Operations Manager

About the PSR

Payments underpin our economy. How payments work affects the society we live in, how likely we are to fall victim to fraud, and how easily we can all manage our money.

We need payments technology, the rules governing the use of these systems and the markets they support to all work well. Behind payments are several important payment systems which we rely on to support markets, facilitate competition, and drive innovation. This helps to identify new ways to protect people from harm and to deliver new products and services, giving people and businesses more choice and control about how to pay and be paid.

The PSR plays an important role here as the economic regulator of, and competition authority for, those systems. We protect people and businesses and promote competition and innovation in these systems and the markets that they support.

The PSR works closely with other regulators in this sector, including the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the Bank of England and the Competition and Markets Authority. Operationally we are an independent subsidiary of the FCA.

Our Operations team in the People and Operations division is the engine room of the PSR, overseeing service provision from suppliers, managing financial accounts and procurement, leading on information management, operational policies, technology provision, operational resilience, business planning and corporate annual accounts publications.

Purpose of the role

The role is responsible for ensuring that the day-to-day operations of the PSR run smoothly and efficiently, overseeing business as usual (BAU) and additionally implementing operational change well.

This involves oversight of all operational activity and close working with other PSR teams when collaboration is needed or where handoffs are made.

The FCA are the PSR’s main service provider and so a significant element of the role is overseeing relationship management and monitoring service standards across the services provided.

This role leads and manages the Operations Team of associates and senior associates overseeing delivery against expectations, providing pastoral and professional support, and ensuring that development plans are in place. The role holder is part of the PSR’s wider management team and so will also contribute to organisational-wide corporate initiatives as they arise.

Key accountabilities

• Leading on all operational areas in the PSR, enabling good service and supporting the organisation to deliver against its strategic aims

• Quality assurance of operational data, analysis, and reports

• Working proactively with stakeholders at all levels within the PSR and the FCA to ensure effective provision of operational services to the PSR across HR, Finance, IT, Procurement, Facilities, Internal Audit, and other corporate services

• Management of third-party suppliers delivering operational services to the PSR

• Working with the People and Operations leadership team to develop, track and report effective performance measures through Management Information (MI)

• Ensuring that continuous improvement is embedded in Operations to enable the PSR to operate efficiently and effectively considering with value for money

• Responsibility for overseeing and presenting well drafted Operations committee papers up to Board level

• Ensuring that operational risks are recorded accurately and timely, and that there is appropriate escalation of key operational risks

• Ensuring effective governance and management of the budget through accurate regular Finance reporting and engagement

• Overseeing the co-ordination and delivery of the PSR annual report and accounts

• Overseeing operational policies and controls, ensuring that FCA policies are developed with consideration of the PSR, and that specific PSR operational policies are maintained

• Monitoring organisational compliance against key corporate policies, reporting as appropriate

Minimum   

• Experience of people and team management

• Proven operational management experience across several corporate functions, for example, Human Resources IT, Finance and business continuity

Essential

• A demonstrable ability to manage, motivate and develop staff to meet organisational objectives through delegation, support and coaching to develop team and organisational capability

• A pro-active working style focusing on the identification and delivery of priority work

• Experience of hands-on third-party supplier management

• A proven ability to inspire respect and be the go-to person for colleagues and stakeholders at all levels

• Evidencable ability to establish and maintain a network of open and honest relationships with both internal and external stakeholders

• The ability to appropriately challenge existing ways of doing things and exercising sound judgement, recognising when to manage and when to escalate

• Experience of operational data analysis and MI production. Possessing the ability to aggregate and analyse complex information and communicate key findings

• Practical experience in designing fit-for-purpose processes, controls and mechanisms to support efficient and effective operation of a multi-functional organisation

• Proven experience of delivering projects as well as overseeing BAU

• Ability to demonstrate a passion for operationalising diversity and inclusiveness

PSR Values

All members of PSR are expected to demonstrate the PSR Values of Integrity, Unity, Engagement, Knowledge & Purpose. 

In order to represent the people and organisations that we serve, we are committed to building and sustaining a diverse and inclusive workplace. Our commitment includes disability, ethnicity, LGBTQ+ and gender identity, mental health, and social mobility issues. 

We are proud signatories of the Women in Finance Charter, we hold the Level 2 Carer Confident accreditation from Carers UK and we signed the Social Mobility Pledge in June 2020.

As an inclusive employer, we are open to considering flexible working arrangements. Please contact our recruiter if you wish to apply for this role on a flexible basis.

Useful Information

• This role is graded as Manager Level 5 – Corporate

• The role offers a competitive salary, plus a comprehensive benefits package

• Applications for this role close at 23.59 on 15th September with interviews being conducted in the w/c 23rd September

• This role will be based in London, The International Quarter, Stratford

• Want to know what it is like to work at the PSR? Check out this short video PSR recruitment video 2022 - YouTube

• Please note – Applications must be submitted through our online portal. Applications sent via email will not be accepted

If you are interested learning more about the role, please contact:

For internal candidate Katie Ayling on  Kat[email protected]

For external candidates Ifrah Azam on [email protected]

Conflicts of interest

All applicants to the PSR are required to demonstrate that they do not have other interests likely to conflict with their responsibilities as an employee of the PSR. 

You should declare any potential conflict of interest as early as possible in the selection process (via the named recruitment contact), and also disclose information or personal connections that, if appointed, might be open to misperception. 

Any potential conflicts of interest will not prevent candidates going forward to interview but may, if appropriate, be explored during the interview to establish how the candidate would address the issue(s) should they be successful in their application.

For more information on conflicts please visit:

https://www.fca.org.uk/publication/corporate/conflict-of-interests.pdf