Planning & Resource Lead

Job Introduction

Main Responsibilities 

The Planning and Resource Lead will support execution against the Bank’s strategy to modernise the technology platforms and systems which support business products, digital products, and services in support of (internal and external) customer journeys. The successful individual will play a key role in the Bank’s overall transformation.

The purpose of this role is to own and manage financial and resource planning across the Bank’s multi-year IT Modernisation portfolio across multiple different initiatives, delivery teams, and cost types (resources, licenses, services, hardware) to support the successful execution of IT Modernisation within the financial investment limits it has been set.

• Act as the single responsible owner for administering and maintaining the resource and financial forecast and plans for the Portfolio, monitoring performance against the investment allocated, over a multi-year horizon
• Develop and maintain comprehensive resource plans that achieve the optimal allocation of resource capacity across the portfolio to maximise spend and output
• Ensure accurate forecasting and time recording for projects, monitoring actual costs against forecast, and identification and resolution of discrepancies
• Collate and track non-resource costs including licenses, hardware, and third-party services, plus management of Group delivery costs, ensuring accurate spend against forecast and monitoring performance against spend
• Manage and maintain the BAU support and maintenance spend across the IT Modernisation portfolio, tracking actual spend against forecast and the utilisation of resource capacity across change and maintenance activities
• Manage the charge back of change investment to the business, ensuring transparent and accurate allocation of costs related to IT Modernisation. Work with finance teams to refine and enhance charge back models to suit the scale of IT Modernisation investment and delivery
• Engage in strategic planning to anticipate future resource and financial needs, aligning long-term goals with financial limits and available capacity
• Create, interpret, and present regular reports on finance and resourcing status, including resource utilisation, project, and portfolio financial performance, providing analysis and recommendations
• Conduct trend analysis to identify patterns and variances in finance and resource data and provide insights to inform decision making
• Act as a liaison between project teams, IT finance teams, recruitment teams and leadership, building strong relationships, facilitating clear communication, and understanding of financial and resource related matters
• Collaborate with representatives from outside of IT Technology, including business, finance, and procurement teams. Convene regular portfolio wide financial and resource sessions to review project financial and resource positions, to highlight progress and any blockers
• Operates in line with the Bank's Risk Management framework (including sub-frameworks) and relevant risk and compliance policies and procedures, ensuring appropriate and timely escalation of any concerns to their line manager. 

Ideal Candidate

Research (by Harvard University) shows that women are particularly likely to second guess themselves and not apply - so if you are worried you don't meet all the criteria, get in touch anyhow and let us do the worrying…

• Proven track record of resource and financial management for a large technology change portfolio within financial services, namely:
  • Multiple interdependent, concurrent change initiatives
  • Managing various spend categories – resources, licenses, third parties
  • Resource management within a fixed capacity
  • Regular financial reporting to senior stakeholders
• Excellent Microsoft Excel and PowerBI skills, with ability to create easy to interpret reports, models, and dashboards with built in automation and error handling
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a high attention to detail and a focus on continuous improvement
• 5+ years' experience in project delivery, with an understanding of the project lifecycle, including how finance and resource plans can fluctuate and the impact of delays on timelines and budgets
• Have a clear understanding of overall IT portfolio management and scaled systems delivery, and the project management triangle of costs, time, and scope, and the role of effective financial and resource management in successful delivery
• Have a clear understanding of both Agile and Waterfall delivery techniques and the ways in which finance and resource management may vary across the two
• Ability to work independently, take initiative, solve problems, and take decisions without dedicated supervisions
• Skilled in managing time effectively, prioritising tasks and meeting deadlines
• Team Player. Enjoys collaborating with, learning from, and guiding others. Assumes good intent in others, and actively does their part to make a positive work environment
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to produce comprehensive analysis and reports for varying levels of stakeholders, including the capability to take a complex data set or challenge and simplify appropriately

Company Information 

Handelsbanken is a relationship bank with a decentralised way of working, a strong local presence thanks to a nationwide network of branches, and a long-term approach to customer relations. Each Handelsbanken branch operates as a local business enabling it to make decisions at a local level and provide a bespoke service. The focus is always on the need of the individual customer and not on the sale of specific products. 

We are embarking on an exciting Business Transformation journey. This transformation will significantly enhance our technology system systems, processes and services, bringing evolution to our ways of working. Join us in this transformative journey, where your dedication, adaptability and commitment will play a crucial role in shaping the future of banking for our valued customers. 

The Bank is deeply committed to embedding good equality and diversity practice into all of our activities. This is so that we are an inclusive, welcoming and inspiring place to work that encourages everyone to apply, regardless of socio-economic background, age, disability, pregnancy and/or parental status, race (including colour, nationality, and ethnic or national origin), veteran status, marital and civil partnership status, religion or belief, sex, gender reassignment or sexual orientation. 

Check our Handelsbanken website for further information

At Handelsbanken, we deeply value our unique culture and values including trust in and respect for each individual. We take pride in nurturing a work environment where people flourish, and where they are empowered to take decisions in their areas of expertise. We take a long term perspective in everything we do and want each employee who joins us to build a long terms successful career with the Bank.  

What is in it for you?

• We have a wide range of learning and development available, empowering and enabling our colleagues to take ownership of their own development. 
• Competitive Salary and an extensive range of benefits is provided, including private medical insurance, income protection and life assurance
• A market-leading pension contribution of 15% paid by the bank, which can be invested in a wide range of funds (including ESG and Shariah funds)

Application next steps

Your journey with us begins once you have submitted your application. One of our Handelsbanken recruiters will be reviewing your details and will later organise a phone conversation if you match the role requirements. If there is a mutual fit, we will extend an invitation for you to participate in an interview.  

How can we support you to be your best self? Our Talent Acquisition team will be happy to provide support e.g. if you need additional time to prepare for an interview or you have any requirements for any part of the interview/hiring process – just let us know by email uk_talent@careers.handelsbanken.co.uk. 

This advert will be live for a minimum of two weeks. However, please note that after the two weeks, the closing date could change at any time depending on the number of responses received.

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