Portfolio Planning & Assurance Manager (Governance & Standards)

Bank of England; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 62,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial institution is seeking a Portfolio Planning & Assurance Manager in Leeds. The role requires driving portfolio governance, managing project prioritization, and ensuring effective decision-making processes. Ideal candidates should have substantial experience in project management within the financial sector, strong analytical and communication skills, and the capability to work collaboratively across teams. Competitive salary range is £62,480 - £70,000 with comprehensive benefits.

Benefits

Career average pension

Discretionary performance award

Private medical insurance

Income protection

26 days’ annual leave

Qualifications

• Experience in preparing high-quality written materials for governance committees.
• Proven experience in project management within the banking or financial services sector.
• Proficiency in project management software and solving complex problems.

Responsibilities

• Drive the development of portfolio management practices emphasizing governance.
• Establish minimum standards for business cases and project governance.
• Implement processes for project approval and risk management.

Skills

Strong analytical skills

Excellent communication skills

Ability to work collaboratively

Resilience

Tools

Project management software

Job description

As a Portfolio Planning & Assurance Manager you will play a pivotal role in delivering strategic, data-informed and independent portfolio planning and assurance services. You will be a trusted partner, enabling the Bank to achieve its strategic priorities by setting up projects and programmes for success. You will ensure the Portfolio Planning & Assurance team delivers effective portfolio management, ensuring all changes are traceable, accountable and deliver measurable benefits.

You will be responsible for establishing and enforcing standards for business cases and project governance, developing effective portfolio management frameworks, and overseeing the prioritisation of projects. This role involves implementing efficient decision-making processes for project approval. You will also stay updated on industry best practices to continuously improve the organisation's maturity.

Primary Outcomes and Accountabilities

• Deliver Portfolio Management Practices: Drive the development and implementation of robust portfolio management practices with a strong emphasis on governance and standards. Ensure these practices support strategic alignment, transparency, and value delivery across the enterprise.
• Define Minimum Standards: Establish and maintain clear, enforceable standards for business case development, project governance, and reporting. Ensure consistency and quality across all portfolio initiatives by embedding these standards into the project lifecycle.
• Set Portfolio Governance: Design and implement governance frameworks, processes, and tools that enable effective oversight and decision-making. Ensure governance structures are scalable, transparent, and aligned with organisational goals.
• Oversee prioritisation: Manage the prioritisation process for portfolio initiatives, ensuring that decisions are based on strategic value, resource availability, and risk considerations. Facilitate alignment between business units and executive leadership.
• Risk Management: Develop and maintain governance structures to proactively identify, assess, and mitigate risks at the portfolio level. Ensure that risk management is embedded in all stages of the portfolio lifecycle.
• Challenge Business Cases: Critically evaluate proposed business cases to ensure they are well-structured, feasible, and aligned with strategic priorities. Provide constructive feedback and guidance to improve the quality and impact of submissions.
• Approval Process: Implement clear, fair and efficient decision-making processes for project approval. Support governance bodies with the information and frameworks needed to make informed go/no-go decisions.
• Improving for the future: Stay up to date with industry trends, emerging practices, and technological advancements in portfolio management. Continuously assess and evolve governance practices to enhance maturity and effectiveness over time.
• Act as a role model and ambassador for the division: Embodying the values and purpose of the Bank. Foster a supportive, inclusive, and high-performing team culture that encourages collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.

Role Requirements

Minimum Criteria

• Demonstrable experience in preparing high-quality written materials for senior governance committees (such as Boards, Executive Committees, or Steering Committees), including the ability to distil complex information into clear, concise, and actionable papers or reports.
• Proven experience in project management, preferably within the banking or financial services sector, with the ability to think ahead and to be innovative in meeting business needs.
• Proficiency in project management software and tools with proficiency in making informed decisions and solving complex problems, often with incomplete information.
• Sound understanding of governance frameworks in relation to projects and programmes.

Essential Criteria

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate complex and technical information effectively in written and oral form with a style that is moderated according to the audience.
• Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams, with the ability to think holistically and work collaboratively to solve business decisions.
• Resilience, with the ability to demonstrate resilience when delivering difficult messages or when they are met with resistance to ideas or messages.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience within a similar organisation in supporting portfolio definition and executing successful delivery, understanding business priorities, supporting business change and managing successful business partnerships.

Our Approach to Inclusion

The Bank values diversity, equity and inclusion. We play a key role in maintaining monetary and financial stability, and to do that effectively, we believe we need a workforce that reflects the society we serve.

At the Bank of England, we want all colleagues to feel valued and respected, so we're working hard to build an inclusive culture which supports people from all backgrounds and communities to be at their best at work. We celebrate all forms of diversity, including (but not limited to) age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, race, religion, sexual orientation and socioeconomic status. We believe that it’s by drawing on different perspectives and experiences that we’ll continue to make the best decisions for the public.

We welcome applications from individuals who work flexibly, including job shares and part time working patterns. We've also partnered with external organisations to support us in making adjustments for candidates and employees in the recruitment process where they're needed.

For most roles where work can be carried out at home, we aim for colleagues to spend half of their time in the office, with a minimum of 40% per month. Subject to that minimum requirement, individuals and managers should work together to find what works best for them, their team and stakeholders.

Finally, we're proud to be a member of the Disability Confident Scheme. If you wish to apply under this scheme, you should check the box in the ‘Candidate Personal Information’ under the ‘Disability Confident Scheme’ section of the application.

Salary and Benefits Information

We encourage flexible working, part time working and job share arrangements. Part time salary and benefits will be on a pro‑rated basis as appropriate.

Salary:

Leeds circa £62,480 - £70,000

London circa £69,440 - £77,000

In addition, we also offer a comprehensive benefits package as detailed below:

• Currently a non‑contributory, career average pension giving you a guaranteed retirement benefit of 1/80th of your annual salary for every year worked. There is the option to increase your pension (to 1/65th) or decrease (to 1/105th) in exchange for salary through our flexible benefits programme each year. The Bank has the discretion to vary standard accrual rates and dial up and dial down rates at any time and to withdraw dial up and dial down options at any time.
• A discretionary performance award based on a current award pool.
• An 8% benefits allowance with the option to take as salary or purchase a wide range of flexible benefits.
• 26 days’ annual leave with option to buy up to 12 additional days through flexible benefits.
• Private medical insurance and income protection.

National Security Vetting Process

Employment in this role will be subject to the National Security Vetting clearance process (and typically can take between 6 to 12 weeks post offer) and the passing of additional Bank security checks in accordance with the Bank policy. Further information regarding the vetting and security clearance requirements for the role will be provided to the successful applicant, and information about how the Bank processes personal data for these purposes, is set out in the Bank's Privacy Notice.

The Bank of England welcomes applications from all candidates, but as a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) approved sponsor, we have a responsibility to comply with the Immigration Rules and guidance. As such, our ability to employ individuals who require sponsorship for immigration purposes is limited. The Bank cannot guarantee that you and / or the role you are applying for will be eligible for sponsorship and that any application made to UKVI will be successful. Eligibility will therefore be considered on a case by case basis.

The Application Process

Important: Please ensure that you complete the ‘work history’ section and answer ALL the application questions fully. All candidate applications are anonymised to ensure that our hiring managers will not be able to see your personal information, including your CV, when reviewing your application details at the screening stage. It’s therefore really important that you fill out the work history and application form questions, as your answers will form a critical part of the initial selection process.

The assessment process will comprise of two interview stages.

This role closes on 11th Jan 2026.

Please apply online, ensuring that you complete your work history and answer ALL the application questions fully and in detail as your application will not be considered if all mandatory questions are not fully completed.