Strategic Partnership Director

Aj Bell; City of Westminster; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading investment platform company in the UK is seeking a Strategic Partnership Director to enhance relationships with major advice firms and networks. The role involves developing growth strategies, fostering relationships with senior stakeholders, and ensuring alignment with regulatory commitments. An ideal candidate should have extensive experience in financial services, proven success with investment platforms, and excellent negotiation skills. The role offers hybrid working and numerous employee benefits.

Benefits

28 days holiday, increasing with service

Pension scheme with up to 8% matched contributions

Discretionary bonus scheme

Free gym membership

Employee Assistance Programme

Hybrid working with minimum in-office requirement

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in a business development or relationship role within financial services.
• Proven success with Nationals, Networks, or Consolidators in financial advice.
• Strong understanding of investment platforms, SIPP, and investment propositions.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver a national strategy to grow presence in the adviser market.
• Build and deepen relationships with senior stakeholders across major Nationals, Networks, and Consolidators.
• Identify new business opportunities and develop tailored engagement plans.

Skills

Strategic business development

Relationship management

Negotiation skills

Presentation skills

Commercial awareness

Education

Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning (Level 4)

Job description

About AJ Bell

AJ Bell is one of the fastest-growing investment platform businesses in the UK offering an award-winning range of solutions that caters for everyone, from professional financial advisers to DIY investors with little to no experience. We have over 644,000 customers using our award-winning platform propositions to manage assets totalling more than £103.3 billion. Our customers trust us with their investments, and by continuously striving to make investing easier, we aim to help even more people take control of their financial futures.

Company Overview

Having listed on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange in December 2018, AJ Bell is now a FTSE 250 company. Headquartered in Manchester with offices in central London and Bristol, we now have over 1,500 employees and have been named one of the UK's Best 100 Companies to Work For for six consecutive years and in 2025 named a Great Place to Work®.

Job Title: Strategic Partnership Director

We are now looking for a Strategic Partnership Director to lead and grow our relationships with major advice firms and networks across the UK. This is a senior, high‑impact position where you will shape AJ Bell’s engagement strategy with Nationals, Consolidators, and Networks, driving new business flows and strengthening long‑term partnerships across our Investcentre, Investments, and Custody Solutions propositions.

Job Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver a national strategy to grow AJ Bell’s presence within the adviser market.
• Build and deepen relationships with senior stakeholders across major Nationals, Networks, and Consolidators.
• Identify new business opportunities and develop tailored engagement plans that deliver measurable growth.
• Collaborate closely with regional and key account teams to ensure a coordinated, data‑driven approach to growth.
• Use market intelligence and business performance data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement.
• Represent AJ Bell at national forums, events, and partner meetings, acting as a senior ambassador for our brand.
• Ensure all activity supports our regulatory commitments, including Consumer Duty and good customer outcomes.

What we’re looking for

• Extensive experience in a strategic business development or relationship management role within financial services.
• Proven success working with Nationals, Networks, or Consolidators in the financial advice sector.
• Strong understanding of investment platforms, SIPP, and investment propositions.
• Excellent relationship management, negotiation, and presentation skills with credibility at senior levels.
• Commercially astute, data‑informed, and able to translate insight into action.
• Collaborative and strategic mindset, able to influence across teams and functions.
• Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning (Level 4) or equivalent is desirable.

Benefits

• Starting holiday entitlement of 28 days, increasing up to 31 days with length of service plus a holiday buy and sell scheme.
• A choice of pension schemes with matched contributions up to 8 %.
• Discretionary bonus scheme.
• Buy As You Earn (BAYE) Scheme.
• PMI Health Cash Plan – provided by SimplyHealth, discounted private healthcare scheme and dental plan.
• Free gym membership.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Bike loan scheme.
• Sick pay + pledge.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, and shared parental leave.
• Loans for travel season tickets.
• Death in service scheme.
• Paid time off for volunteer work.
• Charitable giving opportunities through salary sacrifice.
• Calendar of social events, including monthly payday drinks, annual Christmas party, summer party and much more.
• Ongoing technical training.
• Professional qualification support.
• Talent development programmes.
• Peer recognition scheme, with rewards including restaurant and shopping vouchers or time off.
• Monthly leadership breakfasts and lunches.
• Casual dress code.
• Access to a range of benefits from our sponsorship deals.
• Hybrid working – minimum 50 % of working time per month in Manchester office, with initial period full‑time in office.

Hybrid working model

At AJ Bell, our people are the heart of our culture. For new team members, an initial period will be full‑time in the office to help you immerse yourself in our business and build valuable relationships with your colleagues.

Equal Employment Opportunity

AJ Bell is committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and all employees are empowered to bring their whole self to work. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, pregnancy, religion, physical and mental disability, marital status and any other characteristics protected by the Equality Act 2010. All decisions to hire are based on qualifications, merit and business need.

Contact us

If you like the sound of the above, or just want to know more about the company and the role, we’d love to speak to you.