IT Governance Careers in the UK

 

If you’re interested in technology and willing to learn continuously, Information Technology is a great career choice. It’s a broad field that offers numerous career paths, from software development and data analytics to cybersecurity and cloud computing. Plus, if you like to focus on the bigger picture, you could also consider working in IT governance.

 

What is IT governance?

IT governance is concerned with the processes that organisations implement to ensure their IT systems are effectively aligned with business objectives. Day to day, this involves defining structures, policies, procedures, and guidelines that provide direction and oversight for IT investments, operations, and management.

These activities are all bound up in an overarching framework that provides a structure for strategic decision-making. Some organisations follow pre-existing IT governance frameworks such as COBIT (Control Objectives for Information and Related Technology), ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library), and ISO/IEC 38500 (Corporate Governance of Information Technology), while others develop their own customised frameworks based on specific needs.

 

Why does IT governance matter?

As well as alignment with organisational goals and objectives, IT governance ensures that:

• Risks are identified and managed appropriately
• IT operations are efficient and effective
• Regulatory compliance is always maintained.

In an increasingly digital world, organisations heavily rely on technology to drive innovation, improve efficiency, and enhance the customer experience. This means that IT governance is absolutely critical and will remain a key priority.

 

IT Governance Careers

If you’re based in the UK, or planning to work here, there are many different jobs on offer in this field, and IT governance careers typically include:

• IT Governance Manager: Working in this role you’ll develop and implement IT governance frameworks and processes to ensure IT investments are aligned with business objectives.

• IT Compliance Manager: This involves ensuring that IT operations and systems comply with regulations and industry standards.

• IT Risk Manager: Responsible for identifying and mitigating IT-related risks, including cybersecurity risks, to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data and systems.

• IT Audit Manager: This role involves auditing IT systems and processes to identify areas of risk and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and industry standards.

• IT Security Manager: Maintaining cyber security is vital to maintain effective operations. This role involves developing and implementing security policies and procedures to protect IT systems and data from unauthorised access and cyber-attacks.

• IT Project Manager: Maintain oversight of IT projects to ensure that they are delivered on time, within budget, and to required quality standards.

• IT Strategy Manager: Taking a broad, long-term view, this role involves developing and implementing IT strategies to support business objectives and drive innovation.

 

You can pursue an IT governance career in various industries including financial services, healthcare, government, and technology. The ‘Big Four’ accountancy firms - Deloitte, PwC, KPMG, and EY - employ huge numbers of IT governance professionals along with the major technology companies, like IBM for example.

As a major financial services hub that’s also home to a large public sector and a host of multinational businesses, the UK offers a wide variety of IT governance careers with good pay and prospects.

If you’re interested in this field, certifications you can pursue to enhance your knowledge and employability include IBITGQ (International Board for IT Governance Qualifications), BCS Professional Certification, ISACA®, EC-Council, APMG-International and Microsoft. As a general rule, any training qualifications accredited to the ISO/IEC 17024:2012 standard are highly valued by employers and will help you stand out from other candidates.