IT Application Head - AVP

Roles:

Responsibilities:

IT Application Program Management:

• Implement LOS, LMS, Collections including CRM, Customer Portal, Website program for IREP Capital.
• Ensure IT Architecture and product capabilities are used in configurable way to support changes in business & Credit policies.
• Be a mentor for IT Application Project manager / Business Analyst team and Support team and groom them.
• To work closely with CTO to implement best practices, automate and digitize the Technology Stack
• Participate in various POCs and ensure that automation initiatives are made successful with smart implementation and strong governance.
• Collaborate with the CTO and cross-functional teams (e.g., Risk, Operations, Compliance) to define long-term IT strategies, including technology stack selection, cloud migration, and integration of fintech partners.
• Manage CAPEX/OPEX budgets for application development and maintenance, ensuring cost control and ROI-driven decisions.
• Stay abreast of industry trends in NBFC regulations, open banking, AI/ML in lending, and digital transformation to inform roadmap priorities.
• Define KPIs for application performance, user adoption, and system reliability, using data analytics to measure success and drive continuous improvement

Managing IT Application End-User Support teams:

• Manage team of Application IT support for end-user support services, to ensure SLA are managed with Business teams using ITSM tool.
• Enhance the Support along with identifying root causes of issues and improving the development process.

Governance Framework:

• Ensure that IT Governance framework is followed for IT Application program and Projects, CR development.
• Conduct regular Governance of IT Application programs with vendors and measure KPI of the vendor.

IT budget:

• Participate in IT budget preparation from IT Application related expenses. Manage all IT Applications related Projects, Program and Support activities within Allocated Budget. Collaborating closely with Governance Head for Budget tracking.

Information Security Projects and Compliance:

• Ensure that all Open VAPT points related to Application team are closed on time.

Strategy and Planning:

• Develop and execute the application roadmap in alignment with IREP's business objectives, focusing on digital lending, co-lending models, and MSME-specific financial products.
• Conduct build-vs-buy analyses for new tools and platforms, recommending solutions that optimize cost, scalability, and security by working closely with CTO.
• Manage CAPEX/OPEX budgets for application development and maintenance, ensuring cost control and ROI-driven decisions as per allocated Budget.
• Stay abreast of industry trends in NBFC regulations, open banking, AI/ML in lending, and digital transformation to inform roadmap priorities.
• Define KPIs for application performance, user adoption, and system reliability, using data analytics to measure success and drive continuous improvement.
• Evaluate vendor agreement and ensure IREP rights are protected by ensuring all clauses along with legal team.

Team Management and Leadership:

• Lead and mentor a team of 7 members, & Vendor Implementation team including Application Project Managers, Business Analysts, developers, QA engineers, and support staff.
• Foster a collaborative environment, conducting agile ceremonies (e.g., scrum of scrums, sprint reviews) to ensure timely delivery.
• Manage vendor relationships and external partners for outsourced development or integrations.
• Ensure compliance with internal audits, regulatory requirements (e.g., RBI guidelines for NBFCs), and data security standards.

Requirement Management and Solution Design:

• Oversee the implementation team for requirement elicitation, prioritization, and documentation of requirements through workshops, user stories, PRDs, wireframes, and process flows.
• Guide BAs in conducting gap analyses, market research, and competitor benchmarking to identify new features for lending lifecycle (origination, underwriting, servicing, collections).
• Finalize solution architectures & suggest better ways in collaboration with tech architects, emphasizing cloud-based SaaS (e.g., AWS/Azure), microservices, and API integrations.
• Ensure applications designs are designed for optimal performance, including AI-driven underwriting, OCR for document processing, and mobile-first customer journeys.

Development and Delivery:

• Drive the end-to-end lifecycle of application projects, from ideation to launch, including prototyping, testing, and post-launch feedback loops.
• Manage integrations with external APIs (e.g., CIBIL, Perfios, fintech partners) and internal systems (e.g., Web site, Customer Portal, CRM, Loan Management Systems, Collections).
• Lead digital initiatives such as DIY customer portals, mobile apps for MSME onboarding, and analytics-driven risk scoring.
• Monitor system health, troubleshoot issues, and coordinate support teams for incident resolution and user support.
• Promote agile methodologies (Scrum/SAFe) for iterative development and rapid feature releases.

Stakeholder Engagement:

• Engage with Function Heads, C- Suite members, business heads, and external stakeholders to align applications with business needs and gather feedback.
• Present progress updates, roadmaps, and impact metrics in executive reviews.
• Collaborate with Data Science and Analytics teams to integrate insights into applications for better decision-making.

Soft and Technical esired Skills:

• Expertise in lending lifecycle: Loan Origination, Loan Management, CRM, Credit Risk Rating, Collateral Management, EWS, Debt Collections.
• Familiarity with regulatory frameworks (RBI, Basel norms) and fintech trends (Open Banking, AI/ML in credit scoring).

Technical Skills:

• Methodologies:

  Agile Scrum, DevOps Development methodology.

• Tools/Platforms:

  Azure DevOps/JIRA for product management; MS Visio/Miro for process modeling; Figma/Axure for wireframing.

• Technologies:

  Should have good knowledge of Cloud (AWS/Azure); Frontend (ReactJS); Backend (.NET/C#); Databases (SQL/PostgreSQL); Reporting (Power BI). Should be able to drive implementation teams by validating design issues, validate designs.

• Integrations:

  Good Knowledge of API management (API Gateway, ESB), RPA, OCR/ML tools.
• Proficiency in data analytics, microservices architecture, and security best practices.

Soft Skills:

• Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills, with experience engaging C-suite.
• Problem-solving aptitude, adaptability to fast-paced environments, and a customer-centric mindset.
• Ability to drive innovation while ensuring regulatory compliance and risk mitigation.

Work Experience:

• 16+ years in IT, with proven expertise in building and managing lending/fintech applications (e.g., Loan Origination Systems, CRM, Digital Lending Platforms).
• 8+ years in leadership roles, managing multi-disciplinary teams in NBFC/Banking environments.
• Firsthand experience in digital transformation, cloud migrations, and launching B2B/B2C products from scratch.
• In-depth knowledge of NBFC processes, including loan origination, underwriting, collections, compliance, and co-lending models.
• Track record of delivering projects on time/budget, with quantifiable impacts like cost savings, TAT reductions, or AUM growth.

• Educational Qualification(s):

• Master's degree in computer science, MCA, BSC IT, B. Com with CDAC/ MBA IT, MBA IT / Systems with PMP, CISA, Agile scrum will be added advantage.
• Certifications in Banking/Financial Markets & Digital Transformation preferred along with Agile Scrum, PMP, DevOps framework and Cloud certifications will be added advantage.

Preferred Certifications:

• SAFe Product Manager/Product Owner, Azure/AWS Fundamentals, CBAP (Business Analysis), ISTQB (Testing).
• Certifications in Financial Markets (e.g., NCFM) or Digital Transformation.