Opera’s growing portfolio includes Accuro, Amber Trust Ltd (now Oak Bahamas), HFL, Meritus, and Oak, with operations across eight jurisdictions: Bermuda, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey, Mauritius, Switzerland, The Bahamas, and the UK. The group administers assets totalling more than $80bn.

For more information, please visit: https://www.operalimited.com/

Job summary:

The Head of Data is responsible for Opera’s core data capability – owning the data architecture, models, integrations, analytics, and reporting estate across the Group. This role ensures that data is treated as a strategic asset: well-governed, reliable, and accessible to the business across all eight jurisdictions.

Working closely with Infrastructure, Business Applications, Security, and the Data Protection Officer, the Head of Data translates data strategy into practical delivery – building the platforms, integrations, and reporting capability that support day-to-day operations, regulatory obligations, and the Group’s evolving AI ambitions. Whilst this is a strategic, managerial role, the Head of Data will need a good working knowledge of all responsible areas, as well as hands-on skills and experience.

Reporting to the Group CTO, the Head of Data leads a team of data engineers and data analysts, and acts as the primary point of contact for the business on all matters relating to data – ensuring the Group’s data estate keeps pace with its growth, acquisitions, and technology roadmap.

Key Responsibilities:

Data Architecture & Strategy

• Own and maintain the Group’s core data architecture, ensuring it is scalable, secure, and aligned to business and technology strategy across all jurisdictions.

• Define and govern data models, data artefacts, and master data standards across the organisation.

• Own the data warehouse and data lake architecture, overseeing design, build, and ongoing management.

• Horizon-scan for emerging data trends, technologies, and opportunities that could deliver business value.

• Develop and maintain a data roadmap, balancing strategic priorities with day-to-day operational needs.

Integrations & Data Interfaces

• Own all data interfaces and integrations between business applications, data platforms, and external systems.

• Work with the Business Applications team to define and deliver integration requirements for new and existing systems.

• Work with development teams to define and deliver any API-driven integration work.

• Ensure integrations are robust, well-documented, and monitored for quality and reliability.

Analytics, Reporting & Dashboards

• Own the Group’s analytics and reporting capability, delivering meaningful dashboards and reports to the business.

• Work directly with the business to understand reporting requirements and translate them into scalable, reusable data products.

• Ensure data products are accurate, timely, and trusted by the business.

• Support the service desk’s performance reporting needs and provide data for IT management information.

Data Lifecycle & Governance

• Own and manage key data lifecycle processes, including data ingestion, transformation, storage, archiving, and retirement.

• Establish and enforce data quality standards, lineage documentation, and governance practices.

• Work with the Data Protection Officer to ensure that the processing and storage of data is compliant with data protection legislation across all Group jurisdictions.

• Work with the Head of Security to ensure data practices meet security and compliance requirements.

• Own all associated data software and products, managing licences, vendors, and roadmap alignment.

Business Engagement & Delivery

• Act as the primary IT contact for business stakeholders with data needs, translating requirements into deliverable, scalable solutions.

• Own the test and deployment process for data solutions, ensuring changes are validated before release.

• Participate in IT and business change projects where data is a key workstream, representing data interests throughout.

Artificial Intelligence

• Contribute to and help shape the Group’s AI strategy, working with the CTO and senior stakeholders to identify where AI can drive meaningful business value.

• Lead the design and build of the data architecture that underpins the AI strategy, ensuring it is scalable, secure, and integrated with the broader data and technology estate.

• Contribute to the AI governance framework, covering data considerations of model risk, bias, explainability, and provenance.

• Work with the Head of Security and DPO to ensure AI initiatives meet regulatory, compliance, and data protection requirements.

Data Literacy & Data-Driven Culture

• Champion a data-driven culture across the Group, working with senior leaders and business stakeholders to embed data into decision-making.

• Define and drive a data literacy programme, equipping colleagues at all levels with the knowledge and confidence to use data effectively.

• Work with HR and business leadership to embed data literacy goals into learning and development plans.

• Identify and develop data champions within business units, creating a network of advocates who promote good data practice.

• Measure and report on data literacy and adoption across the Group, using insight to guide ongoing investment.

People Management

• Line manage a team of data engineers and data analysts.

• Set clear objectives, provide regular feedback, and support the professional development of all direct reports.

• Build a high-performing, collaborative data team culture aligned with the broader IT function.

Additional Duties

• Take on other evolving responsibilities as required.

• Uphold the Opera values.

Key Competencies & Skills:

• Significant experience in data architecture, data engineering, or analytics leadership, ideally within a multi-entity, multi-jurisdictional environment.

• Proven track record of owning enterprise data platforms – data warehouses, data lakes, and integration layers – from design through to operational management.

• Strong hands-on technical skills across data modelling, ETL/integration, and reporting and BI tooling (e.g. Microsoft Fabric, Power BI), alongside the ability to operate strategically.

• Sound understanding of data governance, data quality, and lineage practices, and of data protection legislation relevant to a regulated financial services group.

• Experience contributing to or shaping AI strategy, with an understanding of the data foundations – architecture, governance, model risk – that responsible AI adoption requires.

• Strong stakeholder management skills, able to translate business requirements into technical solutions and engage credibly with senior leadership and business teams.

• Experience building and leading a data team, with a track record of developing data engineers and data analysts.

• Comfortable operating in a fast-changing, acquisitive environment, integrating data estates from newly acquired businesses.

• Experience within financial services, professional services, or other regulated environments is desirable.

• Strong communication skills, with the ability to champion data literacy and influence a data-driven culture across a diverse, multi-jurisdictional organisation.

Key Stakeholders:

• Group CTO

• Head of Infrastructure – infrastructure prerequisites for data platforms (storage, compute, networking)

• Head of Business Applications – integrations and data requirements for business systems

• Head of Security – data security, classification, access controls, and compliance alignment

• Data Protection Officer – to ensure regulatory requirements are met

• Head of Service Desk – performance reporting and service analytics

• Head of Innovation and Head of Transformation & Integration – data foundations for AI and transformation initiatives

• Business stakeholders across the Group – direct engagement to understand and deliver reporting and analytics requirements