Head of Information Technology

Company Description

Apna Microfinance Bank Limited is a private commercial microfinance bank in Pakistan, specialized in providing financial services to marginalized communities, especially women and micro-entrepreneurs in rural areas. The bank is licensed by the State Bank of Pakistan to operate nationwide, with a focus on economic empowerment and development of undeserved masses through innovative financial solutions and capacity building programs.

Role Description

This is the senior most level leadership role in IT in the Bank responsible for the management of information technology setup in alignment with business objectives.

Responsible for overall planning, strategy, setup and operations of IT department, including budgeting, hiring, training and retaining of qualified people and alignment of IT as a service organization, to ensure that the bank can meet strategic objectives and operational goals. Reporting to the President, Head provides general IT management and business integration with customers, and works with internal department heads on business, operational issues and process improvement.

1.  Strategic IT Management

• Understand business focus and directions and introduce new technology or new methods of deploying technology to enhance current business or create new business initiatives.
• Identify IT directions and strategy to fulfill the organization's ambition, mission and vision.
• Implement BOD approved technology related policies
• Establish current and long-term objectives, plans and policies for the internal operations and technology needs of the bank.
• Determine and implement avenues to increase automation of processes, thereby creating more efficiency and effectiveness in banking operations.
• Drives planning & successful execution of key IT projects delivering consistently on project schedules and performance goals.

2.  IT Governance

• Establish IT governance and ensure that IT is aligned with the business to deliver value, its performance is measured, its resources properly allocated, and its risks mitigated.
• Ensure that regulatory requirements pertaining to technology are satisfactorily met, delegating duties to respective department heads when needed; cooperates with regulatory agencies, software providers and other appropriate parties to ensure necessary regulatory changes are made at appropriate times, also bearing in mind competitive pressures.
• Ensures that frequent Technology Risk Assessments are carried out.
• Analyze and review all IT incidents so as to avoid recurrence
• Closely monitor IT budgets ensuring costs are kept within limits.
• Develop and maintain Disaster recovery plans and conduct drills.

3.    Security OPS Center (SOC) & Cyber Security Management

• Monitor security logs to track malicious events/incidents that can lead towards exploitation of IT risks and non-compliance of I&IT security policy.
• Lead investigation of information security incidents, breaches, risks, threats and vulnerabilities to protect bank's information/IT assets.
• Develop, review & implement I&IT security policy, standards, frameworks, procedures & related guidelines for their continued applicability and effectiveness with respect to regulatory compliance.

4.  System & Infrastructure Development

• Follows technology trends domestically as well as internationally to ensure that the bank products, services and systems remain competitive.
• Review the results of technology initiatives; analyze them to establish objectives and take steps to ensure that appropriate measures are taken to correct unsatisfactory results and to constantly improve performance.

5.  Stakeholder Management

• Cooperates and coordinates with core and ancillary software providers(s) and other third-party providers as well as internal stakeholders like business and operations, to ensure that banking needs are met, effectively evaluate performance of these providers and providing timely course of action for problem resolution.
• Assist in IT related outsourcing and vendor management
• Identify resource gaps (People. Processes and technology) and take appropriate steps to fill the gaps.

6.  People Management

• Mentors and trains team members in various areas pertaining to their job roles like project management, development and delivery of IT systems and services to ensure effective service delivery
• Organizes interdepartmental and cross functional activities to ensure business- IT alignment

Eligibility Criteria:

Education:

Must have excellent academic record with Master of Science (CS) or MBA (MIS) or a degree in any relevant master level IT discipline.

Experience:

• Minimum 15 years+ of relevant experience in a financial institution. Candidates with experience in commercial / microfinance Banking will be given preference

Skills and Competencies:

• Superior organization, leadership, communication, risk analysis/mitigation, and decision-making skills.
• Strong understanding of all significant components of an overall IT setup (architecture,( infrastructure, applications, data management, support, project management)
• Excellent organizational vision, strategic agility and employee motivation & development skills. Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Experience meeting budgets, managing deadlines and multiple priorities, proficient project management skills.
• Excellent negotiation and influencing skills.
• Excellent problem solving & decision quality, action orientation, client focus and results orientation
• Very strong planning and organizational skills