Chief Security Officer

AXA UK; City Of London; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading insurance company is seeking a UK&I Chief Security Officer to define and execute the security strategy. The role involves leadership in managing security governance, compliance, and incident response. Candidates should have extensive security management experience in large organizations, particularly in financial services. The position allows for hybrid work arrangements and offers a comprehensive rewards package including salary, bonuses, and benefits.

Benefits

Competitive annual salary

Annual company & performance-based bonus

Contributory pension scheme

Life Assurance

Private medical cover

28 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays

Wellbeing services & resources

AXA employee discounts

Qualifications

• Extensive experience managing security in large organizations within financial services.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to engage stakeholders at all levels.
• Deep expertise in cloud security and control frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of the UK&I security strategy.
• Oversee security governance frameworks and monitor KPIs.
• Manage risk assessment and incident response initiatives.

Skills

Leadership

Information Security Architecture

Risk assessment

Communication skills

Budget management

Education

Degree in Information Technology, Cybersecurity, or related field

Tools

ISO 27001

NIST

Job description

Are you a strategic security leader with a passion for safeguarding assets, data, and reputation in a complex financial environment? At AXA, we’re committed to protecting our customers, employees, and business operations through innovative security strategies and industry-leading practices. As our UK&I Chief Security Officer, you will be at the forefront of defining and executing our security vision, ensuring regulatory compliance, and driving resilience across our organisation. This is a unique opportunity to make a tangible impact at a leading insurer, shaping the future of security in an evolving industry.

At AXA we work smart, empowering our people to balance their time between home and the office in a way that works best for them, their team and our customers. You'll work at least two days a week (40%) away from home, moving to three days a week (60%) in the future. Away from home means either attendance at one of our office locations, visiting clients or attending industry events.

We’re also happy to consider flexible working arrangements, which you can discuss with Talent Acquisition.

What you’ll be doing:

• Lead the development and execution of the UK&I security strategy, ensuring alignment with corporate standards and regulatory requirements.
• Oversee security governance frameworks, monitor KPIs and KRIs, and report on security performance to senior leadership and the board.
• Manage risk assessment and mitigation activities, including control implementation, assurance programs, and audit responses.
• Drive incident response, business continuity, and resilience initiatives to safeguard physical and information security.
• Ensure ongoing compliance with FCA, PRA, and other relevant regulatory standards; support audits and maintain certifications.
• Lead, motivate, and develop security teams and collaborate with Group security functions to ensure consistency and effectiveness.
• Promote a security-aware culture through training, awareness campaigns, and embedding security best practices across the organisation.
• Represent AXA at external industry forums, regulators, and security bodies to influence standards and maintain the organisation’s reputation.

Due to the number of applications we expect to receive for this role, we reserve the right to close this advert earlier than the listed closing date to ensure we’re able to effectively manage interest. Therefore, if you’re interested in joining us at AXA, please don’t hesitate to apply.

What you’ll bring:

• Extensive experience managing security in large, complex organisations, within the financial services sector.
• Strong leadership and influencing skills, with the ability to manage and motivate large teams and engage stakeholders at all levels.
• Deep expertise in information security architecture, cloud security, risk assessment, and control frameworks (ISO 27001, NIST).
• Proven ability to develop and implement strategic security initiatives aligned with business objectives.
• Demonstrated experience managing substantial budgets and leading large-scale security projects.
• Excellent communication skills, capable of articulating complex security concepts to non-technical audiences and senior executives.
• A degree in Information Technology, Cybersecurity, or a related field; professional certifications such as CISM, CISSP, or ISO 27001 Lead Implementer are preferred.
• Resilience, adaptability, and a proactive approach to emerging threats and industry trends.

As a precondition of employment for this role, you must be eligible and authorised to work in the United Kingdom.

Please be aware that this position is a Certified Function role under the SM&CR regime, which means the successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced level of background screening requirements.

What we offer:

At AXA UK, we’re appreciative of the people who work for us and our rewards package is reviewed regularly to reflect that. You can expect to receive:

• Competitive annual salary
• Annual company & performance-based bonus
• Contributory pension scheme (up to 12% employer contributions)
• Life Assurance (up to 10 x annual salary)
• Private medical cover
• 28 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays
• Opportunity to buy up to 5 extra days leave or sell up to 5 days leave
• Wellbeing services & resources
• AXA employee discounts

To apply, click on the ‘apply for this job’ button, you’ll then need to log in or create a profile to submit your CV. We’re proud to be an Equal Opportunities Employer and don’t discriminate against employees or potential employees based on protected characteristics. If you have a long-term condition or disability and require adjustments during the application or interview process, we’re proud to offer access to the AXA Accessibility Concierge. For our support, please send an email to [e-mail].

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Who we are:

AXA UK Support Functions power AXA’s three customer-facing business units, providing the infrastructure, support and expertise to ensure our customers can always count on us. Whether you’ve got heaps of experience and qualifications behind you, or you’re just starting out, we’ll give you the support and opportunities to help you grow and develop with confidence.