Our client is a leading financial services institution seeking to appoint an experienced Chief Executive Officer to reinforce organisational performance, improve operational effectiveness, and maintain the highest standards of regulatory excellence.
Overview of the Role
The CEO will provide overarching strategic, commercial, and regulatory leadership, ensuring the organisation maintains robust financial performance and a strong reputation across the UK and international markets. This role requires deep knowledge of financial services operations, regulatory frameworks, and risk management, coupled with the strategic vision to drive growth and innovation.
Key Responsibilities
• Define and execute a long-term strategic plan aligned with the Board’s objectives and market developments.
• Lead the executive team across all core functions, including Operations, Compliance, Risk, Finance, Technology, and Client Services.
• Oversee financial and commercial performance, including multi-million-pound P&L responsibility, budgeting, forecasting, and capital allocation.
• Ensure the organisation meets all regulatory requirements across FCA, PRA, and relevant international regulators.
• Strengthen the governance framework, embedding best-practice risk management and internal control standards.
• Identify opportunities for product expansion, new market entry, digital transformation, and operational efficiency.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with regulators, institutional clients, investors, and external partners.
• Provide comprehensive reporting and strategic insight to the Board, supporting effective decision-making.
• Champion a high-performance, customer-centric culture with a strong emphasis on compliance, integrity, and innovation.
• Represent the organisation externally at industry events, regulatory forums, and senior client engagements.
Required Experience
• Extensive senior leadership experience within financial services (banking, wealth management, fintech, asset management, or capital markets).
• Proven track record as a CEO, Managing Director, or C-Suite Executive in a regulated financial environment.
• Strong knowledge of regulatory obligations, including FCA and PRA requirements, conduct risk, and financial crime frameworks.
• Demonstrable experience leading digital transformation and operational change programmes.
• Proven success in managing complex stakeholder groups, including Boards, investors, regulators, and institutional clients.
• Strong understanding of financial products, markets, operational structures, and industry trends.
• History of driving commercial growth while maintaining robust risk and governance standards.
Key Skills & Attributes
• Strategic and commercially minded, with a clear ability to translate vision into measurable outcomes.
• Exceptional leadership presence with the ability to engage and influence at the most senior levels.
• Deep analytical capability with sound judgement and authoritative decision-making.
• Strong communication skills with credibility across regulators, clients, and industry bodies.
• Resilient, structured, and highly disciplined in approach.
• Committed to integrity, transparency, and long-term organisational sustainability.
• Degree educated; MBA, CFA, or equivalent executive qualification is highly advantageous.
In return, the successful candidate will receive a highly competitive compensation package complemented by a suite of benefits.