Overview
The Head of IT is responsible for leading the country/local market technology function within a Financial Institutions (FI) environment, ensuring secure, stable, scalable, and compliant technology operations aligned with business objectives and regional/global technology strategy. The role oversees both applications and infrastructure domains while managing complex stakeholder relationships across a highly matrixed organisation and leading regional/offshore delivery teams.
Key Responsibilities
Technology Leadership
- Lead the local market IT function across application delivery, infrastructure, production support, cybersecurity, and end-user services.
- Partner with business leadership to define and execute technology strategy aligned to regulatory, operational, and commercial priorities.
- Ensure high availability, resilience, and performance of critical banking/financial systems.
- Drive technology transformation, modernization, automation, and operational efficiency initiatives.
Applications & Infrastructure Oversight
- Oversee enterprise applications including core banking/financial platforms, digital channels, middleware, and data solutions.
- Manage infrastructure operations covering networks, servers, cloud platforms, databases, workplace technologies, and disaster recovery.
- Ensure integrated governance across both applications and infrastructure domains.
- Lead incident, problem, change, and release management processes.
Stakeholder & Matrix Management
- Operate effectively within a complex regional/global matrix environment with shared services and multiple reporting lines.
- Collaborate closely with global technology teams, operations, compliance, risk, cybersecurity, and business stakeholders.
- Influence senior leadership and navigate competing priorities across regional and local teams.
- Manage relationships with external vendors, system integrators, and support partners.
Risk, Governance & Regulatory Compliance
- Ensure compliance with all applicable financial services regulations, cybersecurity standards, audit requirements, and internal policies.
- Partner with Risk and Compliance teams to address technology controls, audits, and remediation activities.
- Maintain strong governance over operational risk, data protection, business continuity, and disaster recovery.
Team & Vendor Management
- Lead and develop local IT teams while managing offshore and distributed support/delivery teams.
- Drive accountability and service excellence across internal and outsourced functions.
- Establish KPIs, SLAs, and performance metrics for technology operations and vendor management.
- Foster a high-performance and collaborative technology culture.
Operational Excellence
- Ensure stable BAU operations with strong incident response and crisis management capability.
- Oversee budgeting, resource planning, and technology investment prioritization.
- Drive continuous improvement in service delivery, system reliability, and user experience.
Requirements
Experience
- 15+ years of IT leadership experience, preferably within banking, financial services, or regulated FI environments.
- Proven experience leading technology functions across both applications and infrastructure domains.
- Strong experience operating within complex matrix organisations across regional and global structures.
- Demonstrated experience managing offshore, distributed, or outsourced technology teams.
- Track record delivering large-scale technology transformation and operational improvement initiatives.
- Experience engaging with regulators, auditors, and senior stakeholders.
Technical Expertise
- Strong understanding of enterprise applications, infrastructure platforms, cloud technologies, cybersecurity, and IT service management.
- Familiarity with banking systems, digital platforms, IT controls, and regulatory technology requirements.
- Knowledge of ITIL, SDLC, DevOps, infrastructure operations, and incident management frameworks.
Leadership Competencies
- Strategic thinker with strong execution capability.
- Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills.
- Strong people leadership and team development capabilities.
- Calm and decisive under pressure in critical operational incidents.
- Commercially minded with strong governance discipline.
Argyll Scott Singapore Pte Ltd
EA License No. 16S8105
Koh Ching Wen (Xu Jingwen)
EA Reg No: R1108631
