Head of PMO

UK1 Finastra International Limited; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Unlimited vacation

Hybrid working arrangements

Health insurance

Pension plan

Paid holidays

Job summary

Finastra is seeking a Head of PMO to oversee the portfolio of services projects within Universal Banking, including implementations, upgrades, migrations and modernization programs. You will manage project health, forecasting, capacity, utilization and margins, aligning with strategic goals and ensuring efficient delivery.

You will collaborate with services delivery, product, support, cloud operations, finance and sales to meet customer and business needs, while leading PMO and service

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in project and portfolio management, enterprise software, SaaS or banking tech.

Responsibilities

• Own PMO accountability for on-time, on-budget delivery with governance and milestone tracking.
• Manage early-warning and escalation for at-risk projects with cross-functional dependencies.
• Enforce standard delivery methodology and quality standards across the portfolio.
• Strengthen documentation discipline for customer requirements and key decisions.
• Lead, coach and develop project managers and the Service Operations team.

Skills

PMO leadership

Project management

Portfolio governance

PMP certification

Education

PMP Certification

Job description

Who are we?

At Finastra, we’re a global leader in financial services software, dedicated to expanding access to financial services and shaping what’s next for the industry. Our technology powers mission‑critical solutions across Lending, Payments and Universal Banking, supporting over 7,000 customers, including 80% of the world’s top 50 banks, in more than 110 countries. Disclaimer: Finastra has signed an agreement to sell its Universal Banking business to Pollen Street Capital, with completion expected end 2026 / early 2027, subject to consultation and customary closing conditions. Upon completion, this role is expected to transition to the standalone Universal Banking business, creating opportunities to support its future growth and success.

Who are we?

At Finastra, we are a global leader in financial services software, committed to broadening access to financial services and shaping the future of banking. Our solutions support over 7,000 customers, including 80% of the world’s top 50 banks, across more than 110 countries, powering mission‑critical capabilities in Universal Banking, Payments, and Lending.

What will you contribute?

The Head of PMO will oversee the portfolio of services projects (implementations, upgrades, migrations and modernization programs) within Universal Banking - managing the health of the projects and customer experience, and owning the services forecasting, capacity, utilization and margin reporting that gives leadership trusted data for faster, better decisions. This individual will ensure projects and programs within the service organization align with strategic goals, follow best practices, and are executed efficiently, while directly managing project managers and service operations. Collaborate closely with services delivery, product, support, cloud operations, finance and sales teams to ensure end-to-end alignment on Finastra and customer needs.

Responsibilities & Deliverables:

Strategic Focus:

• Contribute to Services-wide initiatives, enhance customer satisfaction and strengthen project management and governance.


• Establish feedback mechanisms and analyze project data to identify trends and drive continuous improvement in project management processes.


• Identify AI and automation opportunities to simplify PMO and service operations processes, reducing manual effort and improving scalability.

Portfolio Governance & Delivery Assurance:

• Own PMO accountability for on-time, on-budget delivery through consistent governance, health reporting and milestone tracking, and provide reliable portfolio reporting for steering committees, executive reviews and customer governance.


• Own the early-warning and escalation mechanism for at-risk projects, actively managing cross-functional dependencies (product fixes, environment readiness, technical blockers, commercial and scope decisions) with internal cross-functional teams ahead of customer impact.


• Enforce consistent use of the standard delivery methodology, stage gates and quality standards defined across the portfolio.


• Strengthen documentation discipline (customer requirements, meeting minutes, change requests, key decisions and agreements) to protect Finastra’s contractual position, and act as an escalation point for complex customer and internal issues.

Forecasting & Financial Performance:

• Own the monthly services forecasting and financial operating rhythm with Finance and delivery leaders, delivering revenue and spend forecast accuracy within agreed thresholds.


• Establish a single source of truth and standardized dashboards for services revenue, cost, margin, utilization, capacity and delivery risk, so trusted data is available ahead of key hiring and resourcing decisions.


• Protect project margins by reviewing resourcing against deal assumptions, surfacing at-risk projects early, and strengthening scope, change-request and revenue-leakage governance.

Capacity, Utilization & Pre‑Sales Support:

• Provide timely reporting of billable and non-billable utilization, with clear insights and actions tracked to closure.


• Run active capacity management across the portfolio and support pre-sales with resourcing feasibility and delivery-readiness assessments, so sold work is deliverable within committed scope, margin and timeline.

People Management:

• Lead, coach and develop project managers and the Service Operations team, including recruitment, onboarding, skill development and training.


• Drive consistent performance management, including goal-setting, feedback, appraisals and timely handling of underperformance.


• Build bench strength and succession for critical PMO and service operations roles, reducing key-person dependencies.

Required Experience:

• Extensive experience in project and portfolio management, with a focus on enterprise-level software, SaaS or banking technology projects.


• Demonstrable experience leading PMO or project management teams, including direct and indirect reports.


• Project management certification such as PMP (required).


• Experience in aligning projects and programs with strategic business objectives.


• Demonstrated ability to establish mechanisms for feedback, analyze project data, and implement continuous improvement initiatives.


• Strong skills in guiding, training, and coaching project managers, as well as managing recruitment, onboarding, and performance appraisals.


• Strong financial acumen in services revenue and spend forecasting, utilization, capacity and margin management, working closely with Finance.


• Experience building trusted data and dashboards for executive decision-making.


• Executive presence and the ability to influence senior leaders and challenge with data.


• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to engage with stakeholders at all levels and ensure effective communication and reporting.

We are proud to offer a range of incentives to our employees worldwide.

• Flexibility: Enjoy unlimited vacation, subject to local regulations and business priorities. Benefit from hybrid working arrangements and inclusive policies such as paid time off for voting, bereavement, and sick leave.


• Well‑being: Access confidential one‑to‑one support through our Employee Assistance Program, connect with our network of Wellbeing Champions and Gather Groups, and take part in monthly events and initiatives designed to help you thrive—inside and outside of work.


• Health & Financial Security: Medical, life and disability insurance, retirement plans, lifestyle, and other benefits.


• Sustainability: Paid time off for volunteering and donation‑matching opportunities to support causes that matter to you.


• Inclusion: Get involved in our inclusion communities, such as Count Me In, Culture@Finastra, Proud@Finastra, Disabilities@Finastra, and Women@Finastra—open to everyone who wants to participate and contribute.


• Career Development: Access online learning and accredited courses through our Skills & Career Navigator tool.


• Recognition: Take part in our global recognition program, Finastra Celebrates, and share your voice through regular employee surveys that help shape our culture and ways of working.

Specific benefits may vary by location.

Our perks include paid holidays, flexible working hours, a pension plan, and comprehensive health initiatives.

Join us to supercharge your career, collaborate with industry experts, and thrive in a nurturing environment that powers both your professional and personal growth.

Be unique. Be exceptional. Help us make a difference at Finastra. At Finastra, our team members are the driving force behind everything we do. We’re building an environment where bold ideas thrive, careers flourish, and innovation is a shared journey. Whether you're a recent graduate ready to shape the future or a seasoned professional seeking your next challenge, you’ll play a pivotal role in delivering software solutions that redefine what’s possible in financial services. We believe growth is a shared commitment. That’s why we offer a rich ecosystem of learning—from hands‑on training and mentorship to leadership development and industry certifications. You’ll have the freedom to explore new paths, deepen your expertise, and make your mark in a global fintech that’s built for the future. Our career development isn’t just a program—it’s a promise. With access to cutting‑edge tools, a culture of collaboration, and a community that champions your success, you’ll be empowered to lead, challenge, and create meaningful change. Because when we grow together, we innovate together—and that’s how we shape what’s next in finance. We offer incredible career opportunities and your work in close collaboration with fantastic colleagues globally to develop and launch innovative software solutions for our customers. There is a huge range of engaging projects where you can get stuck‑in and add value whilst taking advantage of our ongoing development opportunities to build and hone your skills in your chosen area. Our perks include paid holidays, flexible working hours, a pension plan, and comprehensive health initiatives. Join us to supercharge your career, collaborate with industry experts, and thrive in a nurturing environment that powers both your professional and personal growth with us, you can grow, innovate, and make a real impact. At Finastra, we are proud of the wide range of incentives and benefits we offer our employees globally, reflecting our core values: doing well by doing good, putting people first, and open opportunities. We go beyond statutory requirements to maximise our offerings, investing in flexible working policies, personal growth opportunities, and well‑being programmes. Highlights include our Flexible Vacation Policy, inclusive people policies, hybrid working framework, and comprehensive well‑being support through initiatives like the Employee Assistance Program, the wellbeing Champions and our monthly events and initiatives.

Additionally, we emphasise sustainability through volunteering time off and donation matching, champion inclusion through multiple employee networks and cultural initiatives, and invest heavily in career and skills development. Recognition of our employees' efforts is integral, with our global recognition platform and regular employee feedback surveys shaping our inclusive and supportive workplace culture.

At Finastra, we are committed to creating a workplace where you feel valued and respected. We believe this environment drives innovation and we strive to build a team that reflects the varied backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences of our global ecosystem. This philosophy is at the heart of our culture and the way we work.

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