Function Area Leader - Client Onboarding

Howden; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive discretionary bonus

Private medical cover

Life assurance

Group income protection

30 days holiday + holiday trading

Flexible working

Job summary

Howden is seeking a Function Area Leader for the Client Onboarding team within the Pensions Administration business. The role leads the onboarding/offboarding function, aligning strategy, driving profitability, and managing specialists to deliver impact across processes.

Based in one of multiple UK offices with hybrid working, the position requires strong leadership, change management, and technical expertise to optimize client outcomes and operational efficiency.

Qualifications

• Experience leading high-performing, commercially driven teams (pension administration background preferred).
• Passionate about process improvement and embracing change.
• Strong IT/technical skills relevant to operations.

Responsibilities

• Developing/leading onboarding/offboarding processes and governance.
• Forecast capacity and resources within Onboarding/Offboarding.
• Provide reporting to monitor progress and profitability.
• Engage stakeholders to align outcomes with business objectives.
• Coach and develop team members to foster growth.

Skills

Leadership

Process Improvement

IT Skills

Operational Skills

Tools

Pensions systems

Job description

Barnett Waddingham has become Howden, bringing our people together as one and creating a more connected approach to retirement, benefits and risk. As you explore opportunities with us, you will see more of Howden’s name and expertise, reflecting broader capability for our clients and offering our people greater opportunities to grow, connect and develop.

We are recruiting an exciting opportunity for a Function Area Leader to join the Client Onboarding team in the Pensions Administration business area. The successful Function Area Leader will implement the firm’s strategy and achieve objectives through leadership, relationship management and technical expertise. In addition, you will drive the strategic direction of all client onboarding/offboarding activities to drive enduring profitability in line with the firm's long-term goals.

This role is pivotal in shaping and executing high-impact onboarding activities, enhancing client satisfaction and delivering ongoing operational efficiency. You will have a team of specialists to lead and manage effectively, ensuring their activity is delivering impact to the Onboarding / Offboarding processes.

This is a permanent role based in our Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, Bristol, Cheltenham, Amersham, London or Glasgow offices office and working on a hybrid basis.

A snapshot of your day:

• Developing new Client Onboarding/Offboarding processes to support the portfolio of services within the Pension Administration Operations function
• Delivering technical, time-sensitive activities to enable ongoing profitable administration
• Providing comprehensive internal/external reporting to monitor progress on related activities
• Accurately forecast capacity/demand on resources within Onboarding/Offboarding area and financial delivery
• Ensuring outputs meet quality standards and client expectations
• Evaluating all activities through a commercial lens, challenging the cost-benefit analysis of everything we do
• Role modelling performance and behavioral standards including establishing clear communication pathways through 121s and team meetings, coaching and promoting a continuous growth mentality
• Identifying and mitigating risks associated with Client Onboarding/Offboarding to ensure success
• Engaging with key stakeholders to align project outcomes with business objectives and client needs

We would love to hear from you if you have:

• Experience leading high-performing commercially driven teams (preferably in a pension administration background)
• Passionate about process improvement and embracing change
• Strong IT/technical skills
• Strong Operational skills ensuring efficient processing of technical initiatives
• Strong technical abilities ensuring good understanding of the operations within the area

What's in it for you:

• Competitive discretionary annual bonus
• Core benefits for you including private medical cover, life assurance, group income protection, and up to 30 days holiday per year with holiday trading
• A comprehensive range of voluntary benefits to suit you (and your family)

Happy to talk flexible working

Accessibility

If you require reasonable adjustments please let us know.