Head of IT

• Own the end-to-end IT strategy for the Japan business, aligned with global technology standards and regional business objectives
• Serve as the senior technology partner to Front Office businesses (Equities, Fixed Income, Global Markets, or Investment Banking), ensuring trading, risk, and post-trade systems meet business needs
• Ensure high availability, stability, and performance of mission-critical systems, including incident, problem, and change management
• Lead local delivery of global technology initiatives, including platform upgrades, cloud adoption, cybersecurity programs, and infrastructure modernisation
• Act as the primary technology contact for Japanese regulators and internal audit, ensuring compliance with FSA, J-SOX, data privacy, and cybersecurity requirements
• Manage third-party vendors and outsourced service providers, ensuring SLA adherence and cost efficiency
• Oversee local IT budgets, headcount planning, and resource allocation
• Lead, mentor, and develop local IT managers and teams, fostering a strong risk-aware and service-oriented culture

• 15+ years of IT experience within investment banking, capital markets, or financial services, with senior leadership responsibility
• Strong understanding of Front Office trading systems, market data platforms, and enterprise banking technology
• Proven experience operating in a foreign investment bank within Japan
• Deep knowledge of Japanese regulatory and control environments (FSA, J-SOX, outsourcing guidelines, cybersecurity expectations)
• Experience managing complex vendor landscapes and global delivery models
• Demonstrated ability to engage credibly with senior business stakeholders and global executives
• Strong people leadership experience, including managing managers and cross-functional teams
• fluent-level Japanese and fluent English required

If this position is not ideal for you, but you are looking for a new opportunity,please contact us to discuss your options.