Operations and Governance Lead

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. We are looking for a Director of Strategy, Corporate Development & PMO to join our Universal Banking organisation. This is a high‑impact, enterprise‑level role reporting directly to the Chief of Staff, sitting at the centre of strategy execution, governance, and value delivery for one of Finastra’s most important businesses. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who can combine strategic thinking with strong execution discipline, and who thrives in complex, matrixed environments with senior‑level exposure. About the Role In this role, you will operate as a trusted execution partner to the Chief of Staff and the Universal Banking Leadership Team. You will play a critical role in translating strategy into action, bringing clarity, structure, and pace to strategic priorities, corporate development initiatives, and portfolio‑level delivery. You will act as a connector across strategy, corporate development, transformation, and PMO, ensuring leadership has a clear, decision‑ready view of priorities, progress, risks, and trade‑offs. While the role does not have direct people management responsibility, you will work closely with and provide direction to PMO and analytics talent based in our collaboration hubs. Key Responsibilities Partner closely with the Chief of Staff to operationalise Universal Banking strategy and Leadership Team priorities. Translate strategic objectives into clear plans, milestones, and success measures. Act as a senior, independent thought partner on execution risks, sequencing, and trade‑offs. Lead the development of high‑quality Leadership Team materials, including strategy updates, QBRs, annual planning cycles, and offsite content. Ensure materials are insight‑led, concise, and focused on enabling high‑quality decisions. Shape agendas and narratives that drive clarity and alignment at senior forums. Contribute to business cases, strategic rationale, and value creation narratives. Support integration planning and ongoing value realisation tracking in partnership with relevant teams. Design and maintain effective operational governance, including decision forums, escalation paths, and portfolio‑level reporting. Own the end‑to‑end portfolio view of initiatives, ensuring: Clear prioritisation and capacity awareness Dependency and interlock management Early visibility of risks and issues A consistent delivery and reporting cadence Improve execution discipline and transparency without introducing unnecessary bureaucracy. Influence and align senior stakeholders across product, technology, operations, and commercial teams. What You Bring Extensive experience in roles spanning strategy, corporate development, transformation, PMO, or strategy/management consulting. Proven ability to operate as a senior individual contributor in complex, matrixed organisations. Strong executive‑level communication and synthesis skills, with the ability to distil complexity into clear, decision‑ready insights. Experience in financial services, enterprise technology, or other regulated environments (preferred). A pragmatic, outcomes‑focused mindset with a strong sense of ownership and accountability. Comfort managing multiple parallel initiatives and influencing without formal authority. We are proud to offer a range of incentives to our employees worldwide. These benefits are available to everyone, regardless of grade, and reflect the values we uphold: · Flexibility: Enjoy unlimited vacation, based on your location and business priorities. Hybrid working arrangements, and inclusive policies such as paid time off for voting, bereavement, and sick leave. · Well-being: Access Confidential one-on-one therapy through our Employee Assistance Program, find support from our network of Wellbeing Champions and Gather Groups, and a calendar of monthly events and initiatives designed to help you thrive - Inside and Outside of work. · Medical, life & disability insurance, retirement plan, lifestyle and other benefits* · Sustainability: Benefit from paid time off for volunteering and donation matching. · DEI: Participate in multiple DE&I groups for open involvement (e.g., Count Me In, Culture@Finastra, Proud@Finastra, Disabilities@Finastra, Women@Finastra). · Career Development: Access online learning and accredited courses through our Skills & Career Navigator tool. · Recognition: Be part of our global recognition program, Finastra Celebrates, and contribute to regular employee surveys to help shape Finastra and foster a culture where everyone is engaged and empowered to perform at their best. *Specific benefits may vary by location. At Finastra, each individual is unique, bringing their own ideas, thoughts, cultural beliefs, backgrounds, and experiences together. We learn from one another, embrace and celebrate our differences, and create an environment where everyone feels safe to be themselves. Be unique, be exceptional, and 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. The company privacy policy can be found here Finastra Privacy Policy