Vice President of IT

Larson is seeking a Vice President of Information Technology to lead technology strategy and execution across the organization and its affiliates. This role serves as a technology advisor to the Executive Leadership Team—providing research, recommendations, and strategic input—while directly facilitating execution through the Director of IT, Business Relationship Managers, and the broader IT organization. We're looking for a visionary executor: a leader who has set technology strategy at a senior level, can set direction for a multi‑affiliate technology function, and recognizes when personal execution is needed—testing a new tool, digging into a hard problem alongside the team, or stepping in when speed matters more than delegation. Experience leading technology through M&A integration is a strong plus. Financial services or RIA experience preferred given the regulatory environment. Responsibilities Strategy & Advisory Develop the enterprise technology roadmap across Larson. Provide research, recommendations, and technology guidance to the Executive Leadership Team. Evaluate emerging technologies (AI, automation, analytics) and personally test or pilot platforms before recommending broader adoption. Facilitate AI infrastructure and governance strategy across the organization, partnering with the AI Engineer and business units to ensure tools are adopted securely and consistently. Affiliate & Organizational Leadership Lead technology strategy and standards across all affiliates, working through the Director of IT and affiliate‑aligned Business Relationship Managers. Meet regularly with the presidents of each affiliate to understand their technology needs, audit progress against the roadmap, and confirm priorities are still aligned. Evaluate technology decisions across affiliates holistically—ensuring a solution adopted by one business unit is considered in the context of the others. Ensure consistent infrastructure, security, and systems standards across the affiliate structure. Directly manage the Director of IT and maintain visibility into each affiliate's technology needs and performance. M&A Technology Leadership Facilitate technology due diligence, planning, and integration for all mergers and acquisitions. Lead the technical assessment of prospective acquisitions and build integration plans that minimize disruption to employees and clients. Standardize systems and security controls as new offices and affiliates come online. Security & Compliance Facilitate the firm's cybersecurity program—monitoring, incident response, disaster recovery, and employee awareness—through the IT Ops & Security team. Ensure compliance with SEC, FINRA, and applicable privacy and cybersecurity frameworks (NIST, CIS Controls). Partner with compliance and legal on audits and regulatory exams. Hands‑On Execution Personally lead or contribute to key technical projects—system implementations, integrations, and troubleshooting as needed. Stay closely involved with core enterprise platforms (CRM, financial planning, portfolio management, document management) alongside the team. Step in as an individual contributor on high‑priority or high‑complexity issues. Partner closely with the AI, Data and CRM functions to ensure tools are adopted effectively and securely. Team & Vendor Management Develop and manage the IT budget and capital planning. Facilitate strategic vendor relationships and contract negotiations. Support the development of the Director of IT and the broader technology team. Additional Responsibilities Technology needs at a growing, multi‑affiliate organization don’t always fit neatly into a job description. This role is expected to flex as those needs evolve—taking on other duties as assigned to ensure the organization’s technology goals are met. Requirements 10+ years of progressive IT leadership experience, including 5+ years in a senior leadership role with executive level visibility. Proven experience developing and executing enterprise technology strategy across multiple business units or affiliated organizations. Demonstrated success leading technology due diligence, integration, and transformation through mergers, acquisitions, or organizational change. Strong background in cybersecurity, IT infrastructure, cloud technologies, and enterprise applications. Experience operating within regulated industries; financial services, wealth management, or RIA experience preferred. Track record of managing IT budgets, vendor relationships, and technology investments. Ability to communicate effectively with executive leadership and influence business strategy. Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field required; Master’s degree preferred. #J-18808-Ljbffr