Application Development & Support Manager - Core Banking - 11380SR12

A London-based financial institution is seeking an Application Development & Support Manager to lead the development, delivery, and support of critical banking applications, with a strong focus on the Finastra Equation core banking platform. This role requires someone with proven hands-on experience supporting Finastra Equation environments who can also lead a small team and oversee application delivery within a banking technology environment. The successful candidate will take ownership of the bank's application landscape, ensuring systems remain secure, stable, and aligned with business needs. A key focus will be the management and support of the Finastra Equation platform, including operational support, upgrades, and enhancements. Working in a smaller banking environment, the role combines technical leadership, vendor coordination, project delivery, and application support oversight. Key Responsibilities Core Banking Platform

Direct oversight of the Finastra Equation core banking platform, including environment management, patching, and upgrades Ensure smooth operation of end-of-day (EOD) processing Provide fix-on-fail support and coordinate issue resolution Work closely with infrastructure teams to support IBM Power Systems performance and platform optimisation

Application Delivery

Lead development and delivery of application changes and enhancements Manage the transition of new solutions from project delivery into BAU support models Define delivery timelines and manage development resources

Application Support

Ensure reliable support for core banking and business applications Oversee incident management, root cause analysis, and service improvement Implement application monitoring and performance optimisation Coordinate upgrades, patches, and maintenance with third-party vendors

Team Leadership

Lead and mentor a small group of developers and application support analysts Foster a collaborative, high-performing engineering environment Support professional development and technical growth within the team

Governance and Stakeholder Management

Ensure applications meet security, audit, and regulatory requirements Maintain documentation, operational procedures, and DR processes Act as the key liaison between technology teams, business stakeholders, and vendors

Hands-on experience supporting the Finastra Equation core banking platform (essential) Experience working within banking or financial services technology environments Background in application development and support leadership Knowledge of AS/400 environments including RPG and/or COBOL Strong understanding of SDLC and application lifecycle management Experience managing production support, incidents, and BAU enhancements

Desirable Skills

Experience working with IBM Power Systems Familiarity with ITIL or service management frameworks Exposure to Azure or other cloud platforms Experience managing third-party vendors