Chief Technology Officer (The Idol)

The Idol is a successful financial technology business based on the edge of the stunning Lake District National Park in Cumbria. Our location offers the opportunity for an exceptional work-life balance, allowing you to enjoy the countryside, find inspiration and unwind.  We’ve been innovating in financial services since 1999 and are dedicated to transforming insurance technology to protect what matters.

As part of the Legal & General Group (since 2010), we proudly partner with household brands such as Go.Compare and ComparetheMarket. We are committed to early adoption of new technologies, progressive working practices and supporting everyone to be accountable to deliver their best quality work. You can find out more on the Idol website.

The role is a hybrid role that requires time in the Penrith office several times per month.

The Idol Chief Technology Officer (CTO) is the strategic leader fully accountable for setting and driving the delivery of the development, deployment, change management, infrastructure, security and governance of The Idol’s technology solutions in alignment with our product and business ambitions.

As a key member of the senior management team, the CTO is accountable for defining and driving the performance and results of our technology strategy, technological innovation, and engineering quality. It is a pivotal role in defining and delivering our growth ambitions through technology, and fostering a culture of continuous learning and technological excellence in addition to being the internal and external voice of our technology ambitions.

Primary accountabilities

1. Set The Idol’s forward-looking (up to 5 years) technology strategy and roadmap that aligns with the Company purpose, values and strategy, and spearhead the execution of this. This will involve partnering with the senior management team and other senior stakeholders and wider L&G business, to shape and drive the Company’s strategic direction and product development initiatives, shaping and designing products and services which are efficient, high quality and deliver customer outcomes through thought leadership, innovation, energy, direction, and a relentless focus on delivery.

2. Lead high-quality outcomes by empowering and developing multiple delivery teams across Engineering and Architecture, Platform, Technical Compliance, Quality Assurance, Supplier Management, and Cybersecurity ensuring there are the right people in the right roles for now and the future. Drive activities within these teams to ensure the realisation of commercial value and customer/partner experience, employee engagement, financial rigour and risk management.

3. Own, provide leadership of, and drive forward the delivery of high-quality end-to-end development for the Company's internal and externally facing technology and its alignment to product and business requirements and those of its partners and customers. Take ownership that technical product quality meets our and our Partners’ requirements through the leadership of high development and quality assurance standards and continuous improvement to processes and expertise.

4. Take ownership of IT governance and risk management across The Idol. This involves the adherence to security best practices in alignment to The Idol and L&G policy and standards, compliance with regulatory and industry standards (eg, GDPR, ISO27001, PCI) to protect customer and company data, and ownership of incident management and disaster recover planning for Company technology and services. Provide leadership that all governance and risk processes in relation to technology are implemented diligently, with risks documented, managed and communicated where required.

5. Take ownership that the Company’s systems and platforms are resilient, scalable, secure, well designed, and aligned with the Company's growth trajectory.

6. Accountable for the IT effectiveness of the Company’s engagement with both external partners and within L&G to ensure an excellent reputation as a prominent technology provider to bring value to the Company’s commercial strategy.

7. Create an environment of digital innovation and best practice, ensuring the transformational use of technologies that benefit the strategic roadmap. This includes delivery of effective IT services which ensure that high standards of quality, commercial outcomes, competitive advantage, governance, process/systems, communications, and customer experience are met.

8. Consider, relevant to your role, the needs and objectives of all our customers, including vulnerable customers, to ensure that they receive good outcomes.

In addition, as we are registered with the Financial Conduct Authority, the CTO has regulated responsibilities in a Senior Management Function on behalf of Investment Discounts On Line Ltd (Idol) of:

· Responsible for information technology, including cybersecurity. Responsible for the operational integrity, security, resilience and robustness of the IT control environment for the firm including oversight of any IT suppliers

· Responsibility for the operational functions and regulatory obligations of the firm outsourced to a third party.

· Responsible for all computer programs and other technology used to support or enable the financial services provided by the firm.

· Change Management - Responsible for the oversight and management of the process, tools and techniques used to manage the firm's transition to the required business outcome.

· Responsible for business continuity planning and the implementation of those plans across the firm for IT.

• Proven track record of leading the delivery of a number of complex, high-quality and profitable technology developments and innovation, preferably gained in an insurance or banking environment.
• Proven track record leading multiple technology teams from platform and security through to delivery to create an engaged and aligned workforce.
• Experience working within governance and risk frameworks, and the management and alignment with controls and standards, preferably in a regulated environment.
• Experience interacting with a range of senior stakeholders (Board, Customers, Employees, Partners and Suppliers).
• Experience effectively communicating complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders, ensuring alignment between business objectives and the technology strategy.

We welcome candidates returning from a career break to apply for this role.  

Legal & General is a leading financial services organisation, named Britain’s Most Admired Company in 2023, for the second year running. Rated top in our sector and top for inspirational leadership, we have a strong heritage and an exciting future. 

We’re one of the world's largest asset managers, homebuilders, pension providers and insurers. Connecting to form a unique business model which drives value for our customers and society. And enabling our people to create impact through work that is meaningful and valued. 

If you join us, you’ll be part of a welcoming, inclusive culture, with opportunities to collaborate with people of diverse backgrounds, views, and experiences. Guided by leaders with integrity who care about your future and wellbeing. Empowered through initiatives which support people to develop their careers and excel. 

We strive to be open, mindful, and inclusive, so are always willing to discussing flexible working arrangements and reasonable accommodations for candidates with specific needs. It doesn’t matter if you don’t meet every single criterion in this advert. Instead, think about what you excel at and what else you can bring in terms of strengths, potential and connection to our purpose. 

If you’re open to find out more, we'd love to hear from you. 

Legal & General is a leading financial services group and major global investor, named Britain’s Most Admired Company in 2023, for the second year running. Rated top in our sector and top for inspirational leadership, we have a strong heritage and an exciting future.

We aim to build a better society for the long term by investing our customers’ money in things that make life better for everyone.

If you join us, you’ll be part of a welcoming culture, with opportunities to collaborate with people of diverse backgrounds, views and experiences. Guided by leaders with integrity who care about your future and wellbeing. Empowered through initiatives which support people to develop their careers and excel.

We strive to be open, mindful and inclusive, so are always willing to discussing flexible working arrangements and reasonable accommodations for candidates with specific needs.

If you’re open to find out more, we'd love to hear from you.