The Role:I am recruiting a Practice Manager to join the team at David Smith Financial Services, a small and ambitious, independent Chartered Financial Planning firm based in Loughton, Essex (IG10). The Practice Manager is a newly created opportunity, designed to support the two Partners (who are both Chartered Financial Planners), as the business continues to grow. This is a highly varied role, where your responsibilities will include People/HR management, overseeing process and profitability, optimising both team and client experience and ensuring the smooth and efficient running of the office.

The Person: The successful Practice Manager will have proven experience gained in a responsible and highly varied Practice Management / Operations Management / Business Management / Office Management role or similar. They will be an inspirational leader with broad commercial and operational experience, likely to have been gained working in an expanding SME. Financial services experience is not required, but the successful candidate is likely to have experience of working in a professional services environment.

Salary and Benefits: £52,000 - £60,000 (dependant on experience) + benefits including 34 days holiday (including bank holidays and 3 days holiday between Christmas and New Year) + early finish on Fridays + 8.5% employers’ contribution pension + life insurance + private medical insurance + income protection benefit + ongoing professional training and development. This is ideally a full-time, office-based role, but we are happy to consider flexible working hours and a degree of home working for the right candidate.

The Company: David Smith Financial Services are a well-established family run business with a history spanning nearly 50 years. Strong family values resonate throughout the business underpinning how they treat their clients and staff, making the office truly feel like an extension of the family. As a Chartered Financial Planning business, they aim to provide their clients with an exceptional service and make a positive impact in every one of their client’s lives. Over the last couple of years they have transitioned from a traditional advisory business to a goal based, financial planning firm, dealing with increasingly complex clients. Having entered a new chapter in the business’ life with further plans to grow and develop, the Practice Manager will be an integral member of this small team, where your input and ideas will be welcomed and your experience will be valued.

Practice Manager, Responsibilities.

• HR: Oversee recruitment and onboarding; take responsibility for training, development and succession planning; establish performance objectives and deliver appraisals; oversee workflow and workload; deal with any performance management issues; take responsibility for the wellbeing of staff; organise quarterly company events/socials; facilitate communications and inspire a culture of belonging, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Finance: Prepare financial reports (budgets, forecasts, variances etc.); take responsibility for invoicing and credit control ensuring profitability is optimised; collate information for external accountants, ensuring accurate and timely submission of regulatory returns.
• Operations: Collate management information; review, enhance and streamline operational processes, systems and procedures; ensure utilisation of technology; identify problems and inefficiencies and implement process improvements; take responsibility for quality standards and ensure the delivery of an outstanding client experience.
• Compliance: Under the guidance of the external Compliance Consultant, ensure all activities comply with legal, regulatory and ethical standards, managing and mitigating risks proactively, ensuring accurate records are maintained and insurance policies are in place.
• Office Management and Administration: administer general and HR paperwork (offer letters, contracts, group schemes etc.); maintain business records; oversee 3rd party suppliers (utilities, cleaners etc.); prepare meeting rooms; order stationery and office supplies and ensure the smooth running of the office.

Practice Manager, Skills and Experience.

• Proven experience gained in a responsible and highly varied Practice Management / Operations Management / Business Management / Office Management role or similar, ideally gained in a professional services environment (experience of financial planning is not required).
• Team leadership / HR experience, with exceptional communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to lead, manage, motivate, develop, inspire and influence at all levels.
• Intelligent, highly numerate and commercially astute, embracing of change and adept with technology.
• A positive, proactive and diligent team player with the flexibility and pace required to prioritise and add value in a fast paced, small team environment.
• Highly organised and process orientated, with excellent attention to detail and the ability to develop and implement process improvements and efficiencies.

Dawn O’Shea is recruiting the Practice Manager directly on behalf of David Smith Financial Services so NO AGENCIES PLEASE. If your CV is short-listed, you will be contacted within 14 days to discuss your application in more detail.