Head of Central Operations - Ascot Lloyd

Reporting to the Head of Client Services & Operations, you’ll have overall responsibility for a significant multi-site operational function across Ascot Lloyd, leading a team of approximately 90 colleagues to deliver exceptional outcomes for advisers and clients. You’ll foster a culture of collaboration, expertise and continuous improvement, ensuring the client remains at the heart of every decision.

We're looking for a transformational operational leader who combines strategic thinking with a passion for developing people, improving outcomes and delivering exceptional client service. You'll have the opportunity to shape the future of a growing business, lead a high-performing operational function and make a meaningful impact for both colleagues and clients.

WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING

People Leadership – you'll lead and develop the Central Operations function, building a high-performing culture by strengthening leadership capability, investing in colleague development, encouraging knowledge sharing, and creating clear succession pathways that enable individuals and teams to thrive.

Service Delivery & Scalability – you'll work collaboratively with Regional Operations Leads and key stakeholders across the business to deliver consistent, high-quality service and shared operational standards across all locations. You'll optimise operational capabilities and capacity to support scalable, sustainable business growth.

Transformation & Operational Excellence – you’ll drive operational excellence through standardisation, process optimisation and continuous improvement. You’ll lead transformation initiatives, harnessing automation, AI and process engineering to create more efficient ways of working.

Data & Performance –you'll develop effective operating models, governance frameworks and reporting structures to support operational delivery. You'll use MI and data insights to create clarity, inform decision-making and drive continuous improvement.

Governance & Strategy – you’ll ensure robust operational governance, effective risk management and compliance with FCA regulatory and internal requirements. You'll play a key role in shaping and delivering the wider Operations and Technology strategy, ensuring operational priorities align with Ascot Lloyd's strategic direction.

WHAT EXPERTISE YOU’LL BRING TO THE ROLE

The mandatory criteria you’ll need are:

1. Proven experience leading large-scale Financial Planning operational functions, managing approximately 75-150 FTE
2. Proven experience designing and leading centralised or shared-service operating models, delivering transformation and change programmes
3. Experience delivering operational improvements through technology, automation and emerging AI capabilities
4. Strong stakeholder management skills, including senior leadership engagement
5. Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills, with experience using MI and data insights
6. Strong commercial awareness, with a focus on achieving positive business outcomes

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU

At Ascot Lloyd, our values guide how we work every day. We put clients first, communicate with clarity, grow our expertise and collaborate across the business to achieve shared success. As Head of Central Operations, you'll play a key role in embedding these values across a large and strategically important function. Benefits include:

1. A competitive salary
2. 25 days holiday per year, increasing to 28 days with continuous length of service (plus bank holidays)
3. An attractive employee value proposition, including structured career pathways, learning and development opportunities, meaningful rewards and a strong sense of what it means to be part of Ascot Lloyd.
4. Flexible working opportunities
5. A competitive benefits package, including but certainly not limited to private medical insurance, group income protection, EAP, days off for volunteering, and free healthy snack options in the office

WHO WE ARE?

Ascot Lloyd is one of the UK's leading independent financial planning and wealth management firms, providing expert advice on pensions, investments, retirement planning, tax and estate planning to help clients achieve their long-term financial goals. With over 39,000 clients and 200 financial advisors, we provide clear, jargon free, financial advice that simplifies the complexities of finance into actionable steps.