Company Overview
Our Client provides financial services for individual investors across the United States and Canada. The guiding philosophy of our client is client service and focus on the needs of the individual investor. Every aspect of the firm’s business, from the types of investment options offered to the location of branch offices, is designed to cater to individual investors in the communities in which they live and work. Our client embraces the importance of building long-term, face-to-face relationships with clients, helping them to understand and make sense of the investment options available today
Search Impetus
Our client is looking to add a “succession ready” senior technology executive. The opportunity is to join a strong team of approximately 1500 individuals in the Information Services Group in a manner designed to help facilitate a smooth integration into the company positioning him or her to play a key role in the future success of the group as the succession candidate to the CIO. Ideally, this individual will initially lead one or more of the 5 key business areas of the IT organization in order to quickly and broadly learn the business of the company and the strategic role IT plays in the firm’s success.
Opportunity Overview
Our client is looking for a CIO succession capable senior executive who, along with offering extensive practical experience in leading large IT groups, brings vision, business acumen, broad technology expertise, and exceptional communication skills. The opportunity is to join a strong team of approximately 1500 individuals in the Information Services Group in a manner designed to help facilitate a smooth integration into the company positioning him or her to play a key role in the future success of the group as the succession candidate to the CIO. Ideally, this individual will initially lead one or more of the 5 key business areas of the IT organization in order to quickly and broadly learn the business of the company and the strategic role IT plays in the firm’s success.
The current environment in Information Systems at our client is strong and serves the organization well. Technology satisfaction at our client scores highest in its peer group in terms of Financial Advisor and client satisfaction. The individual we seek should be able to first, “fine tune the engine” optimizing the current structure and also continue to refine and develop a robust vision and implementation roadmap to sustain our client for the future. A major element of refining and developing the roadmap for the organization is establishing successful relationships throughout the firm that are based upon reality, openness to the viewpoints of others, and mutual trust. Second, the CIO successor will continually need to “raise the bar” and appropriately evolve IT.
He/she will join the organization working closely with the Chief Information Officer of the firm and the senior leadership of the firm, being positioned as a successor to the current CIO.
Key Attributes and Responsibilities:
The individual we seek should be able to build credibility within the Information Systems team and executive management, by bringing technical and business expertise, as well as a global, future-oriented perspective on technology. He/she will be able the offer the following;
Provide strategic and operational direction for planning, designing, implementing and maintaining the organization’s applications and solutions.
Oversee the execution of multiple, concurrent initiatives in support of the organization’s business objectives and client needs.
Forge strong partnerships across the company to identify and implement business process improvements related to key business applications.
Provide leadership to a large IT organization including those who design, develop and build in-house solutions and application software and ensure user requirements are properly defined and implemented
Establish and manage relationships with key application and service vendors, and hold them accountable for delivery on all critical initiatives.
Recruit, inspire, and develop highly-skilled professionals who can consistently deliver quality results that meet stated business objectives.
Implement a management approach that drives organizational performance, encourages creativity, develops technical proficiencies and rewards key performers. Foster the development of general management skills by advancing high-potential team members through a variety of IT and other career path options.
Actively build and maintain productive relationships or networks of internal/external contacts.
He/she must also be able to translate technology plans into business-relevant terms, such as efficiency, return on investment, customer acquisition and satisfaction, and regulatory impact.
Desired Qualifications
In-depth technology expertise; minimum 10 plus years of experience across multiple technology areas including Business Solutions Development / Application Development and Infrastructure and or Architecture.
Highly developed leadership skills; minimum of 5 years of executive leadership experience within large (600+) IT organization.
In-depth understanding of financial services and investments including industry processes and operations.
High functioning; able to juggle many projects and priorities while being e a decisive leader.
Excellent listening and communications skills; secure ego and open to feedback. Able to communicate effectively (both written and verbal) with multiple audiences, including senior leadership and financial advisors.
Proficient in problem solving through root cause analysis using industry standard tools. Experienced in system development methodologies and IS processes.
Experienced with project management concepts and best practices.
Deep domain experience in emerging technologies, such as mobile, web and social, and their potential impact on businesses.
Hands-on experience negotiating and implementing sourcing agreements; should include experience working with external business partners, consulting organizations, off-shoring firms and hardware and software vendors.
Core Competencies
Thinks strategically; aligns with the firm’s strategic objectives; understands and communicates the firm’s strategy
Plans and organizes; creates clear plans for self and others to ensure that work is completed efficiently
Uses seasoned judgment; collects, analyzes and acts on relevant info to make effective decisions
Drives for results; sets high standards of performance and holds others and self- accountable)
Acts courageously; takes action despite personal risks to achieve the firm’s success)
Collaborates; involves others in shaping plans and decisions that impact them; contributes to the work of the firm