Head of Core Banking and Payments

Head of Core Banking and PaymentsRole Purpose

The Head of Core Banking and Payments is responsible for leading high-performing engineering teams and driving the design, delivery, and evolution of mission-critical banking platforms. The role combines engineering leadership, product-oriented delivery, and deep domain expertise in Core Banking and Payments, ensuring scalable, resilient, and compliant solutions.

This role plays a key part in modernizing banking systems, enabling data-driven operations, and delivering end-to-end product lifecycle ownership aligned with business strategy and customer value.

Key Responsibilities

Technology Leadership & Delivery

• Lead, coach, and grow cross-functional engineering teams (developers, architects, QA, DevOps), promoting modern software engineering standards and best practices (CI/CD, DevSecOps, clean architecture)
• Drive the end-to-end product lifecycle, from ideation to delivery and continuous improvement
• Define and enforce engineering standards, architecture principles, and quality frameworks
• Ensure scalable, secure, and resilient system architectures aligned with enterprise strategy

Core Banking & Payments Transformation

• Lead the implementation, integration, and evolution of Core Banking platforms
• Manage complex system and data migrations (e.g., legacy-to-modern platforms, cloud migration, vendor transitions)
• Oversee payment systems delivery, including:
  • Domestic payments in Italy (SEPA SCT/SDD, RT1, TIPS)
  • International payments (SWIFT, cross-border flows, FX processing)
• Ensure compliance with local (Italy) and international regulatory frameworks (e.g., PSD2, EBA guidelines)
• Coordinate integration with external ecosystems (clearing systems, payment networks, fintech partners)

Product & Stakeholder Management

• Collaborate with business stakeholders to translate needs into product roadmaps and technical solutions
• Apply product management principles to prioritize backlogs, define value-driven delivery, and measure outcomes (OKRs, KPIs)
• Act as a key interface between IT, business, and external vendors
• Drive customer-centric thinking in platform and service design

Data & Migration Excellence

• Define and execute data migration strategies ensuring integrity, reconciliation, and minimal business disruption
• Promote data governance, quality, and lineage practices
• Enable data-driven decision making through modern data platforms and analytics

Governance, Risk & Compliance

• Ensure adherence to security, risk, and compliance standards (cybersecurity, data protection, operational resilience)
• Manage budgets, vendor relationships, and sourcing strategies
• Establish robust testing, release, and change management processes

Service Management & Incident Prevention

• Establish and drive service management practices aligned with Tech organization  (incident, problem, change, and release management)
• Ensure proactive incident prevention through monitoring, automation, root cause analysis, and continuous improvement
• Guarantee service reliability, availability, and performance for critical banking systems
• Manage internal and external service providers, ensuring SLAs, OLAs, and vendor performance are met
• Implement resilience, disaster recovery, and business continuity strategies

Key Competencies

Leadership & Soft Skills

• Strong leadership with a product-oriented and delivery-focused mindset
• Strategic thinking with ability to manage large-scale transformation programs
• Excellent stakeholder management across business, technology, and external partners
• Proven ability to build and scale high-performing engineering teams
• Strong communication and decision-making in complex environments

Technical & Domain Skills

• Advanced expertise in software engineering practices (microservices, APIs, event-driven architectures, cloud-native development)
• Strong experience in Core Banking systems (implementation, modernization, integration) including technical knowledge of products (currenct accounts, pricing, saving accounts, term deposits, private lending, loans, mortgages)
• Deep knowledge of payments ecosystems, including:
  • SEPA schemes (SCT, SDD)
  • Instant payments (TIPS, RT1)
  • SWIFT and cross-border payments
• Proven track record in data and system migrations (ETL, reconciliation, legacy transformation)
• Experience with product management frameworks (Agile, Scrum, SAFe, DevOps)
• Strong understanding of cybersecurity, compliance, and risk frameworks
• Knowledge of cloud platforms and hybrid architectures
• Solid understanding of IT service management (ITIL) and incident/problem prevention practices
• Experience managing third-party vendors and external service providers

Requirements

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in IT, Engineering, or related field
• 10–15 years of experience in IT, with strong exposure to banking/financial services
• 6–10 years of leadership experience managing engineering or IT delivery teams
• Proven experience in:
  • Core Banking implementations or transformations
  • Payment systems (domestic Italy + international)
  • Large-scale data or system migrations
• Experience in complex, regulated, and mission-critical environments

What We Offer

• A strategic leadership role in core banking transformation and payments modernization
• Opportunity to work on high-impact programs shaping the future of banking platforms
• A product-driven, agile, and innovation-oriented environment
• Exposure to cutting-edge technologies and large-scale transformation initiatives

Contract offer:

Working conditions: Permanent employment contract

Working hours: Full time (37 hours per week)

Applicable Collective Labour Agreement: National Collective Labour Agreement for employees in the credit sector (NCLA)

Location: Milan (hybrid)

Annual base salary starting from: 67.000€

Variable remuneration: in line with the applicable remuneration policies(with a target based on the role, outcomes linked to the Group, Business line/function, and individual performance)

Our compensation approach is built on objective, gender-neutral criteria aligned with the role’s core requirements. That said, we believe talent goes beyond any framework: your total reward package will be tailored to reflect your unique experience, skills, and potential, ensuring we fully recognize the value you bring.

The benefits of joining ING

In addition to being a part of a great team, working in a fun and innovative environment, we offer:

• Flexible Smart Working
• Competitive base salaries and performance-based bonuses
• Meal vouchers and corporate restaurant and bar
• Health insurance and Accident insurance
• Pension fund and welfare plan
• Diverse cultures & Innovative mindsets
• International Environnent and Talent Program
• Commitment to sustainability
• Lots of training development opportunities to help you grow
• Lots of moments dedicated to physical and mental well-being
• A special day off when it is your birthday: we call it #doyourbirthday!
• And of course, we can’t forget free water & coffee at the office!

About ING

ING offers many opportunities to build a diverse and rewarding career. You will be joining an international innovative digital bank, the first in Italy to adopt a fully flexible smart working model, and you will be working in a stimulating environment where you can grow both as an individual and as a professional.

Our purpose - empowering people to stay a step ahead in life and in business - represents our belief in people’s potential. We don’t judge, coach or to tell people how to live their lives. We empower people and businesses to realize their own vision for a better future.

Our Commitment

Diversity is a fundamental element of our corporate culture, and we are fully committed to creating a safe and inclusive environment, based on mutual respect and the value of diversity, offering equal job opportunities to all qualified candidates.

Job Application Safety Reminder ⚠️

We’re seeing an increase in fraudulent job offers. To protect yourself, please follow these key guidelines when applying for roles at ING:

· Apply only via official ING platforms: ING uses Workday as its internal recruitment system. Applications should be submitted only via our official career site.

· Check the sender’s email carefully: legitimate communication will always come from: @ing.com and/or @myworkday.com

· No payments or banking details will ever be requested. If someone asks for this information, it’s a scam.

If you suspect suspicious activity, report it immediately. Your safety matters to us.