen BFSI sub-sectors and target accounts. Acting as a senior ambassador for Softwire, representing the BU through conferences, thought leadership, and client C-suite engagement.
• Revenue Growth and Sales Execution: Owning the revenue, new client acquisition, and margin targets for the sector as a whole and managing Sales Directors and Client Directors to hit their personal revenue and new client goals. Ensuring the BU maintains a healthy pipeline and that sales effort is focused on the right sectors and propositions.
• Cross-Functional Leadership & Execution: Designing, building, leading, and motivating the cross-functional BFSI team, including Sales Directors, Client Directors, Marketing, and proposition SMEs. Reporting progress to the CCO/CEO and executive team, ensuring transparency and proactive risk management.

About you: You have 10+ years operating at senior commercial or business leadership level within BFSI and technology, including experience supplier side with responsibility for sector strategy, commercial growth, and go to market execution. You have a strong executive network in BFSI, and can open doors at C-suite level across your subsectors. You are collaborative and your default approach is to work with peers as a team, openly sharing information, resources, and comms. You are commercially sharp, with a demonstrable track record of growing a business line or BU, closing large (£1m+) complex deals, owning P&L of £10m+, and winning the trust of our target buyer personas.

The package: Softwire operates transparent pay scales and a profit share scheme based on role and overall company performance. Highly competitive base salary based on level of experience in a similar role. You can expect to receive a lucrative profit share/bonus depending on your band and company performance. Pension: Additional 5% of salary. 25 days annual leave (with the option to buy and sell). Time off for company-wide morale events, time off for charitable activities. Free annual eye test, income protection, cycle to work, electric vehicle lease schemes, and payroll charity donations.

Flexibility: We are a flexible employer who understands that being committed to a job is not the same as sacrificing everything for it: holiday is holiday; if you need flexibility for life stuff that’s not a problem; and we don’t expect (or want) long hours – we believe in a good work/life balance.