Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The Company: I am recruiting for an award‑winning, innovative and ambitious Accredited Financial Planning firm, based in Luton, LU1. Repeatedly voted as a top 100 Financial Planning firm, they provide bespoke financial planning, estate planning and investment planning to HNW clients and have been helping clients achieve financial freedom since 1999.
The Role: The CEO is responsible for making strategic, financial, and operational decisions to ensure the long‑term success of the business. The CEO will drive sustainable and profitable growth, ensuring that the financial planning proposition continues to attract and maintain long‑term, high‑quality relationships with HNW clients. The CEO will be a visionary and motivational leader, working alongside the COO to inspire the management team, ensuring a high‑performance culture that balances long‑term strategic objectives with day‑to‑day delivery, compliance and operational excellence.
The Person: The successful CEO will have senior leadership and business development experience gained in financial services, ideally in financial planning/wealth management. They will have been accountable for developing strategy and ensuring the delivery of excellence in client service, profitable business growth, culture and compliance. They are likely to have worked as a Director / Senior Financial Planner, perhaps as the ‘number two’ in a successful IFA and be ready to take over as CEO, or they may have successfully established their own IFA but miss the management and strategy involved in leading a larger team.
Salary and Benefits: A highly competitive salary and bonus, plus long‑term bonus/incentive scheme, 28‑30 days' holiday, bank holidays, 10% pension, hybrid working (3 days in the office), relocation allowance (if applicable), private medical insurance, death in service, income protection benefit, etc.
CEO responsibilities include:
* Lead on, develop and execute the firm’s long‑term business strategy.
* Drive business growth and profitability, balancing commercial performance with service excellence.
* Alongside the COO, lead and oversee the management team, maintaining and developing a high‑performance culture, aligned with company objectives.
* Lead the team of Financial Advisers (6 Financial Planners), supporting their development through weekly catch‑ups, quarterly one‑to‑ones and inspirational training and communication meetings.
* Agree growth targets with the Financial Advisers, ensuring that these are met, that risks are controlled and that best‑in‑class advice is provided.
* Lead business development initiatives, developing the firm’s client base and revenue streams, ensuring the financial planning proposition continues to attract and maintain long‑term, high‑quality relationships with HNW clients.
* Support the team of Financial Advisers in creating new business opportunities through networking and strengthening the firm’s profile in the HNW and business‑owner market, building and maintaining introducer and referral relationships and identifying and sharing insights regarding opportunities, market trends and competitor activity.
* Oversee and safeguard the financial stability of the firm through robust oversight of budgets, profitability, cash‑flow, financial planning and risk management.
* Represent the business externally, building strong professional relationships with clients, introducers, regulators, partners and industry peers, attending networking events, seminars and industry gatherings.
* Promote and protect the firm’s culture, values, and reputation.
* Ensure all company projects are delivered effectively and aligned with strategic objectives.
* Report regularly to the Board/Shareholders on progress, performance, and strategy.
CEO, experience required:
* Demonstrable success in a Director / CEO / Senior Leadership role.
* Extensive experience in financial services, with a strong understanding of FCA regulations, compliance requirements and the IFA sector – preferably with experience of working in financial planning/wealth management and ideally including professional qualifications (Level 4 Diploma in Financial Planning, Certified/Chartered Status) and exposure to HNW clients.
* Experience of developing and executing business strategy and vision.
* Strong commercial and financial acumen with a successful track record in business development and growth (turnover and profit).
* A quick decision maker who embraces technology and change.
* A motivational leader and an emotionally intelligent, supportive and resilient manager, with the ability to hold senior team members accountable while inspiring great performance.
* Excellent communication, influencing and negotiation skills.
* A strong relationship builder and networker with an aptitude for business development and the ability to represent the firm externally with authority and credibility.
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