Job title: Business Support Team Leader
Reporting to: Group Business Support Manager
Hours: Full time Mon-Fri 9am-5.30pm (37.5 hours per week)
Location: Stratford or Orpington or Sidcup or Sutton office (with travel expected to all on an adhoc basis - 1 office will be your main office full time, no hybrid working)
Affinia is a leading, UK Top 50 Accountancy firm. Through successful acquisitions and organic growth, the firm has seen significant development within the last 18 months. Last October we launched our new brand ‘Affinia’ (www.affinia.co.uk) which saw the coming together of LB Group and six other likeminded firms across the East & South East of England to form a combined challenger accounting, tax and business advisory firm.
With a combined heritage spanning over 300 years, we have more than 400 accountancy professionals based in Stratford, Colchester, Chelmsford, Ipswich, Halstead, Harlow, Orpington, Sidcup and Sutton. We advise businesses, government and public sector organisations and individuals in the UK and internationally across seven principal practice groups: Accountancy & Advisory, Tax and Planning, Audit Services, Corporate Finance, Digital Solutions, Payroll and Financial Planning.
We have invested continuously in technology and gained in-depth knowledge across a broad range of markets, growing through acquisitions and private investment. We offer an exceptional service to our clients, with access to our sector experts to develop the strategy that will help them reach their goals. We keep a finger on the industry pulse, so our clients receive the best short to medium and long-term advice.
Purpose of the role:
Due to continued growth, Affinia is seeking a proactive and dynamic Team Leader to join our Business Support department. This pivotal role will oversee business support team members based across our Stratford, Orpington, Sidcup, and Sutton offices. Occasional travel to these sites—as well as for team meetings in our Essex locations—will be required, with travel expenses fully reimbursed.
As a key contributor to Affinia’s success, you will play a vital role in supporting our client-facing teams, external clients, and internal colleagues. Reporting directly to the Business Support Manager, you will be responsible for ensuring the smooth day-to-day operations of our business support function across multiple sites. This includes maintaining high standards in administrative support and office management while leading and motivating your team to deliver excellent service.
Accountabilities:
The role demands excellent organisational skills, leadership capabilities and a strong understanding of service delivery in a financial services organisation to drive efficiency and enhance client service delivery.
Operational Management:
* Oversee the daily operations of a business support team, including workload management and delegation of tasks.
* Working alongside the team in meeting the day to day demands by taking a hands-on approach in delivering the support service requests.
* Ensure that all administrative processes are efficient and meet the firm’s standards and regulatory requirements.
* Monitor and improve workflows and implement best practices to enhance productivity.
Client Service:
* Serve as a point of escalation for client queries and issues, ensuring prompt and effective resolution.
* Maintain strong relationships with clients and internal stakeholders to support the firm’s business objectives.
Process Improvement:
* Identify areas for process improvement and lead initiatives to streamline operations and reduce costs.
* Implement new technologies and systems to enhance the efficiency of business support functions.
Compliance and Risk Management:
* Ensure that all business support activities comply with legal and regulatory requirements.
* Monitor risk management policies and procedures to mitigate potential risks.
Performance & Resource Management:
* Manage the performance and development of your team to meet department objectives
* Manage resource allocation to ensure adequate support for all departments within the firm.
Reporting and Analysis:
* Supporting the Business Support Manager to prepare regular reports on team performance, client service metrics, and operational efficiency.
* Analyse data to identify trends and make data-driven decisions to improve service delivery.
Skills/Qualifications:
We are looking for a candidate with experience in a professional services environment—such as Accounting, Finance, Banking, Law, or Insurance. You will be highly organised, with the ability to effectively prioritise your workload while maintaining strong attention to detail. A natural relationship builder, you will bring excellent communication skills and a collaborative approach. Success in this role requires flexibility, comfort working in a dynamic and evolving environment, and the confidence to use your own initiative and sound judgement to make decisions independently.
* Proven leadership experience essential (knowledge of managing staff)
* Professional Services background.
* Excellent attention to detail.
* Strong problem-solving skills.
* Excellent organisational and time management.
* Effective communication and interpersonal.
* Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
Core Benefits:
At Affinia, our culture is driven by ambition and a commitment to positively impact all the communities we serve. We are dedicated to the success, development, and wellbeing of our colleagues, helping them achieve their goals and seize the opportunities that come with our growth. Alongside a flexible and inclusive work environment, we offer the following core benefits:
* 23 days holiday (FTE) plus Bank Holidays (Sept-Aug).
* Opportunity to purchase 3 extra days holiday per year.
* Auto enrolment Pension Scheme with True Potential (3% employer / 5% Employee)
* Death in Service.
* Professional membership support
* Paycare – claim money back for Dental / Optical / Professional Therapies
* Dress for your Diary Policy.
Please note that this job profile is not an exhaustive list of duties but merely an outline of
the key components of the role. You may be required by your line manager to take on
additional responsibilities when requested.
Affinia is committed to being an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our policy is unequivocal: we do not tolerate discrimination based on age, disability, sex, race, religion, or belief, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy, or maternity, or sexual orientation. We pride ourselves on being an inclusive organisation that actively promotes equality of opportunity for all, valuing the right mix of talent, skills, and potential. We welcome applications from a diverse range of candidates, and selection for roles is based solely on individual merit.