Job Specifications
Job Description
We are seeking a Senior IT Strategy Manager to join our IT Strategy and Architecture function at AJ Bell. Working closely with the Head of IT Strategy & Architecture, you will provide strategic oversight across our technology portfolio while helping shape and execute our technology strategy. This is an excellent opportunity for a strategic technology leader who excels at maintaining strategic vision across multiple initiatives while driving practical execution through strong stakeholder management.
What are the key responsibilities?
Strategy Development & Execution:
Partner with the Head of IT Strategy & Architecture and CTO to shape and implement technology strategy.
Lead and/or provide strategic guidance for key initiatives from vision through to delivery, ensuring alignment with business goals.
Drive strategic outcomes by balancing competing priorities between product, operations, and technology deliveries to ensure maximum business value.
Support improvement of controls and overall efficiency within Technology Services.
Leadership:
Partner with the Head of IT Strategy & Architecture, providing strategic guidance across Technology Services.
Provide guidance and direction to multidisciplinary teams including Architects, Engineers, and Agile Practices without direct line management.
Build strong relationships with senior stakeholders across the business to align technology delivery with business needs.
Drive collaboration between different technical disciplines to achieve strategic outcomes.
Champion best practices in modern technology delivery approaches.
Strategic Delivery Monitoring:
Maintain strategic oversight across the portfolio of initiatives, ensuring they remain true to their original vision and business objectives.
Establish indicators to identify when strategic initiatives begin to drift from their intended outcomes.
Act as a strategic guardian, intervening when initiatives lose sight of their core purpose and helping realign them with the original vision.
Collaborate with delivery teams and stakeholders to course-correct strategic initiatives while preserving business value.
Business Architecture Practices:
Design high-level operating models for the technology function while collaborating with senior stakeholders on specific detailed models for their functions.
Develop and maintain architecture artifacts that effectively bridge technical and business perspectives.
Define target states and transition approaches for strategic initiatives.
Identify and execute improvements in operational efficiency across technology functions.
Enhance governance and architectural standards across Technology Services.
What you’ll have:
Must Have:
Proven business architecture experience with a track record of delivering strategic change.
Exceptional stakeholder management skills with demonstrated ability to communicate strategic vision effectively across all levels.
Experience in operating model design and implementation.
Strong analytical skills with ability to use data to drive decision making.
Track record of successfully balancing competing priorities in complex technology environments.
Demonstrated ability to maintain strategic oversight across multiple concurrent initiatives.
Valuable Experience:
Financial services industry experience, including knowledge of FCA regulatory requirements, particularly operational resilience, third-party risk management, change management controls, and consumer duty.
Experience working with modern development practices including product-aligned teams, Agile, and DevOps.
Understanding of enterprise architecture frameworks (e.g., TOGAF), with focus on practical application.
About us:
AJ Bell is one of the fastest-growing investment platform businesses in the UK offering an award-winning range of solutions that caters for everyone, from professional financial advisers to DIY investors with little to no experience. We have over 593,000 customers using our award-winning platform propositions to manage assets totalling more than £90.4 billion. Our customers trust us with their investments, and by continuously striving to make investing easier, we aim to help even more people take control of their financial futures.
Having listed on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange in December 2018, AJ Bell is now a FTSE 250 company.
Headquartered in Manchester with offices in central London and Bristol, we now have over 1,450 employees and have been named one of the UK's 'Best 100 Companies to Work For’ for six consecutive years and in 2024 named a Great Place to Work®.
What we offer:
Starting holiday entitlement of 27, increasing up to 31 days with length of service and a holiday buy and sell scheme
A choice of pension schemes with matched contributions up to 8%
Discretionary bonus scheme
Annual free share awards scheme
Buy As You Earn (BAYE) Scheme
Health Cash Plan – provided by SimplyHealth
Discounted private healthcare scheme and dental plan
Free onsite gym
Employee Assistance Programme
Bike loan scheme
Sick pay+ pledge
Discounted nursery fees at Kids Planet on Exchange Quay
Loans for travel season tickets
Death in service scheme
Dedicated time for proof-of-concepts and assessing new tech
Support to attend conferences, events, and meet-ups
Paid time off for volunteer work
Charitable giving opportunities through salary sacrifice
Calendar of social events, including monthly payday drinks, annual Christmas party, summer party and much more
Parking at Exchange Quay
Personal development programmes built around you and your career goals, including access to personal skills workshops
Ongoing technical training
Professional qualification support
Talent development programmes
Peer recognition scheme, with rewards including restaurant and shopping vouchers or time off
Monthly leadership breakfasts and lunches
Casual dress code
Access to a range of benefits from our sponsorship deals
Hybrid working:
At AJ Bell, our people are the heart of our culture. We believe in building strong connections by working together. That's why we offer a hybrid working model, where you’ll spend a minimum of 50% of your working time per month in the office. For new team members, an initial period will be full-time in the office to help you immerse yourself in our business and build valuable relationships with your colleagues.
AJ Bell is committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and all employees are empowered to bring their whole self to work.
We do not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, pregnancy, religion, physical and mental disability, marital status and any other characteristics protected by the Equality Act 2010. All decisions to hire are based on qualifications, merit and business need.
If you like the sound of the above, or just want to know more about the company and the role, we'd love to speak t...
About the Company
AJ Bell was formed in 1995 and is now one of the leading online investment platforms in the UK. We provide customers and advisers with wide investment choice, low-cost delivery, market leading online functionality and first class service to help them manage investment portfolios within SIPPs, ISAs and Dealing accounts. We are a fast growing and profitable company, with over 593,000 customers and PS90.4 billion of assets under administration. We are part of the FTSE 250 on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange.
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