MD, Head of Cyber Security and Technology Risk

Our client, a leading financial institution, is looking for a senior leader to head its cyber security and technology risk function. This role carries end-to-end accountability for protecting the organisation's technology environment, ensuring the resilience of its critical systems, and embedding a strong risk culture across the technology estate.

The successful candidate will report into senior management and act as the institution's principal point of contact on cyber security and technology risk matters, balancing day-to-day operational resilience with longer-term strategic risk management.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy & Governance

• Set the institution's technology risk management and cyber security strategy
• Establish risk appetite, policies, and standards for technology and cyber risk
• Embed technology risk considerations into broader enterprise risk management practices

Risk Management & Resilience

• Oversee technology risk management and business continuity practices to safeguard the reliability and resilience of the institution's systems and services
• Maintain oversight of cyber security posture across critical and customer-facing systems
• Drive initiatives to strengthen the institution's overall cyber resilience

Threat Monitoring & Intelligence

• Maintain situational awareness of the evolving cyber threat landscape
• Establish frameworks for monitoring and responding to technology and cyber risks
• Build threat intelligence capabilities and information-sharing relationships with industry peers
• Champion continuous monitoring and real-time threat detection

Incident & Crisis Management

• Own incident response protocols for significant cyber events
• Lead coordinated responses to major incidents, working with relevant internal and external stakeholders
• Establish crisis communication procedures and lead post-incident reviews

Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as a senior point of contact on technology and cyber matters with regulators, industry bodies, and external partners
• Represent the institution at relevant industry forums and working groups

Compliance & Assurance

• Advise the Board Risk Committee and senior management on the adequacy of the institution's cyber security arrangements
• Ensure ongoing compliance with applicable cyber security regulations and expectations

What We're Looking For

• Significant senior leadership experience in technology risk and cyber security management within large organisations, ideally financial institutions
• Strong understanding of financial technology systems, including payment, trading, clearing, and settlement systems
• Deep knowledge of cyber security practices and emerging technologies, and their implications for the financial sector
• Proficiency in audit techniques, security assessment tools, and cloud security architecture
• Good understanding of artificial intelligence and machine learning applications in financial services
• Exceptional capability managing multidisciplinary teams, with outstanding communication skills and the ability to engage diverse stakeholders
• Strong analytical abilities, balancing strategic oversight with operational delivery
• Sound understanding of the regulatory landscape governing financial institutions

What's on Offer

This is a high-impact, highly visible mandate to shape the cyber security and technology risk agenda for a major financial institution, with significant exposure to senior leadership, the Board, and the broader industry.

This is a confidential search. Interested candidates are encouraged to reach out for a discreet, exploratory conversation.

EA Licence: 16S8091

EA Reg No.: R1656500