time left to apply End Date: August 21, 2025 (13 days left to apply)

job requisition id JR-02535

Looking for a new challenge?

Take a look at our current vacancies. If you see a vacancy that is right for you, we encourage you to apply!

Are you looking for a role that enables you to use your experience and knowledge to build project and change management capability across an organisation? Then this could be the role for you

Contract: Permanent

Working hours: 35 hours per week

Reporting to: Head of PMO

Location: London, docklands. Our permanent hybrid policy sees us all working at least four days across a fortnight in the office

The management and delivery of a portfolio of programmes and projects is at the heart of our plan for the organisation. You’ll have a lead role in our PMO function responsible for the oversight, governance and reporting of our portfolio. A large part of your role will also be to continuously develop and improve the methods that we use to govern and deliver the portfolio. You will play a pivotal role in defining the standards and executing tasks associated with managing a portfolio of change.

You will be accountable for providing visibility of the status and health of the portfolio to the Executive/Board and senior management; participating in strategic decision making based on the expected benefits, risks, issues and budgets, resource management and operational impact across the portfolio. The information you provide will establish the baselined delivery plans for our full transformation portfolio, identify where variances occur, and corrective actions are required. You will need to be financially fluent to ensure that project finances are correctly reported and accounted for. In our organisation, PMO is first line of defence in the transformation assurance framework and as PMO Lead you’ll play a pivotal part in this assurance role.

The relationships that you build and maintain at senior levels are critical to the credibility and success of the services that the PMO offer to the organisation, you will need to influence a range of senior stakeholders up to Executive and Board level. Your professional input will help ensure that we are efficiently run which directly enhances our customer service and our reputation with businesses and consumers.

Key responsibilities

The accurate reporting of project, programme, and portfolio information to the Executive committee with oversight of change delivery

Building and managing strong relationships across the Senior Management group and Executive team. This will be critical in accessing the data and input you need to provide effective reporting and oversight.

Helping to develop and improving our approach to programme, project and change management including benefits tracking, risk management and assurance

The adoption of project, programme and portfolio management processes and tools

Ensuring that our governance frameworks are effective and that we continue to develop them so we can make the right decisions affecting the portfolio

Using your experience and knowledge to build project and change management capability across the organisation, for example coaching colleagues, helping people run smaller projects and delivering skills training

Establishing and sharing best practice so there should be a continuous drive to benchmark against other organisations and improve methods of working

Supporting the Head of PMO and Director of Transformation with the running of the various Exec update and decision-making committees e.g., Portfolio subcommittee meetings; Transformation Committee meetings; etc; continually proposing enhancements to the way those are run to ensure they achieve their objectives and are a good use of stakeholders’ time

To be considered for this role, you’ll need to show us that you’ve got the skills and capabilities. You’ll have to meet the following minimum criteria:

Demonstrable experience of leading a Portfolio Management Office

Aggregating information from range of sources to provide insightful portfolio reports to Executive level management

Building relationships and working with senior leaders across the complete spectrum of the organisation

Several years direct, first-hand experience managing projects at a level to be confident instructing and guiding project managers; advising on project planning, financial and resource estimation, tracking and control, schedule and RAID management, communication, governance, and reporting

Coaching, mentoring, and developing more junior members of staff

Being qualified in project, programme and change delivery methodologies such as PRINCE2, MSP, MoP, P3O, PMP and APMP

Why Financial Ombudsman Service?

We are a values led organisation. Our values define our culture, influence our decisions, and underpin our vision and strategy. They set out how we play our PART through Purpose, Ambition, Respect and Trust. You can learn more about our values here: https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/who-we-are/aims-values

We also offer an attractive, competitive salary and flexible benefits to suit our people. Here’s a list of some of the many benefits and perks you can get for working with us:

25 days holiday entitlement, with the option to buy extra or sell days

Various Family Friendly Policies, including enhanced maternity pay, carers and dependants leave

Employer provided benefits such as Private medical insurance, virtual GP, Critical illness cover, Life assurance cover, to name a few

Choice of voluntary benefits including Technology scheme, Cycle to work scheme, Will-writing service amongst others

Employee Assistance Programme

Extensive opportunities for personal and career development

Nationwide gym membership discounts, and a fully equipped on-site gym open 24/7 in London

Extensive Well-being resources including on-site therapists (London office only)

Beautiful and bright London office looking over the Thames and near to mainline stations

Our employee led networks (a couple of examples being our Women's Network, Carers network, and Neurodiverse Network) do fantastic work in educating and raising awareness across a range of experiences and support us in being an inclusive employer and a great place to work. You can get involved, too!

Please upload an up-to-date copy of your CV

A supporting statement is not essential, but always welcomed.

Applications need to be submitted by midnight on Wednesday, 20th August 2025

Due to high application numbers this advert may end earlier than the date specified, so please don't delay and make your application now.

A full job profile is available on request and will be provided to candidates shortlisted to the first stage of the recruitment process.

We’re proud to be an inclusive employer

We view diversity as fundamental to our success and welcome applications from underrepresented groups across all communities.

We’re committed to being a great place to work– attracting and developing people from the widest possible range of backgrounds. We want everyone to perform at their best and feel able to be themselves. We understand that if we’re diverse and inclusive, we’ll better understand different perspectives, which is fundamental to our job resolving financial complaints.

We welcome applications from Black and other ethnic minority candidates, and female candidates, for all positions and particularly so for senior leader positions as they are under-represented within the Financial Ombudsman Service at this level.

We are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. This means that we will put disabled candidates entering under the scheme through to the next stage of the recruitment process should they meet the minimum criteria for a role.

A minimum criterion needs to be measurable from reviewing a candidate’s CV/supporting statement. Exceptions may apply if due to the volume of applications, we are not able to interview all eligible candidates who qualify under the scheme. If you would like to speak to a member of our team about any reasonable adjustments you need, please email hrsupport@financial-ombudsman.org.uk and let us know your preferred method of contact.

Find out more

Check out below channels to find out more about everyday life at the Financial Ombudsman Service – and don’t forget to follow us while you’re there!

Who we are…

With fairness at the heart of everything we do, we embrace difference and treat everyone as equals. We’re a diverse organisation, but something we all share is our values. They’re central to the way we work – and work together.

We’re an independent, not-for-profit organisation that sorts out disputes between financial businesses and their customers. We do this by making decisions that are fair – and feel fair to both sides.

The Financial Ombudsman Service is an equal opportunities employer. All applicants will be treated in a fair and equal manner and in accordance with the law, regardless of gender, marital status, race, religion, colour, age, disability or sexual orientation.

We’re committed to being a great place to work – attracting and developing people from the widest possible range of backgrounds. We want everyone to perform at their best and feel able to be themselves. We understand that if we’re diverse and inclusive, we’ll better understand different perspectives, which is fundamental to our job resolving financial complaints. You can read more about Diversity and Inclusion .

We are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. Disabled applicants who fulfil the minimum criteria for the role will be progressed to the next stage of the process. Do let us know of any reasonable adjustments you need. You will need to demonstrate that you meet the minimum criteria in order to qualify for the Disability Confident scheme.