CIO COO Governance Manager

Birmingham, United Kingdom Posted on 03/28/2026

Overview

A leading Tier 1 global bank is seeking an experienced Governance Manager to provide dedicated operational and governance support to the UK Chief Information Officer. The role sits within the GCIO COO function - the operational backbone of the CIO organisation - and acts as a key enabler across strategy execution, risk and control, and regulatory requirements. This is a high-trust, high-visibility position. You will act on behalf of the UK CIO for day-to-day management activities, manage governance commitments across Group-level forums, and operate directly with senior executives and regulators.

Purpose of the Role

• Provide the UK CIO with dedicated governance support across the execution, oversight, and coordination of key activities within the Technology function
• Act on behalf of the UK CIO for day-to-day management activities, ensuring risk, control, and regulatory requirements are met at all times
• Partner with the CIO senior leadership team to drive performance and cultural change across a high-performance technology organisation
• Translate CIO strategy into clear, simplified messaging for internal and external stakeholders at all levels
• Manage the UK CIO's commitments across Group-level governance forums - authoring and reviewing papers for steering committees, risk forums, and executive committees
• Ensure the UK CIO is fully prepared and briefed for key supplier, customer, and regulatory meetings
• Oversee key administration services including external events, off-sites, and CIO travel

Key Responsibilities

• Governance of Strategy Execution: Support tactical and longer-term CIO strategy by working closely with the CIO Leadership Team stakeholders
• Governance of Strategy Execution: Proactively monitor and manage the execution of CIO strategy through production of scorecards and supporting insight for the CIO executive team
• Governance of Strategy Execution: Schedule and run periodic CIO governance forums and leadership team meetings; drive actions through to completion and log decisions formally
• Governance of Strategy Execution: Actively contribute to management reports, presentations, and papers; provide periodic updates for the UK CIO as required
• Governance of Strategy Execution: Investigate emerging risks and issues; produce reports and form recommendations for action
• Governance of Strategy Execution: Manage and document SMF24 accountability - including regular review and maintenance of Statements of Responsibilities (SoRs), accurate mapping of accountabilities, timely updates as structures change, and regulatory alignment of reporting
• Customers & Stakeholders: Provide analysis and support to external parties including regulators - in response to queries and audits, and proactively through stakeholder engagement
• Customers & Stakeholders: Engage with stakeholders across the CIO function to ensure regulatory and legal commitments are met and proactive issue management is maintained
• Customers & Stakeholders: Develop strong relationships with Global Businesses, Group Functions, and the GCOO executive team
• Operational Effectiveness & Control: Ensure all meetings attended or chaired by the UK CIO are run effectively - secretarial oversight, briefing notes, proactive action management, and forward planning of meeting cadence
• Operational Effectiveness & Control: Demonstrate thought-leadership to support the UK CIO in delivering the bank's technology strategy
• Operational Effectiveness & Control: Ensure all legal and regulatory responsibilities are met across the CIO function at all times

Requirements

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Proven experience operating in a complex matrix environment at a regulated financial institution - Tier 1 bank, building society, or equivalent
• Demonstrable experience managing or supporting SMF24 accountability under the FCA/PRA Senior Managers & Certification Regime (SM&CR) - including Statements of Responsibilities, accountability mapping, and regulatory reporting
• Strong track record of managing CIO, CTO, or COO-level governance: forum management, board/exec paper authoring, leadership team meeting cadence
• Ability to translate complex technology strategy into clear, simplified messaging for C-suite and board-level audiences
• Exceptional stakeholder management skills - credible at C-suite level, experienced engaging with external regulators
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capability: able to synthesise complex information and produce data-driven recommendations
• Experience simplifying processes, removing blockers, and accelerating the pace of change in large, matrixed organisations
• Expert knowledge of the financial services regulatory environment: FCA/PRA, SM&CR, and broader technology governance frameworks