ABHIJEET PHATAK
Newcastle upon Tyne,United Kingdom
Summary
IT Controls, Governance & Assurance Manager with 19+ years of experience in highly regulated Banking and Financial Services environments. Proven expertise in IT controls governance, audit remediation, cyber risk management, and senior stakeholder engagement. Extensive experience operating at programme and enterprise level, working closely with Audit, Risk, and CISO organisations to deliver measurable risk reduction and control maturity.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
IT Controls & Test Governance Manager
Cognizant Technology Solutions
Newcastle upon Tyne
09.2015 - Current
- Accountable for IT controls governance and assurance across a large UK retail bank, ensuring controls are designed, tested, evidenced, and reported in line with regulatory and audit expectations.
- Provided governance and assurance oversight for a CISO-sponsored cyber remediation programme, addressing five critical risks identified through External Audit and CBEST review.
- Worked closely with the Programme Director reporting into the CISO to prioritise cyber risks, define remediation success criteria, and track delivery outcomes.
- Acted as a cross-workstream governance lead, ensuring consistent application of control standards, testing rigour, evidence quality, and audit alignment across remediation initiatives.
- Successfully supported the closure of three out of five critical cyber risks, with remaining risks actively managed through structured remediation plans and governance oversight.
- Participated in quarterly programme review workshops with senior stakeholders, contributing to progress assessment, risk escalation, dependency management, and forward-quarter planning.
- Leveraged deep institutional knowledge of architecture, controls, and historical testing outcomes to accelerate remediation, avoid repeat audit findings, and shape pragmatic, risk-aligned solutions.
Various Roles – Test Governance, Quality Assurance & Delivery Leadership
Cognizant Technology Solutions
01.2006 - 08.2015
- Progressed through multiple roles across test governance, quality assurance, and delivery leadership supporting large-scale banking programmes.
- Built strong foundations in testing standards, process governance, risk-based testing, and audit support.
- Gained exposure to core banking systems, payments platforms, data integration, and regulatory-driven change initiatives.
Education
Master’s - Computer Management
Pune University
Bachelor of Commerce -
Pune University
Skills
- IT controls governance
- Cyber risk management
- Audit and assurance
- Control frameworks
- Regulatory compliance
- Stakeholder engagement
- Cybersecurity governance
- Metrics and reporting
- Programme governance
Certification
- ISACA CISM, Examination attempted / in progress
- Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), Completed
- ISTQB Foundation Level, Completed
- Certified Software Tester (CSTE – QAI, USA), Completed
Websites, Portfolios and Profiles
linkedin.com/in/abhijeet-phatak-48634313
Languages
English
Proficient
C2
Hindi
Proficient
C2
Marathi
Proficient
C2
German
Elementary
A2
Interests
Enjoys walking trails and spending time in nature, which supports focus and balance Actively plays cricket and badminton, reflecting teamwork and discipline Keen interest in photography, with an eye for detail and c
Timeline
IT Controls & Test Governance Manager
Cognizant Technology Solutions
09.2015 - Current
Various Roles – Test Governance, Quality Assurance & Delivery Leadership
Cognizant Technology Solutions
01.2006 - 08.2015
Master’s - Computer Management
Pune University
Bachelor of Commerce -
Pune University