Associate Director

A R Lee & Co.; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company car (salary sacrifice)

Personalised development plan

Flexible working hours

Comfortable modern offices

Job summary

A leading UK consultancy is seeking an experienced Associate Director to manage their Longfield office. This role emphasizes team leadership, operational performance, and ensuring exceptional client experiences. Ideal candidates will have over 10 years in practice and 5 years in leadership, demonstrating strong commercial acumen and a people-first approach. The company promotes a culture of continuous improvement and high standards.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in practice & industry experience.
• 5+ years of leadership experience.
• Experience leading a team of 15+.

Responsibilities

• Coach, stretch, and empower team members.
• Ensure high-quality delivery and exceptional client experience.
• Deliver financial results by owning outcomes.

Skills

Leadership

Coaching

Critical Thinking

Commercial Insight

Client Service

Emotional Intelligence

Job description

Due to continued business growth, we are looking for an experienced Associate Director to lead the effective day-to-day running of the Longfield office, support and develop the team and ensure an exceptional client experience.

The role

What you'll be doing

You’ll ensure a smooth, people-first operation while coaching and upskilling the team in client handling, accountability and effectiveness. This role is key to embedding the culture, standards and operational consistency of the business.

You’ll be the leadership bridge between the business owners and the team, ensuring stability clarity, alignment and momentum, reporting to the Directors – taking ownership for delivering the financial results for the office.

You’ll bring commercial insight, team energy, and delivery discipline to the forefront.

This role is pivotal in shaping how our strategy is executed on the ground – ensuring delivery is smooth, performance is visible, and everyone raises the bar.

About the role

Full time role

Office based

(potentially 1-2 days hybrid)

Flexible hours

(to suit commitments)

Comfortable modern offices

Company car

(part of salary sacrifice)

Personalised development plan

The responsibilities

Your time will be focused in four key areas with full autonomy and accountability in each.

35

Team performance

30

Operational performance

25

10

Business performance

Team performance

• Coach, stretch, and empower team members to step up and own outcomes
• Set clear expectations while creating an environment where people thrive
• Deliver weekly check-ins, monthly 1:1s, and quarterly reviews with purpose and follow-through
• Recognise potential and challenge people to grow beyond their current comfort zone
• Coach team members in soft skills, client handling, and ownership of their work
• Build a culture of high standards, feedback, learning and mutual trust
• Embody and promote our values: Be Better Than Yesterday, Enjoy the Journey, and Together, We Get It Done
• Own the financial outcomes of the office: growth, profit, margin
• Convert warm leads and referrals into valuable client relationships
• Influence pricing, service structure, and resource mix to increase profitability
• Monitor key metrics and confidently present financial performance monthly
• Identify, lead and drive improvements to what we do and how we do it
• Spot commercial opportunities early and act decisively to realise them

Operational performance

• Ownership for on-time, high-quality delivery and exceptional client experience
• Lead system adoption and process change with clarity and buy-in
• Take ownership of escalated issues while enabling others to solve day-to-day challenges
• Ensure billing, WIP, workflows, and communications run with discipline
• Simplify and improve processes to reduce waste
• Embody and promote our values: Make it Personal, Watch Your Language and Solutions, Not Excuses

Business performance

• Deliver internal change and improvement projects with a clear plan and momentum
• Manage risk across people, processes, and client delivery with a proactive mindset
• Reinforce good governance and ensure best practices are understood and applied
• Lead monthly meetings with the Directors
• Improve team execution by simplifying decisions and removing blockers)
• Embody and promote our values: Raise the Bar

The person we are looking for

A leader

Strong track record

Sound commercial judgement

Critical thinker

Experience leading a team of 15+

High emotional intelligence

Committed to client service

Able to see the big picture

10+ years in practice & industry

5+ years leadership experience

Enabler of continuous improvement

Can both support and challenge your team

Apply for the role

To apply, please upload both your CV and a cover letter – we’re unable to consider applications without both.

Name

Email

Telephone

Please attach your cover letter (PDF format)