Strategy Lead - Retail Investments

Octopus Investments; City Of London; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading investment firm in City Of London is seeking a Strategy Lead to drive growth and innovation across key retail products. The role requires extensive experience in financial services, strong stakeholder management skills, and a track record of product growth. The candidate will define long-term strategies, engage with stakeholders, and report to the Board. Offers competitive salary, flexible working, and enhanced family leave policies.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Bonus

Flexible working

Private medical insurance

Electric vehicle leasing

Enhanced family leave policies

Qualifications

• Experience in senior product or strategy role in financial services.
• Deep expertise in retail tax-advantaged products.
• Understanding of FCA regulations and board-level reporting.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute long-term strategies for retail tax products.
• Build commercially focused strategies and report progress to the Board.
• Lead cross-functional teams on strategic priorities.
• Monitor market trends and competitor activity.
• Engage with internal and external stakeholders.

Skills

Financial modelling and analysis

Product growth and innovation

Stakeholder management

Strategic thinking

Education

Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CFA) or MBA

Job description

At Octopus, we’re entrepreneurs and we’re investors, on a mission to back the people, ideas and industries that will change the world.

We’re looking for a strategic, driven, and purpose-led Strategy Lead to drive growth, innovation, and impact across key retail products at Octopus Investments. This is a hands-on, high-influence role at the centre of our retail agenda - setting direction, spotting opportunities, and turning strategy into measurable outcomes.

In the first 12 months, success will mean delivering against a defined strategic growth plan, testing and validating new propositions or market segments, and ensuring the product continues to meet investor needs within the regulatory and market context, and delivers exceptional value. To achieve this, you’ll work closely with senior stakeholders across investments, distribution, operations, legal, and compliance.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategy: Define, innovate and execute the long-term strategies for retail tax products, ensuring alignment with Octopus’ broader business objectives and market opportunities, while embedding Consumer Duty principles to consistently deliver good outcomes for investors.
• Commercial focus: Build commercially focused strategies for products, focusing on growth and retention. Act as the accountable owner for delivery of the strategic plan, reporting progress and outcomes to the external Board.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Lead cross-functional teams to deliver on strategic priorities, including product development, operational enhancements, and regulatory initiatives.
• Market Insight & Innovation: Monitor market trends, competitor activity, and regulatory developments to ensure Octopus products remain competitive and compelling for investors.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including senior leadership, regulators, advisers, and investors.
• Board Management: Act as a liaison with the external Boards, reviewing, preparing and presenting board papers where appropriate.

Qualifications

Proven experience in a senior product, strategy, or business leadership role within financial services, with deep expertise in retail tax-advantaged products, including knowledge of regulatory rules and ability to analyse performance and scenarios through this lens.

Strong financial modelling and analysis skills, with proven ability to build, stress-test, and interpret complex models to support investment decisions, scenario planning, and product performance evaluation.

An understanding of FCA regulations, governance frameworks, and board-level reporting, with experience in turnaround, product, or investment strategy.

Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills, with experience engaging at board and executive level.

Commercially minded with a track record of driving product growth and innovation.

Background in venture capital, investment management, or financial product development.

Desirable

• The ideal candidate will be accountancy qualified (e.g. ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CFA) or hold an MBA from a recognised institution

What we offer

A competitive salary, bonus, pension and share incentive plan

Take what you need holiday

Flexible working

Anchor (our wellness hub) which includes Headspace, one to one coaching through Sanctus, Parent Cloud, Digital GP, Shout & more

Enhanced family leave policies

Life insurance, critical illness cover and income protection

Private medical insurance for you and your family

Electric vehicle leasing

The option to work overseas up to a month per year

Our Values

We are committed to building a workplace where diversity is valued, and inclusion is a priority. By providing equal opportunities for growth and development, we embrace and celebrate all races, genders, religions, sexual orientations, ages, disabilities, and socio-economic backgrounds.

We're proud to be disability confident and are committed to supporting candidates with a disability, including neurodiversity and mental health conditions, throughout the recruitment process.