Description
The Senior Principal, Cyber Security Service Assurance will lead the financial, commercial, reporting and process-assurance capability that supports Cyber Security Office delivery.
As a principal of the service assurance for the CSO PMO, this position is accountable for the quality, governance and strategic use of contract, cost and performance information; provides leadership to analysts and partners; and converts insight into decisions, interventions and sustainable improvements across the CSO portfolio.
Key responsibilities:
- Lead the Cyber Security Service Assurance team and set clear priorities, standards and outcomes for financial, commercial, reporting and process-assurance activities across the Cyber Security Office.
- Provide direction, coaching and quality oversight to analysts, building capability, resilience and succession within the team.
- Own the governance and integrity of budget plans, forecasts, financial tracking, operational budgets and management reporting, ensuring leaders receive timely and decision-ready insight.
- Translate spend, contract, service and performance data into strategic recommendations, challenge and interventions for CSO leadership.
- Oversee commercial execution, including payments, purchase orders, cross-charging and associated controls, resolving systemic issues and escalating material risks.
- Lead structured performance reviews with key suppliers and internal service owners, hold parties accountable to contractual and service commitments, and sponsor corrective action where performance falls short.
- Own service-level definition, performance measurement and reporting across the assigned CSO scope, ensuring services meet agreed commitments and control requirements.
- Direct the development of dashboards, business information systems and data repositories, establishing consistent definitions, controls and reporting standards.
- Sponsor business analysis and benefit cases for change, prioritising improvements that increase efficiency, transparency, control effectiveness and management confidence.
- Drive automation and continuous improvement across recurring reporting and operational processes, tracking realised benefits and adoption.
- Represent Service Assurance in CSO governance and cross-functional forums, influencing senior stakeholders and aligning Finance, PMO, business and supplier priorities.
- Manage service, financial, commercial and delivery risks within the function, maintaining effective escalation, decision and action tracking.
Basic Qualifications:
- Degree in Finance, Computer Science, Business, Technology or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.
- Overall 18+ years of Substantial experience in portfolio management, service assurance, financial management, commercial management or a comparable business leadership role.
- Proven experience leading analysts or multidisciplinary teams and developing capability through coaching, performance management and structured feedback.
- Demonstrated ownership of complex budgets, forecasts, management reporting and financial controls, with the judgement to challenge assumptions and advise senior leaders.
- Strong commercial acumen and experience managing supplier performance, contracts, purchase-to-pay processes, cross-charging and issue escalation.
- Experience defining service measures, assuring performance and leading continuous improvement in a complex technology environment.
- Advanced analytical capability, including the ability to integrate data from multiple systems and turn it into clear executive insight and recommendations.
- Excellent leadership, influencing and communication skills, with a record of building trusted relationships across senior business, finance, technology and supplier stakeholders.
- Strong knowledge of cyber security or significant experience operating within a Cyber Security Office or similarly controlled technology function.
- Fluent English and the ability to produce concise, accurate and decision-focused communications for senior management.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Master’s degree in Finance, Business, Computer Science or a related discipline.
- Professional certification in service management, finance, project or portfolio management, or cyber security.
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Power BI, including executive dashboards, data modelling and visualisation.
- Experience leading automation, reporting transformation or enterprise process-improvement initiatives.
- Experience in pharmaceutical, life sciences or another highly regulated industry.