Head of IT

Stone King; Newtown; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading legal firm in the UK is seeking an experienced Head of IT to manage IT operations and contribute to digital transformation. This role involves leading the IT team, ensuring reliable service delivery, and maintaining security protocols. The ideal candidate will have a track record in managing large IT budgets, operational knowledge of legal software, and the capability to drive strategic initiatives. The job offers a competitive salary and opportunities for professional development.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Profit Share Scheme

Cycle to work scheme

Private Medical Insurance

Life assurance (4 x salary)

Pension scheme

33 days holiday

Additional day for CSR activities

Qualifications

• Experience managing IT budgets over £1m per annum.
• Demonstrable track record for delivering software and infrastructure projects.
• Strong knowledge of legal software applications.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement the IT strategy in alignment with firm's goals.
• Oversee day-to-day IT service delivery for user satisfaction.
• Lead and coach the IT team to foster performance excellence.

Skills

Leadership

Operational management

Cybersecurity

Stakeholder engagement

Budget management

Education

Relevant IT qualifications

Tools

Microsoft environments

MatterSphere

3E

iManage

BigHand

Job description

Overview

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced IT professional to join Stone King as Head of IT, taking responsibility for delivering robust, reliable IT operations while actively supporting the firm's digital transformation. The role is operational at its core, ensuring systems, infrastructure, and services run seamlessly, while contributing to the development of a forward-looking IT strategy. We are looking for a hands-on IT leader with strong operational credentials who is ready to broaden their remit and build strategic influence over time. The firm will provide structured support, enabling the Head of IT to grow as the business and technology landscape evolves. This role combines strategic input with hands-on leadership, optimising services, strengthening cybersecurity, and championing best practices to deliver exceptional value for our people, clients, and communities.

Responsibilities

• Help develop and implement the firm's IT strategy in alignment with the firm's strategy.
• Oversee day-to-day IT service delivery, ensuring reliability, security, and user satisfaction across all offices.
• Lead, coach, and develop the IT team, fostering a culture of accountability, service excellence, continuous improvement and high performance.
• Plan and manage the IT budget, tracking spend and forecasting needs to ensure value for money.
• Shape resourcing plans (roles, skills, succession) that support the firm's growth and service ambitions.
• Collaborate with the IT Strategy Group to help implement the firm's digital strategy and develop the evolving strategy going forward.
• Manage supplier relationships, ensuring robust service provision and value for money.
• Actively represent SK at industry networking events, fostering strategic relationships, keeping abreast of technology trends and identifying opportunities for practical innovation.
• Be visible and proactive across the firm, engaging with teams, understanding business needs, and championing technology adoption.
• Communicate IT plans, progress, and outcomes clearly to all stakeholders, including senior leadership.
• Identify and deliver opportunities for process improvement, automation, and simplification, and support change management and user adoption initiatives.
• Maintain and enhance the firm's cybersecurity posture, data governance, and compliance with relevant standards and policies.
• Ensure robust incident response, business continuity, and recovery practices.
• Demonstrable track record for the delivery of major software and infrastructure projects in a complex professional environment.
• Excellent technical knowledge of Microsoft environments (server and desktops).
• Operational knowledge of mainstream legal software applications including MatterSphere, 3E, iManage, BigHand.
• A broad understanding of mainstream technology including cloud computing, data centre, networking, cyber-security, telephony and print.
• Experience of the management of IT budgets in excess of £1m per annum.
• Highly developed and practical sense of law firm technology requirements, including a genuine understanding of the technology requirements of a modern lawyer.
• Capacity to learn, to assimilate information quickly and to acquire new skills.

Desirable

• Experience in professional services environment or law firm.
• Experience building strategic relationships, staying informed on emerging technology trends, and opportunities for practical innovation.

Personal Attributes

• Strong stakeholder engagement skills and confidence to challenge constructively and offer alternative approaches.
• Solutions focused approach with drive to improve processes and outcomes.
• Strong organisation skills, taking full ownership of tasks and ensuring delivery within agreed deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey ideas and influence decision-making effectively.
• Adaptable approach in managing workload and supporting others.
• Ability to work collaboratively and team-first attitude.
• Provides line management and support while role modelling behaviours aligned with the firm's core values.
• A strategic thinker, with strong operational, analytical, and managerial skills.

About Stone King

Stone King is an ambitious and purpose-driven firm specialising in the Business & Social Enterprise, Charity, Education, Public Faith and Private Client sectors. Our collaborative culture and core values are intertwined with our ethos of doing the right thing by our clients, communities, and our people. Our passion for the sectors we work in and the purpose-driven work we do with our clients has resulted in SK being recognised as national leaders in our specialist fields across the country. Stone King operates from six locations across the UK and applications will be considered from throughout the UK. Candidates should be aware that the direct reports for this role are currently largely based in London and Bath.

Working model & diversity

We support a hybrid working model, with no mandatory office attendance; however, most team members typically work on-site 2-3 days per week. Given the importance of this position, the successful candidate will be expected to maintain a visible presence across our offices on a regular basis. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Individual differences are embraced at Stone King, and we strive to create an environment in which people feel supported and able to be themselves. We are committed to promoting an inclusive working environment that supports the growth and development for all. We are proud to be signatories of the Mindful Business Charter, the Race Fairness Commitment, and the Age Friendly Employer Pledge, and we are a Disability Confident Employer. Stone King LLP is committed to offering an interview to any job applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the role as defined by the job description and person specification. A full copy of the person specification and job description can be provided by contacting our Recruitment team. In some recruitment situations such as high-peak times, we might need to limit the overall numbers of interviews we offer. This will include the number of interviews offered to disabled people who meet the minimum criteria. When that happens, we'll still aim to offer a proportionate number of interviews to disabled applicants.

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Profit Share Scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Private Medical Insurance
• Life assurance (4 x salary)
• Pension scheme
• 33 days holiday (in addition to statutory UK holidays)
• Additional day allocated for CSR activities per annum