Head of Strategy and Capital

We are seeking a Head of Strategy and Capital to lead strategic planning and capital management.
The Head of Strategy and Capital will be the Chief Executive's principal partner on the Bank's strategic agenda, capital allocation, and performance insight. The role-holder will own the Bank's strategic plan, the frameworks through which capital is deployed and returns are measured, and the strategic management information that informs Executive Committee and Board decision-making. The role plays a central part in the Bank's growth and corporate development trajectory, and represents the Bank's strategic position to the Board, shareholder, regulators, and external stakeholders.
Key responsibilities:
Strategy & Corporate Development
• Lead the development and refresh of the Bank's 3–5 year strategic plan, ensuring alignment with shareholder direction and regulatory expectations.
• Translate strategy into measurable initiatives, owners, milestones, and KPIs through a live execution-tracking system.
• Conduct continuous market, competitor, and peer analysis across UK specialist real estate finance to inform Executive and Board deliberations.
• Maintain a structured view of inorganic growth opportunities.
• Partner with business heads to shape product, distribution, and origination strategy in line with the agreed plan.
Capital Allocation & Performance Frameworks
• Design and own the methodology for transfer pricing and risk adjusted returns
• Set, review, and challenge product-level and segment-level hurdle rates; provide the analytical lens that informs pricing, credit, and asset-and-liability committee decisions.
• Support the Bank's capital strategy, providing the strategic and analytical input into capital instrument decisions and capital planning.
Strategic MI, Board & Stakeholder Engagement
• Own the strategic management information that supports Executive Committee and Board decision-making.
• Establish unified strategic reporting frameworks drawing on Finance, Risk, Treasury, and Operations data sources.
• Coordinate Board and Committee materials originating from the CEO's office, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and strategic coherence; maintain a forward calendar of Board, Committee, and regulatory submissions.
• Lead author and co-presenter, with the CEO, of strategic materials to the Board, shareholder, regulators, and other external stakeholders.
• Maintain robust tracking of Board decisions and action points to ensure documentation, monitoring, and completion.
Other Job Requirements
* An In-depth knowledge of retail banking and ancillary products.
* Internal audit experience in banking.
Profile Essentials
• Minimum 10 years' professional experience in banking, strategy consulting (with banking specialism), corporate development, or strategic finance.
• Demonstrable depth in UK specialist or commercial lending markets — buy-to-let, bridging, development finance, or commercial real estate lending.
• Strong banking finance fluency.
• Comprehensive understanding of UK banking regulation (PRA/FCA), the Senior Managers & Certification Regime, and Board governance frameworks.
• Track record of leading strategic plans through to execution, not only formulation.
• Superior financial analysis and presentation capabilities; proven ability to convert data into Board-quality decisions.
• Excellent written and oral communication; precise, succinct, and Board-ready.
• Capacity to operate effectively in a fast-paced environment within a small, senior team with significant organisational visibility.
Competencies
• Strategic thinker with strong commercial judgement and a bias to action.
• Intellectually rigorous; uses data and evidence to form views, and is comfortable challenging assumptions, including those of executive peers.
• Direct, decisive, and brevity-focused in communication.
• Strong stakeholder management; able to influence at Board, shareholder, and regulator level.
• Operates with integrity and a high standard of personal conduct.
Desirable
• Finance qualification (ACA, ACCA, CFA) or MBA from a recognised institution.
• Direct experience of corporate development or M&A transactions in UK banking or specialist finance.
• Prior experience of senior-level regulatory engagement.
• Familiarity with second-line risk and third-line audit frameworks.
Conduct rules for all staff: Responsibilities
• Act with integrity, respect and trustworthiness
• Act with the due skill, are and diligence
• Be open and cooperative with the Bank, the FCA, the PRA and other regulators
• Pay due regard to the interests of customers and treat them fairly
• Observe proper standards of market conduct and business conduct
• Ensure that the business of the firm for which are you are responsible is controlled effectively.
• Ensure that the business of the firm for which you are responsible complies with the relevant requirements and standards of the regulatory system.
We offer a competitive salary and benefits package, a supportive work environment and opportunities for professional development.
If you are ready to make a significant impact and drive our organisation forward, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity.
Apply to find out more information about the position, including salary, work arrangements, and application process.
Our Commitment to You
We are committed to ensuring that:
* our pay remains competitive in the labour market;
* we pay individuals in line with normal industry practice and standards;
* our pay is consistent and fair;
* we take into account the official data on inflation;
* we recognise individual performance and reward employees accordingly; and
* individuals are not discriminated against because of gender, marital or civil partnership status, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, or because they work part time or on a fixed-term contract.
Our Benefits
* x4 Life Assurance
* Pension (10% employer contribution)
* Private Medical Insurance
* Income Protection
* Critical Illness Cover
* Company Car Scheme
* Season Ticket Loan
* Gym Membership (Wellhub)
* Cycle2Work
* EAP
Please note that our benefits are not contractual and we reserve the right to amend or withdraw them at any time. Our benefits are based on certain eligibility criteria and are only applicable to our permanent and fixed term employees. They do not apply to interns, work placements, contractors, consultants or any self-employed individuals working for the organisation