We are working with one of London's leading wealth and investment management businesses, who are looking to appoint an experienced Head of Paraplanning to lead and further develop their established Paraplanning function.

This is an outstanding opportunity for an experienced people manager or senior leader within the financial planning or wealth management sector to take ownership of an important department within a highly regarded, growing organisation.

Our client manages approximately £19bn in client assets and provides sophisticated wealth planning and investment management services to high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families and institutions.

The business has an excellent reputation for its high-quality client proposition, professional working environment and long-term career development opportunities.

The Role

Reporting directly to the Head of Private Clients, this senior appointment will sit at Associate Director or Director level, with responsibility for managing, motivating and developing an established team of 17+ Paraplanning professionals.

Importantly, whilst a strong understanding of financial planning and the wider wealth management sector is required, previous hands-on technical Paraplanning experience is not necessarily essential.

The business is particularly interested in individuals who can demonstrate outstanding people management, leadership and organisational skills, with the ability to develop high-performing teams and drive operational improvements.

The successful individual will have considerable autonomy and the opportunity to influence the structure, culture, performance and future direction of the department.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership, management and strategic direction for the Paraplanning function.
• Manage, motivate, coach and develop an established team of 17+ professionals.
• Create a positive, collaborative and high-performing team culture.
• Establish clear performance objectives, development plans and career progression pathways.
• Review and improve departmental processes, workflows, resource allocation and capacity planning.
• Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency, productivity and service delivery.
• Lead recruitment, succession planning and ongoing team development.
• Work closely with senior Wealth Managers, Directors and colleagues across Operations, Compliance and Risk.
• Ensure the department maintains consistently high standards of technical quality, governance and client service.
• Play an active role in wider business initiatives, strategic planning and continuous improvement.

The Ideal Candidate

We are particularly interested in speaking with experienced managers and senior leaders who have successfully managed and developed professional teams within financial planning or wealth management.

Suitable backgrounds could include:

• Head of Paraplanning / Paraplanning Manager
• Financial Planning Operations Manager
• Head of Financial Planning Support
• Client Services Manager / Head of Client Services
• Wealth Management Operations Manager
• Other senior management positions within financial planning or wealth management

The most important requirement is proven people leadership experience, rather than necessarily being the strongest technical Paraplanner.

The successful individual will ideally demonstrate:

• A strong track record of managing, motivating and developing professional teams.
• Excellent leadership, coaching and performance management skills.
• Experience managing different personalities and creating a positive, productive working environment.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to improve processes and operational efficiency.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• A good understanding of the financial planning or wealth management environment.
• The confidence and credibility to work closely with senior management and contribute to wider business strategy.
• A proactive, commercially aware approach with a genuine interest in developing people and improving performance.

Experience within a high-net-worth or ultra-high-net-worth wealth management environment would be advantageous, although not essential.

Salary & Benefits

The position offers an excellent overall remuneration package, reflecting the seniority and importance of the appointment.

• Base Salary: Approximately £70,000–£100,000, depending on experience.
• Bonus: Highly attractive discretionary bonus potential.
• Benefits: Comprehensive benefits package.
• Seniority: Associate Director or Director.
• Location: London, West End.

This is a particularly attractive opportunity for someone who enjoys leading people, developing teams and making a genuine difference to the way a business operates.

Our client is a highly respected name within the UK wealth management sector, with an excellent reputation for professionalism, staff retention and career development.

With an established team already in place, the successful individual will have the opportunity to build upon strong foundations, introduce improvements and play a key role in shaping the future of the Paraplanning function.

For an ambitious senior manager looking to take the next step in their career, this represents an excellent opportunity to join a prestigious, growing wealth management business in a highly influential leadership position.