Chief of Staff - COO - 12-month fixed term contract

Job Description

Trust unlocks our greatest potential.

For decades, the clearing of payments remained unchanged and unchallenged. We asked, what if there was a better way? What if we could make banking infrastructure faster, safer, more reliable, and easier to access for all? Here is where you can think radically and responsibly to find the best solution.

What happens when you know you’re inherently trusted? Trust creates safety. Safety encourages you to be brave, to challenge, to fail, to try new things and to execute. At ClearBank everything revolves around trust. We’re not expected to earn it, but we are expected not to break it. We’re trusted to own it. To solve issues in the moment. To know a good risk when we see one, and the judgement to know that ‘can’ doesn’t always mean you ‘should’.

What you can expect:

ClearBank is a place where you can do things differently and challenge the status quo. We will give you a high level of autonomy and transparency, and we trust you to make the right decisions for the bank.

If that excites you, how about joining our Operations team as the Chief of Staff for our Group COO for a 12-month fixed term contract? Reporting to the Group COO, you will play a pivotal role in optimising and overseeing the day-to-day operations of the organisation. This role requires a strategic thinker with exceptional organisational and leadership skills, capable of managing multiple priorities and driving results and clear messaging in a fast-paced environment. You will love to roll up your sleeves and make things happen whilst respecting the requirements of providing support to a regulated business.

Your role includes:

• Strategic Advisor: Partner with the Group COO to shape priorities and ensure alignment with organisational goals

• Project Management: Drive cross-functional initiatives, monitor progress, and remove roadblocks

• Facilitate Effective Communication and Information Flow Across Stakeholders– Align, Create and develop clear and consistent messaging to support the Group COO in the implementation of the strategic plan and projects

• Meeting & Governance Support: Prepare agendas, track actions, and follow up on deliverables for committees and forums as required

• Special Projects: Lead transformation programmes, organisational design, and operational resilience initiatives

• Risk & Compliance Oversight: Support the Group COO in areas like financial crime oversight, risk appetite tracking etc

What you’ll bring:

To excel in this role, you’ll also need:

• A focused multitasker with an eye for detail and the ability to present to the Executive and Board level, translating complex operational details into strategic insights

• A people person who will inspire those around them and embody the company's core values and culture

• Deep understanding of the financial services industry and what ‘good’ looks like, with the ability to navigate and implement the tactical requirements of a scaling business

• Demonstrable experience of scaling a fast-paced growing financial institution, including leading through change and driving innovation

• Strong technical ability with familiarity with digital tools, data analytics, AI and tech-driven process improvements to streamline operations

• Strong ethical leadership, ensuring that the company operates with integrity and adheres to all regulatory requirements

• Resilient and adaptable, with the ability to remain calm under pressure, solve problems proactively, and drive results in a dynamic environment

Regretfully we are not able to sponsor applicants for immigration purposes at the current time.

What makes a great ClearBank team member? Does this sound like you?

• You focus on solutions and positive outcomes, thinking radically and responsibly to find the best result for our customers, your colleagues and the bank;

• You actively seek feedback from others to drive your growth and development, always assuming positive intent from others and develop strong, trusting relationships you’re your colleagues and customers: you really, genuinely care;

• You always strive for the highest quality, but you know that done is better than perfect; you welcome a challenge knowing that they learn as you go and iterate;

• ‘I’ before ’we’, isn’t in your vocabulary

If this sounds like you then we encourage you to dust off that CV and apply!

What we offer in return:

• We're flexible – We support a culture of flexibility which allows our employees to achieve a strong work-life balance.

• Offices – Work in a way that works for you – whether that’s in the London office, at home, or hybrid.

• Holiday – 27 days of annual leave per year, plus bank holidays.

• Work abroad – You have the flexibility to work outside of the UK for up to 30 days in a rolling 12-month period.

• Socials – Regular social events open to all.

• Holiday swap – Option to swap your bank holidays to any other day of your choice.

• Wellbeing – 24/7 employee assistance programme including mental health support, life assurance and income protection.

• Bigger than ClearBank – Take a couple of days per year to do something that matters to you.

• Healthy living – Private healthcare and discounted dental cover, with employee perks and discounts.

• Family – Enhanced family-friendly leave.

• Personal development – We offer personal development budgets, opportunities to take part in role-related training and unlimited LinkedIn Learning.

And not forgetting the biggest benefit of all. The opportunity to be part of an incredible team that’s building a tech-bank fit for the future.

A little bit more about us!

ClearBank is Where You Can belong:

At ClearBank we think about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) a lot. Not because we think we should. But because we know we should – how else can we build a happy workforce and be successful as a business. We’re committed to making sure our teams reflect society. And we put energy and effort into making this a place where everyone feels at home, where they’re given the trust and encouragement to do their very best work. Here are some of the things we’re most proud of:

• 42% of our senior management roles are held by women

• Our enhanced family leave policies

• Launching our partnership with Code First Girls

• Increasing awareness of neurodiversity in the workplace through our partnership with the Inclusive Group

Our hiring process and what you can expect:

Application: a member of our talent acquisition team will review your application against the key requirements for the role and let you know within two weeks whether you’re moving forward to the next stage;

Screening: You’ll spend 30-45 minutes speaking to one of our recruiters learning more about the role and ClearBank, and we’ll get it know more about you, your experience and how your skills align with the role (this will be via phone or Teams video call). You can expect to hear back from us within seven days following this meeting (if things are taking longer than expected, we’ll let you know that too);

First Interview: You’ll spend one hour with a member of our hiring team focusing on your skills, competencies and your ways of working at the same time we’ll give you time to ask more questions about the role, the team and learn more about the ClearBank culture. This will be via Teams.

Second Interview: This will be a competency-based interview with one or more members of our team.

Final Stage: You will have a final meeting with the Head of Department. This will be around 45-60 minutes.

Offer: Congratulations! Get ready to transform banking forever!

Our commitment to you as a candidate:

We will always try our best to get back to you within seven days of your interview whether you’ve been successful or not and provide you with feedback. Sometimes things take a little longer, so we may not have a decision to share but we will get it touch to let you know we need a little more time.

We’re unable to provide specific individual feedback at the application or screening stage but know that your application was reviewed and considered carefully.

We wish you the best of luck with your application and maybe we’ll be celebrating your new role at ClearBank soon!

Equal Opportunities

ClearBank is committed to ensuring equal opportunities throughout every stage of the recruitment process. ClearBank recognises that diversity is vital to the long-term success of the business in the communities and markets in which it operates. ClearBank is also a firm believer that an inclusive culture fosters greater employee engagement and collaboration.

ClearBank strives for diversity and inclusion of all forms, including (but not limited to): gender, age, educational and professional background, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief and sexual orientation.

As part of the Company’s commitment to equal employment opportunity, we provide reasonable adjustments, to candidates during the recruitment process, including to individuals with disabilities. We want to create a safe space that welcomes everyone so please let us know how we can accommodate you. In case you have any accessibility requirements you can share that with our Talent Acquisition team prior to your interview stage, if applicable.

The legal bit

By submitting your CV to ClearBank Limited you are providing your consent for us to use the information you provide for recruitment purposes. For more information on how we manage your data go and check out our Candidate Privacy Notice on the ClearBank website to see how we process, manage and look after your data. You are also allowing us to communicate with you by email and telephone for recruitment purposes.