Chief Technology Officer - Fintech Lender

The RoleOur client is a leading FCA-authorised consumer credit provider with a strong social impact mission, providing affordable credit to those underserved by mainstream lenders. They are now seeking a CTO to lead the next phase of technology and business transformation, driving digital innovation, operational efficiency and sustainable growth.First, the post-holder will be responsible for the leadership, performance and development of the company. This includes the delivery of existing technology services, management of technology teams and partners, strengthening engineering and delivery capability, and ensuring that systems, data, platforms and controls are fit for purpose in a regulated financial services environment.Second, the post-holder will act as the senior technology leader for the wider Group, supporting the development of group-wide technology and data strategy across the Group and any future group ventures. This includes identifying and implementing opportunities to use AI, alternative data sources, automation and third-party technology partnerships to improve customer outcomes, enhance underwriting and decisioning, reduce cost to serve, strengthen operational resilience, and support new product development.The post-holder will report to and be accountable to the CEO, ensuring technology delivery is aligned with the requirements of the regulated lending business. They will work closely with the CEO through dotted line relationships, ensuring that technology strategy is aligned with Group priorities.The successful candidate will combine strategic technology leadership with hands-on delivery capability. They will be comfortable operating in a fast-paced, mission-led and regulated environment, where technology must support both innovation and robust governance.Key responsibilities:1. CTO Leadership

• Lead as the senior executive responsible for technology delivery, operational performance, people leadership and strategic development.
• Develop and execute the business plan, ensuring it has the capabilities, resources, governance and operating model required to support the current and future needs of the Group.
• Ensure that technology proposals are supported by robust business cases, clear delivery plans, appropriate risk assessment and transparent costings.
• Strengthen the operating discipline of the technology function, including deliveryplanning, prioritisation, roadmap management, performance reporting, change documentation, resourcing, risk management and cost control.
• Build, lead and develop high-performing technology, engineering, data and delivery teams, combining internal capability with effective use of external partners where appropriate.2. Technology delivery
• Ensure the effective provision of technology services including systems, data services, integrations and operational platforms that support lending, underwriting, customer management, collections, reporting and compliance.
• Work closely with the CEO and the leadership team to understand and deliver the regulated entity’s technology and data requirements. Work with the business owners of each domain so that the platform serves them: the Chief Data Officer on the decisioning model, the data platform and analytics; the Chief Credit Officer on credit policy, risk appetite and credit performance; the Chief Commercial Officer on acquisition, the customer journey and third-party distribution; the Head of Customer Account Management on servicing, contact channels and collections; and the Chief Financial Officer on the loan ledger, reconciliation and financial reporting.
• Support Salad Finance in enhancing its use of open banking, alternative data, credit decisioning, automation and AI to improve underwriting, customer experience, operational efficiency and risk-adjusted returns.
• Ensure that services provided to Salad Finance meet the standards expected of an FCA-authorised consumer credit provider, including appropriate attention to systems resilience, data quality, cyber security, operational continuity, auditability, Consumer Duty and regulatory reporting.
• Provide transparent reporting to the Board and executive team on technology delivery, risks, dependencies, service performance and remediation plans.
• Respect and support the governance framework under Group Finance retains responsibility for approving the technology systems and data services used to fulfil its regulatory obligations and business operations. 3. Group-wide technology strategy and innovation
• Work with the CEO and the wider Group leadership team to define and evolve the Group’s technology and data strategy.
• Ensure that technology strategy is aligned across group ventures, while respecting the distinct governance, regulatory and statutory responsibilities of each entity.
• Identify opportunities to leverage technology, data, automation, open banking, AI and external partnerships to support the Group’s commercial, operational and social impact objectives.
• Develop a practical technology and innovation roadmap, prioritising initiatives based on customer outcomes, regulatory requirements, business value, deliverability and risk.
• Provide clear, practical and commercially grounded advice to Group and subsidiary Boards on technology opportunities, risks, investment requirements and delivery trade-offs.
• Ensure that AI and data-driven initiatives are developed and implemented responsibly, with appropriate governance, explainability, testing, monitoring and controls.4. Support for Salad Affinity and new propositions
• Work with the leadership to support the development and implementation of the technology architecture for the credit card and wider app proposition.
• Provide strategic technology input into the selection, configuration, integration and performance management of external technology partners, including app development agencies, card management systems, card processors, data providers and other platform partners.
• Ensure that product and technology roadmap is supported by robust technical architecture, strong data flows, secure integrations and scalable infrastructure. Identify opportunities to reuse or adapt existing Group technology, data and operational capabilities, while avoiding unnecessary complexity or inappropriate dependency.5. Architecture, security, resilience and partner management
• Own and develop the Group’s technology architecture principles, ensuring systems are scalable, secure, resilient, maintainable and aligned with business needs.
• Ensure robust cyber security, information security, access control, data protection and incident management arrangements are in place across technology services.
• Oversee technology risk management, including third-party technology risk, platform resilience, disaster recovery, business continuity, technical debt and system dependencies.
• Lead the evaluation, selection and management of technology partners, suppliers and outsourced service providers.
• Ensure technology contracts, service levels, performance metrics and commercial terms are appropriate, well managed and aligned with the Group’s strategic objectives.
• Work with risk, compliance, operations and finance teams to ensure appropriate governance, assurance and reporting over technology risks.6. Governance, reporting and stakeholder management
• Member of the Group Technologies Board, with responsibility for technology strategy, performance, delivery, risk, resourcing, investment requirements and key technology decisions.
• Report to the Group Finance Board on strategy, performance, delivery, risk, resourcing, investment requirements and key technology decisions.
• Attend other Boards across the Group as an observer or guest where appropriate, providing insight and advice on technology strategy, delivery, risk, investment and innovation.
• Escalate material technology risks, delivery issues, conflicts or dependencies promptly and transparently.
• Operate effectively within a multi-entity group structure, respecting the statutory, regulatory and governance responsibilities of each Board and executive team. The CandidateQualifications & experience: Essential
• Proven experience as a CTO, Group CTO, Managing Director, Technology Director, VP Engineering or senior technology leader within a technology-led, data-led or digitally enabled business.
• Strong experience leading technology teams and technology delivery in a complex environment, including internal teams and external partners.
• Experience operating in financial services, fintech, lending, payments, credit, banking, insurance or another regulated environment where technology resilience, data governance and customer outcomes are critical.
• Demonstrable track record of developing and executing technology strategy, including platform modernisation, data infrastructure, systems integration, automation or digital product delivery.
• Strong understanding of modern technology architecture, including APIs, cloud infrastructure, data platforms, cyber security, software delivery practices and third-party integrations.
• Experience working with data-rich environments, ideally including open banking, credit decisioning, affordability assessment, customer analytics, AI, machine learning or automation.
• Strong commercial acumen, with experience managing technology budgets, supplier contracts, third-party client or outsourced service relationships, cost control and investment prioritisation. Experience strengthening technology governance, policies, procedures and controls in a growing or changing organisation.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively with Boards, CEOs, product leaders, risk and compliance teams, investors and external partners.
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, mission-led and evolving group environment where priorities can change and the role requires both strategic leadership and hands-on delivery.Desirable
• Experience within consumer credit, responsible lending, CDFIs, credit cards, open banking or financial inclusion.
• Experience supporting an FCA-authorised firm or working with FCA expectations relating to outsourcing, operational resilience, Consumer Duty, data governance or technology risk.
• Experience working in or with an AISP, Open Banking provider, credit decisioning platform or regulated fintech infrastructure business.
• Experience developing or overseeing AI, machine learning or advanced data analytics in a regulated or customer-sensitive environment.
• Experience building technology capability in a scale-up, early-stage venture or multientity group.
• Experience supporting new product development, MVP launches, regulatory sandboxes or technology-enabled innovation programmes.
• Familiarity with card platforms, payment processors, app development partners, credit reference agencies, open banking providers or decisioning platforms.
• A genuine passion for social impact and financial inclusion, and a desire to use technology as a force for good.Personal Attributes
• Strategic and practical: Able to set a clear technology vision while remaining close enough to the detail to ensure delivery happens.
• Mission-driven: Genuinely committed to improving financial inclusion and using technology to deliver better outcomes for underserved customers.
• Collaborative: Able to build strong relationships across the Group and external partners.
• Commercially disciplined: Able to balance ambition, innovation and speed with cost control, operational resilience and business value.
• Technically credible: Commands confidence from engineers, data specialists, proproduct leaders, Boards and external partners.
• Responsible innovator: Excited by AI, data and new technology, but clear-eyed about governance, customer fairness, explainability and risk.
• Resilient and adaptable: Comfortable navigating ambiguity, complexity and competing priorities in a regulated, fast-moving environment.
• High integrity: Committed to transparency, good governance, customer protection and doing the right thing for the Group and its customers.