PMO Manager

The Apex Group was established in Bermuda in 2003 and is now one of the world’s largest fund administration and middle office solutions providers.

Our business is unique in its ability to reach globally, service locally and provide cross-jurisdictional services. With our clients at the heart of everything we do, our hard-working team has successfully delivered on an unprecedented growth and transformation journey, and we are now represented by over circa 13,000 employees across 112 offices worldwide.Your career with us should reflect your energy and passion.

That’s why, at Apex Group, we will do more than simply ‘empower’ you. We will work to supercharge your unique skills and experience.

Take the lead and we’ll give you the support you need to be at the top of your game. And we offer you the freedom to be a positive disrupter and turn big ideas into bold, industry-changing realities.

For our business, for clients, and for you

APEX FUND SERVICES

Functional Title: PMO Manager

Department: PMO (Portfolio Management Office)   

Employment Type: Permanent

About Apex

Apex Group Ltd., established in Bermuda in 2003, is a global financial services provider. With fifty offices worldwide and 12,000 employees upon the close of announced acquisitions, Apex delivers an extensive range of services to asset managers, capital markets, private clients, and family offices. The Group has continually improved and evolved its capabilities to offer a single-source solution through establishing the broadest range of services in the industry including fund services, digital onboarding and bank accounts, depositary, custody and super ManCo services, business services including HR and Payroll and a pioneering ESG Ratings and Advisory service for private companies.

We look to recruit bright, articulate, and numerate employees who are not afraid of a challenge. You are prepared to work hard, love what they do and be prepared to innovate.

Every employee plays a part in making Apex who we are today and the more that we grow, the more important that becomes. Whatever your career path or specialism Apex provides a global platform to allow you to thrive.

About the Role

The PMO Manager will partner with the Snr PMO Leader and Head of Practice Management to establish and mature PMO capabilities across portfolio governance, reporting, demand management, and delivery assurance. The role will lead the design and implementation of fit-for-purpose PMO processes, mentor and develop PMO team members, and support the embedding of sustainable governance practices across the organisation.

The successful candidate will be a direct practitioner who is comfortable operating strategically while also working in the detail to solve problems, remove obstacles and drive operational improvements. The role will be instrumental in creating a high-performing PMO function that enables effective decision-making and supports successful delivery of strategic change initiatives.

Key duties and responsibilities

This a generic role which will be held by several candidates who need to be able to flex between holding a senior position in the central enterprise portfolio management office team or assigned to support delivery i.e. to establish a programme management office for a major programme.

When sitting in the central team, the role holder will be expected to lead several key functions (e.g. governance, reporting, resourcing etc.), confident they understand ‘what good looks like’ in the profession, leading more junior members of the team in driving those capabilities.

The scope of responsibilities this role could cover follow. 

PMO Capability Development

• Partner with the Snr PMO Leader to define and implement the PMO target operating model.
• Identify maturity improvement opportunities and create implementation roadmaps.
• Develop PMO standards, templates, procedures and working instructions.
• Actively contributes to lessons learned and process improvement to strengthen project delivery

PMO Team Coaching & Development

• Support the effective onboarding of new PMO (central and wider) team members in terms of standards required, templates and guidance available so they become efficient quickly
• Provide day-to-day coaching and mentoring to the PMO team to develop their capabilities.
• Develop PMO capability across reporting, governance, planning and assurance disciplines.
• Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement and customer service.

Governance & Process Implementation

• Establish governance forums, reporting cycles and project gate reviews.
• Define and document end-to-end PMO processes.
• Support adoption of new governance processes across delivery teams.

Reporting & Enterprise Level Portfolio Controls

• Prepare accurate, timely and insightful reporting for projects/programme/portfolios (up to enterprise level) – driving the optimal use of tech to drive efficiency
• Improve visibility of milestones, risks, issues and dependencies (up to enterprise level)
• Ensure reporting supports effective senior management decision-making.
• Drive improvements in data quality and reporting consistency.

Change & Transformation Support

• Contribute to the definition of the PMO tooling strategy and plan leverage AI and Automation
• Support organizational adoption of new PMO processes and ways of working.
• Work with delivery and business stakeholders to embed governance standards.
• Act as a change champion for PMO transformation initiatives.

Delivery Support & Problem Solving

• Provide hands-on support to projects and programmes where required.
• Take ownership of complex PMO and operational issues through resolution.

Large Programme Office Management

• Establish and drive the maturity and effectiveness of a PMO office required to support delivery
• Leverage Track and follow up on key actions, risks, issues and dependencies, ensuring information is kept current, complete and aligned across stakeholders.

Demand and Resource Management

• Support annual enterprise portfolio planning aligned to strategic objectives and priorities
• Support the New Demand Management process to ensure we make the right strategic investment decisions and control and manage demand in line with our ability to supply
• Support the maintenance of resource and demand information, helping to improve visibility of allocations, utilisation and incoming change.

Experience & Skills Required

• Extensive PMO management experience within complex change environments.
• Demonstrable experience establishing or transforming PMO functions.
• Experience designing governance frameworks and operating models.
• Proven ability to coach and develop PMO teams.
• Strong process design and continuous improvement capability.
• Extensive knowledge of key PMO tools (and their capabilities) particularly MS Azure DevOps
• Previous project management experience is a strong preference

• Strong understanding of core project delivery disciplines, including planning, reporting, RAID management, dependency tracking and governance support.
• Experience supporting projects and programmes across technology and/or business change initiatives.
• Experience producing high-quality reporting and management information for stakeholders and governance forums.
• Experience maintaining a portfolio-level view of delivery activity, with strong attention to accuracy, completeness and control.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work in a structured way in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret, challenge and present delivery information clearly.
• Comfortable working with Project Managers, Programme Managers, Portfolio Leads and senior stakeholders across multiple teams.
• Proactive and delivery-focused, with a willingness to take ownership and drive actions through to completion.
• Good knowledge of Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint and other standard reporting tools.
• Experience of using Azure DevOps for tracking, reporting and supporting project delivery activity.
• Ability to work independently while also contributing effectively as part of a wider PMO and delivery team.
• Experience supporting or guiding junior PMO resources is desirable.
• Fluent in English, both spoken and written.

Nice to have:

• Experience within Financial Services.
• Exposure to the Funds industry.
• Experience working within a global PMO or Project Management Practice model.
• Relevant PMO or project delivery qualifications.

Additional information:

We are an equal opportunity employer and ensure that no applicant is subject to less favourable treatment on the grounds of gender, gender identity, marital status, race, colour, nationality, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, socio-economic, responsibilities for dependants, physical or mental disability. Any hiring decision are made based on skills, qualifications and experiences.

We measure our success as a business, not only by delivering great products and services and continually increasing our assets under administration and market share, but also by how we positively impact people, society and the planet.

For more information on our commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) please visit https://theapexgroup.com/csr-policy/

If you are looking to take that next step in your career and are ready to work for a high performing organisation, alongside talented people who take pride in delivering great results, please submit your application (with your CV and cover letter) to our dedicated email address.

Disclaimer: Unsolicited CVs sent to Apex (Talent Acquisition Team or Hiring Managers) by recruitment agencies will not be accepted for this position. Apex operates a direct sourcing model and where agency assistance is required, the Talent Acquisition team will engage directly with our exclusive recruitment partners.