Programme Manager - Technology Transformation

Essential Consulting are working with a Investment Bank who are seeking an experienced Programme Manager to take end-to-end ownership of a high-priority, time-critical transformation programme.

This is a hands-on delivery role, responsible for translating strategic objectives into a clear and executable programme plan, bringing together multiple teams and workstreams and driving delivery through to successful implementation and closure.

You will operate as a key point of accountability for the programme, working closely with senior stakeholders across Technology, Business, Operations, Risk and Finance to ensure delivery remains on track, within scope and budget. Key Responsibilities

• Lead the programme from mobilisation through to implementation, transition and formal closure.
• Build and maintain an integrated programme plan covering milestones, critical path, dependencies, resources and key decision points.
• Coordinate multiple cross-functional workstreams and ensure activity remains aligned to overall programme objectives.
• Drive delivery at pace, challenging slippage, removing blockers and ensuring actions and milestones are completed.
• Proactively manage programme risks, issues, assumptions and dependencies, escalating critical matters where appropriate.
• Own programme governance, controls and executive-level reporting, providing clear visibility of progress, risks, costs and decisions.
• Manage programme budgets, forecasts, resource requirements and financial performance.
• Work closely with senior sponsors and stakeholders to resolve competing priorities and enable timely decision-making.
• Coordinate third-party suppliers and delivery partners where required.
• Ensure business change, communications, training and operational readiness are incorporated into the overall delivery plan.
• Oversee transition into BAU, ensuring appropriate operational handover, benefits tracking and programme closure.

• Significant experience delivering large-scale, complex transformation programmes from mobilisation through to completion within Financial Services.
• Strong experience managing multiple interdependent workstreams within complex organisations.
• Proven ability to build and manage integrated programme plans, critical paths and cross-programme dependencies.
• Strong programme financial management experience, including budgets, forecasting and resource planning.
• Extensive experience managing RAID, change control, governance and delivery assurance.
• Experience working directly with senior sponsors, steering committees and executive stakeholders.
• Strong track record of identifying delivery challenges early and driving corrective or recovery actions.
• Experience delivering technology-enabled transformation and organisational change is highly desirable.
• Comfortable operating across Agile, Waterfall and hybrid delivery environments.
• Previous experience delivering End User Technology / End User Computing (EUC) transformation programmes would be highly desirable.

About You

You will be a delivery-focused Programme Manager who is comfortable taking ownership in a complex and fast-moving environment.

You will be able to bring structure to ambiguity, quickly understand what needs to happen and translate strategic objectives into practical delivery plans. You will be confident challenging teams, resolving blockers and influencing senior stakeholders while maintaining strong programme controls.

Above all, you will have a track record of taking complex programmes from plan through to successful delivery, while maintaining momentum, accountability and clear visibility for senior leadership.