Senior Operations Manager

This role sits within the Economic Crime First Line function, Protect, and supports a major banking integration programme bringing together Financial Crime and Fraud capabilities to build a strong, scalable and sustainable Economic Crime control environment.

The role is accountable for leading Financial Crime Change and Run resources, with line management responsibility for colleagues within the team, and coordinating the workstreams required to integrate processes, systems and controls across both banks. It will apply appropriate delivery methodologies, drive disciplined planning and progress reporting, and produce high-quality senior management packs that clearly articulate delivery status, risks, dependencies, decisions and outcomes. The role will champion accountability, excellence and continuous improvement, balancing strategic outcomes, roadmap priorities, regulatory requirements and capacity and cost constraints to safeguard Members through a robust and future-proof Economic Crime control environment.

This is an 18-month Fixed Term Contract secondment opportunity.

At Nationwide we offer hybrid working wherever possible. More rewarding relationships are supported through our hybrid approach, bringing colleagues together across our UK wide estate, whilst also supporting generous access to home working. We value our time in the office to solve problems, to learn, and to feel connected.

For this job you'll be located at our nearest regional office or hub. There will be a need to regularly connect with colleagues for collaboration and in some locations you’ll be expected to spend at least two days a week, or if part time you'll spend 40% of your working time, in the office. If your application is successful, your hiring manager will provide further details on how this works.

If we receive a high volume of relevant applications, we may close the advert earlier than the advertised date, so please apply as soon as you can.

What you’ll be doing

In this role, you’ll lead the Financial Crime programme of work that brings together processes, systems and controls across both banks. You’ll provide effective line management, coaching and development for Financial Crime colleagues, while coordinating workstreams, maintaining clear delivery plans and ensuring milestones, dependencies, risks and issues are actively managed and escalated. You’ll oversee the deployment of people and skills across Change and Run activity, aligning capacity to agreed priorities and addressing resource constraints. You’ll translate complex delivery activity into concise, senior-ready updates and clear management information packs that demonstrate progress, challenges, decisions and outcomes. Working closely with Operations, Risk, Technology, Transformation and other business teams, you’ll ensure integrated controls are practical, sustainable and able to withstand audit and regulatory scrutiny, while promoting strong governance, accountability and continuous improvement throughout delivery.

About you

The minimum requirements for this role are:

• Demonstrable experience of leading sizeable Financial Crime Operations teams and complex portfolios of Change and Run activity, with strong delivery, control, audit and regulatory outcomes

• An experienced senior operations leader with extensive knowledge of Financial Crime processes, controls and regulatory expectations, together with a disciplined approach to planning, prioritisation, performance and resource management

• Significant transformation and integration experience, including the convergence of operating models, processes, systems, data and controls across complex banking environments

• Proven ability to build trusted relationships and influence senior stakeholders across Operations, Risk, Compliance, Technology, Transformation, Finance and Workforce Planning to resolve dependencies and deliver shared outcomes

• Clear communication skills, with the ability to turn complex information into clear executive reporting, management information and recommendations that support timely decisions

• A proactive and pragmatic leadership style, with the confidence to challenge constructively, manage competing priorities and embed a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement and high-quality execution

Our customer first behaviours put customers and members at the heart of how we work together. They are the set of behaviours that every colleague needs to display, in every role:

• Feel what customers feel - We step into our customers’ shoes, using their feedback and insights to empathise with them and to understand their needs, so that every decision we make starts and finishes with our customers in mind

• Say it straight - We are brave in speaking out and saying what we think – we’re honest and direct with good intent, openly sharing diverse perspectives to reach the best conclusions and using language everyone can understand

• Push for better - We don’t settle for mediocrity, we challenge the status quo, taking responsibility for continuous improvement and personal development

• Get it done - We prioritise what will have the greatest impact, we are decisive, and we take accountability for delivering brilliant customer outcomes

You can strengthen your application by showing how our customer first behaviours resonate with you, and where you may have already demonstrated these.

There are all sorts of employee benefits available at Nationwide, including:

• 30 days holiday, pro rata

• Private medical insurance

• A highly competitive pension to help you build a strong foundation for retirement

• Access to an annual performance-related bonus

• Training and development to help you progress your career

• A great selection of additional benefits through our salary sacrifice scheme

• Life assurance to provide peace of mind for you and your loved ones in the event of your death

• Wellhub – access to a range of free and paid options for health and wellness

• Up to 2 days of paid volunteering a year

Banking – but fairer, more rewarding, and for the good of society

We forge our own path at Nationwide.

As a mutual, we’re owned by our members - those customers who bank, save or have a mortgage with us. We challenge the financial sector status quo. We don’t see customers as the engine of our own profit. We share our profits with them and put their needs first. Always there when they need us. Supporting them and their lives.

If you’re inspired by fairer finances, passionate about making a meaningful impact, and truly care about our customers, you’re one of us.

At Nationwide, you are challenged to grow and rewarded for doing so. Valued. Recognised. Inspired to be your best. As a community, we want our working lives to count. As a team, we celebrate what we achieve. As a standard-setter, we work for the good of customers, communities, and broader society.

We are purpose-driven. Uncompromisingly customer. Unstoppably Nationwide.

What to do next

If this role is for you, please click the ‘Apply Now’ button. You’ll need to attach your up-to-date CV and answer a few quick questions for us. 

We respond to everyone, so we will be in contact shortly after the closing date to let you know the outcome of your application.

Keeping your data and personal information confidential is important to us. To find out more about how we use and process your data, please read our Privacy policy.

If you want to find out more about using AI in our recruitment process, please read more here.

Disability Confident 

We’re not just guided by data, we’re driven by the real experiences of our people. We’re a Disability Confident Level 3 Leader, the highest level. 

That’s why we’re constantly evolving our policies and practices to make sure everyone feels genuinely supported, valued, and empowered to champion inclusion. Whatever your needs, we’re here to support you. If you need any additional support throughout your application journey, email our team at Recruitment Support. 

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