At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead security operations and risk management for our SaaS platform, ensuring high-quality delivery.
- Company: Join Temenos, a global leader in banking technology, empowering clients in 150+ countries.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible work options, generous leave policies, and support for personal development.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of banking innovation, making a real impact on security and client trust.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in IT operations with expertise in security, audits, and operational governance.
- Other info: Collaborate with diverse teams and drive continuous improvement in a dynamic environment.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 needed to 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
Contact Detail:
Temenos 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 understand the role better but also allow you to engage in meaningful conversations during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the banking and SaaS sectors. Attend industry events or webinars where you can meet potential colleagues or leaders from Temenos. Building these connections can provide insights into the company culture and expectations.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your experience with operational governance and security standards in detail. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've implemented controls or improved processes in previous roles, as this will demonstrate your capability for the position.
✨Tip Number 4
Research Temenos' current projects and initiatives related to security and operational excellence. Understanding their strategic goals will allow you to tailor your discussions and show how your skills align with their objectives.
We think you need these skills to ace SVP, Head of Security Operations, Risk and Controls
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in IT operations, service governance, and operational risk. Use specific examples that demonstrate your leadership skills and understanding of security operations, especially in a SaaS environment.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for improving banking services and how your background aligns with Temenos' mission. Highlight your experience with disaster recovery, audit management, and cross-functional collaboration, making it clear why you're the right fit for the role.
Showcase Relevant Skills: Emphasise your knowledge of frameworks like ISO 27001, SOC 2, and PCI-DSS. Mention any specific achievements related to SLA monitoring, incident response, and continuous service improvement to demonstrate your capability in managing operational risks.
Prepare for Potential Questions: Anticipate questions related to your experience with security operations and client assurance. Be ready to discuss how you've led teams through audits or implemented operational controls, as well as your approach to fostering collaboration across departments.
How to prepare for a job interview at Temenos
✨Understand the Role Deeply
Before the interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the responsibilities of the SVP, Head of Security Operations, Risk and Controls. Familiarise yourself with key areas such as operational governance, security standards, and disaster recovery strategies. This will help you articulate how your experience aligns with the role.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Experience
Highlight your proven leadership experience in IT operations or service governance. Be prepared to discuss specific examples where you've successfully managed teams or projects, particularly in a regulated or SaaS environment. This will demonstrate your capability to lead in a complex setting.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Expect technical questions related to security operations, release governance, and audit management. Brush up on frameworks like ISO 27001 and SOC 2, and be ready to discuss how you've implemented these standards in previous roles. This shows your depth of knowledge and readiness for the challenges ahead.
✨Emphasise Cross-Functional Collaboration
Since this role requires collaboration across various functions, prepare to discuss your experience working with different teams such as engineering, legal, and compliance. Share examples of how you've successfully navigated cross-functional dynamics to achieve common goals, showcasing your teamwork skills.