Portfolio Planning & Assurance Manager; Governance & Standards

As a Portfolio Planning & Assurance Manager you will play a pivotal role in delivering strategic, data-informed and independent portfolio planning and assurance services. You will be a trusted partner, enabling the Bank to achieve its strategic priorities by setting up projects and programmes for success. You will ensure the Portfolio Planning & Assurance team delivers effective portfolio management, ensuring all changes are traceable, accountable and deliver measurable benefits.

You will be responsible for establishing and enforcing standards for business cases and project governance, developing effective portfolio management frameworks, and overseeing the prioritisation of projects. This role involves implementing efficient decision-making processes for project approval. You will also stay updated on industry best practices to continuously improve the organisation's maturity.

• Deliver Portfolio Management Practices: Drive the development and implementation of robust portfolio management practices with a strong emphasis on governance and standards. Ensure these practices support strategic alignment, transparency, and value delivery across the enterprise.
• Define Minimum Standards: Establish and maintain clear, enforceable standards for business case development, project governance, and reporting. Ensure consistency and quality across all portfolio initiatives by embedding these standards into the project lifecycle.
• Set Portfolio Governance: Design and implement governance frameworks, processes, and tools that enable effective oversight and decision-making. Ensure governance structures are scalable, transparent, and aligned with organisational goals.
• Oversee prioritisation: Manage the prioritisation process for portfolio initiatives, ensuring that decisions are based on strategic value, resource availability, and risk considerations. Facilitate alignment between business units and executive leadership.
• Risk Management: Develop and maintain governance structures to proactively identify, assess, and mitigate risks at the portfolio level. Ensure that risk management is embedded in all stages of the portfolio lifecycle.
• Challenge Business Cases: Critically evaluate proposed business cases to ensure they are well-structured, feasible, and aligned with strategic priorities. Provide constructive feedback and guidance to improve the quality and impact of submissions.
• Approval Process: Implement clear, fair and efficient decision-making processes for project approval. Support governance bodies with the information and frameworks needed to make informed go/no-go decisions.
• Improving for the future: Stay up to date with industry trends, emerging practices, and technological advancements in portfolio management. Continuously assess and evolve governance practices to enhance maturity and effectiveness over time.
• Act as a role model and ambassador for the division: Embodying the values and purpose of the Bank. Foster a supportive, inclusive, and high-performing team culture that encourages collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.

• Demonstrable experience in preparing high-quality written materials for senior governance committees (such as Boards, Executive Committees, or Steering Committees), including the ability to distil complex information into clear, concise, and actionable papers or reports.
• Proven experience in project management, preferably within the banking or financial services sector, with the ability to think ahead and to be innovative in meeting business needs.
• Proficiency in project management software and tools with proficiency in making informed decisions and solving complex problems, often with incomplete information.
• Sound understanding of governance frameworks in relation to projects and programmes.

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate complex and technical information effectively in written and oral form with a style that is moderated according to the audience.
• Ability to work collaboratively with…