Operations Director

Novia Financial plc; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Discretionary annual bonus

Pension scheme

Private medical/health cover

Professional development

Volunteering leave

Job summary

Craven Street Wealth is seeking an experienced Operations Director to join the executive management team. This senior role focuses on shaping strategy, people development, client proposition and overall performance.

You will design, deliver and improve the firm’s Target Operating Model, ensuring efficient client service, paraplanning and operations in line with regulatory expectations. Hybrid working and career growth opportunities are available.

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience in a regulated financial services environment.
• Experience designing scalable operating models for wealth/financial planning firms.
• In-depth knowledge of FCA regulation, Consumer Duty and governance.

Responsibilities

• Strategic leadership at board level and translation of strategy into operations.
• Designing end-to-end client service processes from onboarding to ongoing advice.
• Ownership of policies, adviser competence assessments, and suitability checks.
• Embedding high service standards aligned with Chartered status and regulatory duties.
• Oversight of FCA requirements, risk and controls, and governance.
• Building scalable operational infrastructure to support growth and acquisitions.
• Leading and developing operational, client service and paraplanning teams.

Skills

Regulated financial services

Operational leadership

Strategic leadership

People leadership

Budget management

Growth/scale initiatives

CRM platforms

FCA regulation

Consumer Duty

Paraplanning knowledge

Education

Level 4 Diploma in Regulated Financial Advice

Tools

Wealth management technology

CRM platforms

Job description

Craven Street Wealth is an award-winning Chartered financial planning and wealth management firm, helping individuals, families and businesses make confident financial decisions.

We combine expert advice with a personal approach, building long-term relationships that help our clients achieve their goals. With offices across London and the South of England, our teams work collaboratively to deliver outstanding service and tailored financial planning solutions.

As part of Quanta Group, we're backed by the strength of a wider financial services group that includes Wealthtime and Copia Capital. While each business operates independently, we share a commitment to delivering excellent client outcomes, supporting our people to grow and creating an environment where everyone can thrive.

We know that our success comes from our people. That's why we're committed to creating a supportive, collaborative culture where everyone can develop their skills, contribute ideas and build a rewarding career.

Craven Street Wealth are looking for an experienced Operations Director to join the executive management team.

This is a senior leadership role with real influence, helping to shape the firm’s strategy, people development, client proposition and overall performance.

The role has a strong focus on operational excellence. You’ll be responsible for designing, delivering and improving the firm’s Target Operating Model (TOM), ensuring client service, paraplanning and operational teams operate efficiently, consistently and in line with regulatory expectations.

This is a full‑time, permanent position, but flexibility in working patterns can be discussed.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic leadership: Contributing at board level to business strategy, policy and decision‑making, and helping translate strategic ambitions into practical, well‑run operations.

Operational excellence: Designing and continuously improving end‑to‑end client service processes, from onboarding through to ongoing advice and servicing.

Financial planning technical operations: Ownership of policies and procedures to support the delivery of financial planning, including ownership of advice policy, adviser competence assessments, advice suitability checking procedures.

Client‑first service: Embedding high service standards aligned with Chartered status and FCA Consumer Duty, using clear workflows, SLAs and performance measures.

Regulatory and governance oversight: Ensuring operations fully support FCA requirements, strong systems and controls, and effective risk management.

Growth and scalability: Building an operational infrastructure capable of supporting regional expansion and future mergers and acquisitions, including integrating new teams smoothly and consistently.

People leadership: Leading, developing and motivating operational, client service and paraplanning teams, and building a strong leadership structure for the future.

Financial management: Managing the operational budget, ensuring cost efficiency without compromising client outcomes or service quality.

Culture and ethics: Promoting a positive, ethical and inclusive culture, and acting as a senior ambassador for the firm when required.

You’ll work closely with the Managing Director, Compliance and other senior leaders to ensure the business runs smoothly, responsibly and is well positioned for future growth.

This role would suit a proven operational leader from an IFA, wealth management or financial planning background. You’ll bring:

• Senior leadership experience in a regulated financial services environment
• A strong understanding of financial advice operations, paraplanning and client service models
• Experience designing and implementing scalable operating models
• Solid knowledge of FCA regulation, Consumer Duty and governance expectations
• A people focused approach, with experience leading and developing teams
• Budget management and commercial awareness
• Experience supporting growth, regional expansion or M&A integration
• Experience within a Chartered firm, integrating acquisitions, or working with wealth management technology and CRM platforms would be an advantage
• At least Level 4 Diploma in Regulated Financial Advice or equivalent

What Success Looks Like

Success in this role means delivering a scalable and efficient operating model, consistently high client service across all regions, strong regulatory alignment, and an operation that is fully prepared to support future growth and acquisitions.

At Craven Street Wealth, we believe in supporting our people both professionally and personally. In return for your contribution, you’ll have access to a range of benefits including:

• Competitive salary.
• Hybrid working, with time split between home and office.
• Discretionary annual bonus.
• 34 days holiday per calendar year, including bank holidays, with the option to purchase up to five additional days per year.
• Supported and encouraged professional development.
• Contributory pension scheme
• Medical cashback plan, helping cover the cost of everyday healthcare expenses such as dental treatment, eye care and physiotherapy.
• Occupational sick pay scheme.
• Group income protection scheme.
• Life assurance scheme
• Cycle to Work scheme.
• Up to 10 hours of volunteering leave each year.
• Opportunities for internal progression within Craven Street Wealth and across the wider Quanta Group.
• A collaborative and supportive culture where colleagues are encouraged to grow, contribute and succeed.

Craven Street Wealth is an equal opportunities employer and we're committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected and able to be themselves.

We recognise that people work in different ways and bring different experiences, perspectives and ideas. We believe these differences make us stronger and help us deliver better outcomes for our clients and colleagues.

We welcome applications from everyone, regardless of background, beliefs, culture, gender identity, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability or long‑term health condition.

If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know and we’ll do our best to support you.