Operations Manager -St. James’s Place Partner Practice | North London, £45,000–£50,000+ Benefits

Operations Manager -St. James’s Place Partner Practice | North London

Salary: £45,000–£50,000+ Benefits

Working Hours: Full-time, with flexibility

Location: North London – Beautiful, Modern Offices

About the Practice

An established and highly regarded St. James’s Place Partner Practice in North London is seeking an experienced and commercially minded Operations Manager to take ownership of the day-to-day running and operational development of the business.

The Practice provides bespoke financial planning and wealth management solutions to private clients, with a strong reputation for exceptional service, long-standing client relationships and high professional standards.

Following a period of sustained organic growth and the recent incorporation of a retiring Adviser’s client bank from within the SJP community, the Practice has ambitious expansion plans, including the recruitment of four additional team members before the end of Q2 next year.

The Role

Reporting directly to the Partner and working closely with the Senior Management Team, you will take responsibility for the effective management, organisation and development of the Practice’s operations.

This is a hands-on management position requiring someone who understands the detail of financial planning administration but can also take a broader view of business performance, team structure, workflow management and operational strategy.

You will lead and develop the Administration and Paraplanning functions, establish efficient working practices, monitor performance and ensure the Practice is appropriately resourced and positioned to accommodate continued growth.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Management & Business Planning

- Take ownership of the day-to-day operations of the Practice, ensuring the business runs efficiently and consistently delivers a high standard of client service.

- Work alongside the Partner to develop and implement operational plans that support business growth, improved productivity and long-term objectives.

- Review existing processes, identify operational challenges and introduce practical improvements to systems, workflows and procedures.

- Monitor workloads, case progression, service standards and operational performance, identifying bottlenecks and implementing solutions.

- Support the integration and servicing of additional client business, ensuring the Practice has the capacity, processes and resources required to scale successfully.

- Contribute to management reporting, business reviews, resource planning and the implementation of new initiatives.

Financial Planning Operations & Client Servicing

- Oversee the end-to-end client servicing process, from onboarding and ongoing reviews through to case progression and completion.

- Ensure review meetings are appropriately scheduled and prepared for, with all relevant documentation completed accurately and on time.

- Maintain oversight of the advice pipeline, outstanding cases, client communications and service-level expectations.

- Ensure the team has clear processes for managing new business, ongoing servicing, provider queries and outstanding client information.

- Act as a senior escalation point for complex operational issues, resolving problems and coordinating with advisers and relevant third parties.

- Maintain a strong understanding of financial planning administration and paraplanning processes to ensure effective oversight and informed decision-making.

Compliance, Systems & Process Improvement

- Oversee the implementation and consistent application of relevant SJP procedures, regulatory requirements and internal compliance processes.

- Ensure accurate record-keeping, effective file management and appropriate use of the Practice’s CRM and business systems.

- Monitor operational standards and documentation quality, supporting a strong culture of accuracy, accountability and continuous improvement.

- Liaise with SJP Head Office and relevant internal and external stakeholders to resolve operational matters and implement changes.

- Identify opportunities to improve the use of technology, reporting tools and business systems, including Salesforce or Intelliflo where applicable.

About You

We are looking for an experienced, organised and commercially aware professional who can combine operational oversight with confident people management.

You will ideally bring:

- Extensive financial services administration experience, preferably within an SJP Partner Practice or an established wealth management or financial planning business.

- Previous experience in Practice Management, Operations Management, Team Leadership or a senior support role with clear responsibility for coordinating people, processes and workloads.

- The ability to move beyond day-to-day administration and take ownership of operational planning, workflow optimisation and business improvement.

- Demonstrable people-management capability, including coaching, delegation, performance monitoring and team development.

- A strong understanding of financial planning processes, client servicing, adviser support and the operational requirements of a regulated business.

You do not necessarily need to hold the title of Operations Manager already. However, you must have the experience, judgement and leadership potential to take ownership of a business-critical function.

What’s on Offer?

- Competitive salary of £45,000–£50,000, depending on experience.

- The opportunity to join a respected and growing SJP Partner Practice.

- A key position working closely with the Partner and Senior Management Team.

- The opportunity to influence operational strategy, improve business performance and help shape the next stage of the Practice’s growth.

- Responsibility for developing and leading established administrative and paraplanning functions.

- Beautiful, modern North London offices in a professional and collaborative working environment.

- Flexible working arrangements.

- Long-term career development, with the opportunity to progress into a broader Operations Manager position as the business expands.