At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the development and management of AJ Bell's reward strategy, including pay and benefits.
- Company: Join AJ Bell, a fast-growing investment platform and one of the UK's Best 100 Companies to Work For.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, generous holiday, pension schemes, and health perks.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on talent attraction and retention in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in reward strategy and executive remuneration is essential.
- Other info: Hybrid working model with a strong sense of teamwork and community.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
We’re looking for an exceptional Head of Reward to join AJ Bell as part of the HR team based in Manchester. As Head of Reward, you will be responsible for the development, implementation, and management of AJ Bell’s reward strategy. This will include base pay, incentives, benefits and executive remuneration, ensuring alignment with business objectives, UK FCA regulatory requirements, and market best practices.
This new role will give you the opportunity to operate at a strategic level alongside, and get into the detail, partnering closely with the HR Director, senior management, RemCo and Board to support the attraction, motivation, and retention of AJ Bell’s talent.
Responsibilities
- Reward strategy development: you will work with the HR Director and other members of the Executive Committee to develop and deliver a competitive and compliant reward strategy, supporting business performance and long-term value creation, talent management and employee engagement.
- Executive remuneration: taking the lead on all matters related to exec pay, including supporting with the design and management of long-term incentive plans (LTIPs), annual bonus schemes, and all other senior reward arrangements. You will also support with the preparation of recommendations for the Remuneration Committee and ensure effective disclosure in line with UK Corporate Governance Code and Listing Rules.
- Market benchmarking: oversee regular market benchmarking, salary surveys, and analysis to ensure all reward structures remain competitive, equitable, and aligned with corporate goals. The role will also involve advising on salary and benefits positioning across all levels within the organisation.
- Incentives & recognition: you will design, deliver, and communicate incentive plans and recognition programmes that drive a high-performance culture and support AJ Bell’s purpose, principles and strategy.
- Reward governance & compliance: Ensure all reward policies and practices comply with relevant legislation and regulations. You will also liaise with external auditors as needed. The Head of Reward also plays an active role in the preparation of the annual remuneration report and relevant disclosures for the annual report and accounts.
- Employee share plans: you will oversee our Share Incentive Plan (SIP) and employee share ownership schemes (e.g. our Free Shares Award plan and CSOPs).
- Benefits management: responsible for our employee benefits proposition, e.g. pensions (including relevant AJ Bell products and services), healthcare and life assurance, you will ensure a competitive and cost-effective benefits provision, working with external providers and brokers as appropriate. You will also ensure that our proposition is communicated effectively to all employees throughout the year.
About us
AJ Bell is one of the fastest-growing investment platform businesses in the UK offering an award-winning range of solutions that caters for everyone, from professional financial advisers to DIY investors with little to no experience. We have over 644,000 customers using our award-winning platform propositions to manage assets totalling more than £103.3 billion. Our customers trust us with their investments, and by continuously striving to make investing easier, we aim to help even more people take control of their financial futures.
Having listed on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange in December 2018, AJ Bell is now a FTSE 250 company. Headquartered in Manchester with offices in central London and Bristol, we now have over 1,500 employees and have been named one of the UK’s 'Best 100 Companies to Work For’ for six consecutive years and in 2025 named a Great Place to Work®.
At AJ Bell you can expect a friendly working environment with a strong sense of teamwork, we have a great sense of pride in what we do, and this is reflected in our guiding principles.
Our perks and benefits
- Competitive salary and discretionary bonus scheme
- Starting holiday entitlement of 28 days, increasing up to 31 days with length of service plus a holiday buy and sell scheme
- A choice of pension schemes with matched contributions up to 8% (9% after 2 years)
- Death in service scheme
- Buy As You Earn (BAYE) Scheme
- Annual Free Shares Award Scheme
- PMI
- Health Cash Plan
- Free gym membership
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Enhanced maternity, paternity, and shared parental leave
- Paid time off for volunteer work
- Charitable giving opportunities through salary sacrifice
- Calendar of social events, including monthly payday drinks, annual Christmas party, summer party and much more
- Professional qualification support
- And much, much more!
Hybrid working
At AJ Bell, our people are the heart of our culture. We believe in building strong connections by working together. That’s why we offer a hybrid working model, where you’ll spend a minimum of 50% of your working time per month in the office. For new team members, an initial period will be full-time in the office to help you immerse yourself in our business and build valuable relationships with your colleagues.
AJ Bell is committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and all employees are empowered to bring their whole self to work. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, pregnancy, religion, physical and mental disability, marital status and any other characteristics protected by the Equality Act 2010. All decisions to hire are based on qualifications, merit and business need.
If you like the sound of the above, or just want to know more about the company and the role, we’d love to speak to you.
Head of Reward in London employer: AJ BELL BUSINESS SOLUTIONS LIMITED
Contact Detail:
AJ BELL BUSINESS SOLUTIONS LIMITED Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Reward in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections on LinkedIn or at industry events. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their values and how they align with your own. This will help you stand out as a candidate who truly fits in.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain why you're the perfect fit for the Head of Reward role. Highlight your experience in developing reward strategies and managing executive remuneration.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining AJ Bell.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Reward in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Head of Reward role. Highlight your experience in developing reward strategies and managing executive remuneration, as these are key aspects of the job.
Showcase Your Strategic Thinking: In your application, demonstrate how you've successfully partnered with senior management in the past. We want to see examples of how you've contributed to talent management and employee engagement through effective reward strategies.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to see your relevant skills and experiences at a glance.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application directly through our website. This ensures that your application is received promptly and allows us to process it efficiently.
How to prepare for a job interview at AJ BELL BUSINESS SOLUTIONS LIMITED
✨Know Your Reward Strategies
Before the interview, dive deep into AJ Bell's current reward strategies. Familiarise yourself with their approach to executive remuneration and employee benefits. This will not only show your genuine interest but also allow you to discuss how your experience aligns with their goals.
✨Prepare for Market Benchmarking Questions
Expect questions about market benchmarking and salary surveys. Brush up on recent trends in compensation and benefits within the financial services sector. Being able to discuss how you would ensure AJ Bell remains competitive will impress the interviewers.
✨Showcase Your Compliance Knowledge
Since compliance is a key part of the role, be ready to talk about relevant legislation and regulations affecting reward practices. Highlight any past experiences where you ensured compliance in reward governance, as this will demonstrate your capability in managing these critical aspects.
✨Engage with Their Culture
AJ Bell prides itself on its friendly working environment and strong sense of teamwork. During the interview, share examples of how you've contributed to a positive workplace culture in previous roles. This will help you connect with the interviewers and show that you’re a good fit for their team.