Operations Manager
Location: North West England, with hybrid working available
Salary: Competitive, depending on experience
About the business
They are a specialist, award‑winning provider of Self‑Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs) and Small Self‑Administered Schemes (SSAS), working with authorised financial advisers across the UK. Their products are designed to offer flexible, efficient, and personal retirement planning solutions for clients with a wide range of needs. The business has a long‑standing presence in the UK pensions market and manages billions of pounds in assets through a robust and technology‑led platform.
Their flagship SIPP was launched over 20 years ago to provide a more flexible approach to retirement planning than traditional insurance‑based pension plans. It allows a broader range of investments than many standard products, including commercial property and land, unit trusts and OEICs, and individual stocks, shares and ETFs. Plans can be tailored from a streamlined, low‑cost entry‑level option through to the full SIPP offering, enabling advisers to match investment choice and cost to their clients’ needs.
They also offer a SSAS solution aimed at business owners who wish to manage their pension arrangements alongside their business, using the specific legislative features available under SSAS.
The role
They are seeking an experienced and highly organised Operations Manager to lead the operational delivery of their SIPP and SSAS administration services. This role sits at the heart of the business, supporting financial advisers and scheme members by ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant processing of transactions, instructions, and queries.
The successful candidate will manage operational teams, oversee workflow and service levels, and drive continuous improvement across processes and systems. They will combine strong leadership with a hands‑on, detail‑oriented approach and will be comfortable working in a regulated financial services environment. The role acts as a key link between front‑office, technology, and support functions, helping to translate business priorities into effective operational delivery.
Key responsibilities
* Lead and support operational teams to deliver high‑quality, accurate, and compliant administration of SIPP and SSAS plans.
* Oversee daily workflow, resource planning, and capacity management to meet service levels and SLAs.
* Identify, design, and implement process improvements to increase efficiency, reduce risk, and improve client and adviser experience.
* Work closely with senior stakeholders, including technology, compliance, and product teams, to support business objectives and service development.
* Ensure procedures, controls, and documentation are aligned to regulatory and governance requirements.
* Support change initiatives, system enhancements, and automation projects, including those that improve straight‑through processing and reporting.
* Monitor and report on team performance, key metrics, and operational incidents.
* Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement within the operations function.
About the candidate
* Strong experience in operations, preferably within pensions, financial services, or a regulated financial environment.
* Proven people management experience, with the ability to lead, coach, and motivate teams.
* Excellent organisational and problem‑solving skills; able to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment.
* A strong focus on process improvement, service delivery, and operational risk.
* Confident engaging with colleagues, senior stakeholders, and external partners.
* Knowledge of SIPPs and/or SSAS and of advised, adviser‑facing service models would be highly beneficial.
Desirable
* Experience working in a specialist pensions administration environment.
* Familiarity with pension platforms, trust structures, and cash deposit arrangements.
* Understanding of operational controls, governance, and regulatory frameworks.
* Experience with transformation, automation, or change projects, including system or workflow improvements.