Head of Platforms -SAP-Technological Ownership-All Platforms

Permanent

Remote/London

£140,000 + 25% Bonus + Benefits

Head of Platforms -SAP-Technological Ownership-All Platforms-Global ERP-PeopleSoft

We are currently seeking to recruit a Head of Platforms to join my client's Technology team in London. The Technology team operates on a global basis and we are looking for a team player to build out and manage a global Platform (systems) function. We are looking for very strong communication skills coupled with a collaborative approach to your work. You MUST be able to communicate at all levels and have Vendor Management experience from a technical perspective.

My client has several key platforms across Operations; Finance; Claims and Underwriting that require clear ownership from a technology perspective. Platform ownership is extremely important.

Head of Platforms -SAP-Technological Ownership-All Platforms-Global ERP-PeopleSoft

Reporting into a newly appointed CIO, this is an essential role for my client, and you will be responsible for driving and owning a fully integrated technology platform(s) roadmap in support of the global business strategy.

A key part of this role is to establish an effective and efficient operating model across all platforms/systems. An operating model that provides end-to-end, cost-efficient capabilities across all aspects of application lifecycle/product management.

The role will work closely with the global Business Units and Division Centre; IT (Service Desk & Infrastructure); Enterprise Architecture; Project Portfolio Management (PMO); PL Re Project teams; the Regional IT leads covering Asia, Australia and North America and the supporting companywide risk and control functions.

Head of Platforms -SAP-Technological Ownership-All Platforms-Global ERP-PeopleSoft

Duties:

• Accountable for the development of a long-term vision across re-insurance Platform(s).
• Ownership and delivery of the platform strategies and associated technical roadmap
• Operation of resilient applications/systems at scale in conjunction with the IT (Service Desk & Infrastructure) function and third-party suppliers
• Responsible for the successful operation, delivery of change and continuous improvement of the platform(s)/systems
• Responsible for seamless cross-platform integration; data flows and reporting solutions
• Embedding and fully implementing the existing (SAP) reinsurance [Protection and Longevity] solution and establishing a robust and effective support model across multiple service providers and setting the future direction
• Establishing and embedding a platforms model across the existing Finance; Claims and Underwriting systems
• Working alongside the Pricing and Actuarial systems team to ensure platform management, integration and design are aligned and support seamless and accurate data flow, functional and reporting requirements
• Responsible for oversight and management of IT Budgets, forecasting and cost management. Driving operational and cost efficiencies across the technology landscape (people; process; technology)
• Management of internal and external platform team resources (initially, 2 director level direct reports); small in-house team + several external vendor engagements
• Supplier management - strong collaboration and governance of 3rd party suppliers, ensuring the provision of high quality and value for money services. Full Vendor Life Cycle management. Management of vendor(s) against defined SLA's and budgets. Drive and evidence operational efficiencies and continual service improvement
• Participates in the governance of the change portfolio, including acting as a point of escalation across all platforms
• Acting as the IT Platform connection between the Operations; Finance; Underwriting & Claims; Actuarial and Research and Development and the Global Business Units
• Drive standardisation and consistency of systems process and design
• Working closely with the Enterprise Architect, defining and ensuring consistent, strategic architectural principles are followed
• Communicate the benefits and performance of the platforms to the business counterparts
• Responsible for adhering to the IT Risk Management framework and associated policies and procedures

Head of Platforms -SAP-Technological Ownership-All Platforms-Global ERP-PeopleSoft

Key Knowledge, Skills & Experience:

• Evidence of strong history and experience in successfully managing a mid-size portfolio of global IT platforms/systems.
• Strategic thinker. Experience in building out and delivering against global technology road maps across multiple platforms and regions.
• Strong technical focus. Ability to understand and challenge technical designs and proposals [at an appropriate level].
• Experience and ability to pro-actively manage technology vendors is essential. Strong vendor management background.
• Strong leadership and managerial skills. Ability to coach and mentor team members.
• Strong managerial experience (e.g.: prioritization, trade-off analysis, psychology, etc.), including team and cost management (budgets; forecasts; business cases).
• Strong Stakeholder management and communication skills, both verbal (e.g.: presentations), and written (e.g.: reports)
• Ability to embed robust platform governance and instil standardisation of process and solutions.
• Able to anticipate platform problems and knows how to defend against them at the right time.
• Able to articulate the problem and helps others to articulate the problem, and pro-actively builds resilience in the platform.
• Risk and Control focus. Understands technology risks and ensure the right levels of controls are in place and working, to mitigate against platform level risks.
• Demonstrates an understanding of user-centred design, alongside complementary technology and data perspectives
• Understands the different phases of change/service delivery lifecycle for (in-house) Technology and can contribute to, plan or run these phases
• Delivery and execution-focused, with a service-first mindset
• Strong technical background and experience managing global ERP (SAP) / PeopleSoft implementations

Head of Platforms -SAP-Technological Ownership-All Platforms-Global ERP-PeopleSoft

Desirable but NOT essential:

• Financial Services experience, preferably in (re)-Insurance. Able to demonstrate business-level understanding
• Knowledge of Finance; Actuarial; Pricing and Underwriting platforms; integration services and data management frameworks
• Understanding of data science technologies and solutions
• Knowledge of cloud and cloud-based technologies
• Bachelor's degree preferably in a computer science-based discipline

Head of Platforms -SAP-Technological Ownership-All Platforms

Permanent

Remote/London

£140,000 + 25% Bonus + Benefits

Head of Platforms -SAP-Technological Ownership-All Platforms-Global ERP-PeopleSoft