At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead security operations and risk management for our SaaS platform, ensuring top-notch governance.
- Company: Join Temenos, a pioneering banking tech company transforming financial services for over 30 years.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible work options, generous leave policies, and support for personal development.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of operational excellence in a collaborative and innovative environment.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in IT operations with a strong grasp of security and compliance standards.
- Other info: This role offers a unique chance to shape the future of secure banking solutions.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 108000 £ per year.
ABOUT TEMENOS
Temenos powers a world of banking that creates opportunities for billions of people and businesses everywhere. We have been doing this for over 30 years through the pioneering spirit of our Temenosians who are passionate about making banking better, together. We serve over 3000 clients from the largest to challengers and community banks in 150+ countries. We collaborate with clients to build new banking services and state-of-the-art customer experiences on our open banking platform, helping them operate more sustainably. At Temenos, we have an open-minded and inclusive culture, where everyone has the power to create their own destiny and make a positive contribution to the world of banking and society.
THE ROLE
We are seeking a Client facing and strategically minded SVP, Head of Security Ops, Risk & Controls to lead the structured oversight, operational assurance, and continuous improvement of our SaaS platform. This role will sit at the heart of our operational governance model, working with both new and existing clients, owning key pillars such as security operations, release governance, quality assurance, disaster recovery, audit coordination, SLA conformance, and the definition of technical and operational security standards across the SaaS business. Reporting to the CTO, SaaS, this role will partner closely with Group-wide functions including GRC, Legal, Finance, QA, and Engineering to ensure secure, resilient, and high-quality SaaS delivery.
OPPORTUNITIES
- Operational Risk & Security Oversight
- Own the governance of operational security and threat readiness in partnership with the CISO.
- Define, maintain, and enforce security standards for the SaaS organisation, including technical standards, secure configuration baselines, and operational controls.
- Ensure these standards are consistently implemented across product, platform, DevOps, and client delivery teams.
- Lead the development of risk-informed operational controls aligned to regulatory and enterprise risk frameworks.
- Release Management & Change Governance
- Govern the release and change management lifecycle to ensure structured risk reviews, approvals, traceability, and audit readiness.
- Partner with platform and engineering teams to embed control requirements into DevOps workflows and continuous delivery pipelines.
- Support critical delivery milestones such as UTP2 and client go-lives through structured oversight.
- Disaster Recovery & Business Continuity
- Own the definition, implementation, and periodic testing of disaster recovery and business continuity strategies.
- Ensure operational readiness across all critical systems and maintain alignment with client and regulatory expectations.
- Audit Leadership & Client Assurance
- Lead the coordination and response for internal, external, and client audits.
- Partner with GRC, Legal, and Finance to ensure evidence collection, tracking of findings, and timely remediation.
- Serve as a single point of operational assurance for client-facing control queries.
- Quality Assurance & Platform Testing Strategy
- Own the QA governance model and testing strategy across the SaaS platform, aligned to product and engineering objectives.
- Drive quality outcomes tied to delivery milestones such as UTP2, client onboarding, and infrastructure transformation.
- Implement continuous improvement processes informed by testing outcomes and operational metrics.
- SLA Management & Root Cause Analysis
- Monitor service performance against defined SLAs, ensuring proactive tracking and reporting to senior stakeholders.
- Lead structured Root Cause Analysis (RCA) processes following service incidents, and drive implementation of remediation actions and preventative controls.
- Control Environment Ownership
- Continually review and strengthen the internal control environment across SaaS operations and client services.
- Identify control gaps, own remediation plans, and ensure alignment with industry standards (e.g. ISO 27001, SOC 2, PCI-DSS).
- Ensure visibility and adherence to controls across all support functions.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration & Strategic Reporting
- Collaborate across business, legal, compliance, and technology teams to align on priorities and unify the operational governance approach.
- Deliver structured, actionable reporting to senior leadership on security posture, control performance, audit status, platform quality, SLA outcomes, and risk mitigation.
SKILLS
- Proven leadership experience in IT operations, service governance, or operational risk within a regulated or SaaS business environment.
- Deep understanding of security operations, release governance, disaster recovery, QA, and audit management.
- Demonstrated success in defining and implementing security and technical standards in a SaaS or cloud-first environment.
- Experience managing internal, external, and client audits across technology and operational domains.
- Working knowledge of frameworks such as ISO 27001, SOC 2, PCI-DSS, and relevant financial services regulations.
- Strong track record of SLA monitoring, incident response, and continuous service improvement.
- Excellent cross-functional collaboration and external stakeholder management skills.
- Executive-level reporting, communication, and presentation capabilities.
- Highly structured, outcome-driven mindset with a focus on resilience, quality, and risk reduction.
VALUES
- Care about delivering secure, resilient, and high-quality SaaS solutions for our clients.
- Commit to upholding the highest standards of operational governance and security.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams—engineering, legal, compliance, GRC, finance, and client delivery.
- Challenge yourself and others to continuously improve our control environment, question assumptions, and push for higher levels of resilience, quality, and operational maturity.
SOME OF OUR BENEFITS include:
- Maternity leave: Transition back with 3 days per week in the first month and 4 days per week in the second month.
- Civil Partnership: 1 week of paid leave if you're getting married. This covers marriages and civil partnerships, including same sex/civil partnership.
- Family care: 4 weeks of paid family care leave.
- Recharge days: 4 days per year to use when you need to physically or mentally recharge.
- Study leave: 2 weeks of paid leave each year for study or personal development.
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SVP, Head of Security Operations, Risk and Controls employer: Temenos Headquarters SA
Contact Detail:
Temenos Headquarters SA Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land SVP, Head of Security Operations, Risk and Controls
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in security operations and risk management, especially within SaaS environments. This knowledge will not only help you during interviews but also demonstrate your commitment to staying updated in a rapidly evolving field.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the banking and SaaS sectors. Attend industry conferences or webinars where you can meet potential colleagues or leaders from Temenos. Building these connections can provide valuable insights and possibly even referrals.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss specific examples of how you've successfully implemented security standards or managed audits in previous roles. Having concrete stories ready will showcase your experience and problem-solving skills effectively.
✨Tip Number 4
Research Temenos' culture and values thoroughly. Understanding their commitment to operational governance and security will allow you to align your responses during interviews, showing that you're a great fit for their team.
We think you need these skills to ace SVP, Head of Security Operations, Risk and Controls
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Before applying, take the time to thoroughly understand the responsibilities and requirements of the SVP, Head of Security Operations, Risk and Controls position. Tailor your application to highlight relevant experiences that align with the job description.
Craft a Compelling CV: Ensure your CV is up-to-date and clearly outlines your leadership experience in IT operations, service governance, and operational risk. Use specific examples to demonstrate your understanding of security operations and your success in implementing security standards.
Write a Strong Cover Letter: Your cover letter should reflect your passion for the role and the company. Discuss how your values align with Temenos' commitment to delivering secure and high-quality SaaS solutions. Highlight your collaborative skills and your ability to drive continuous improvement.
Proofread and Edit: Before submitting your application, carefully proofread your documents for any spelling or grammatical errors. A polished application reflects your attention to detail and professionalism, which are crucial for this senior role.
How to prepare for a job interview at Temenos Headquarters SA
✨Understand the Role Thoroughly
Before the interview, make sure you have a deep understanding of the responsibilities and expectations for the SVP, Head of Security Operations, Risk and Controls role. Familiarise yourself with key areas such as operational governance, security standards, and disaster recovery strategies.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Experience
Highlight your proven leadership experience in IT operations and service governance. Be prepared to discuss specific examples where you've successfully implemented security and technical standards in a SaaS environment, as this will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Demonstrate Cross-Functional Collaboration Skills
This role requires collaboration across various teams. Prepare to share instances where you've effectively worked with legal, compliance, finance, and engineering teams to achieve common goals, showcasing your ability to unify operational governance.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Expect questions related to frameworks like ISO 27001, SOC 2, and PCI-DSS. Brush up on your knowledge of these standards and be ready to discuss how you've applied them in previous roles, particularly in relation to risk management and audit processes.