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- Tasks: Lead product strategy and oversee the entire lifecycle of advised products.
- Company: Join AJ Bell, a fast-growing FTSE 250 investment platform with a collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy 28-31 days holiday, pension schemes, bonuses, and free gym membership.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the financial sector while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in product management and strong understanding of UK financial regulations.
- Other info: Hybrid working model with a focus on teamwork and continuous improvement.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
AJ Bell is a FTSE 250 investment platform and asset management business with strong momentum across its advised proposition. As we continue to scale and evolve, we are seeking a Product Director to take full ownership of our advised product portfolio. This is a senior leadership role with end-to-end accountability for product strategy execution, governance and delivery. You will act as the internal authority for advised products, ensuring strategic intent is translated into a clear, prioritised roadmap and delivered through disciplined execution, robust controls and high-quality outcomes.
You will own the short to medium term product roadmap, aligning it to business strategy, regulatory requirements and risk appetite. With oversight of product governance and product-related change, you will coordinate cross-functional stakeholders to ensure delivery remains on plan, within budget and focused on delivering the right outcomes for advisers, clients and the business.
Key Accountabilities include:
- Own and maintain the advised product roadmap, with a clear focus on delivery priorities across a 1 to 3 year planning horizon
- Translate agreed business strategy into executable product plans, initiatives and milestones
- Lead short and medium term planning in collaboration with development, change and operations teams
- Prioritise the product development backlog to ensure delivery against agreed business plans and commitments
- Ensure product capabilities, structures and dependencies support roadmap delivery
- End-to-End Product Lifecycle Ownership
- Ensure all advised products are managed effectively across their full lifecycle
- Maintain oversight of product performance, risks and outcomes, taking timely corrective action where required
- Ensure products remain appropriate for their intended target market throughout their lifecycle
- Product Governance & Risk Management
- Take overall accountability for product governance arrangements across all advised products
- Chair the Advised Customer Outcomes Group, ensuring products are designed, managed and changed in a way that avoids or mitigates consumer harm
- Ensure all product activity complies with relevant legislation, FCA rules, regulatory guidance and internal governance frameworks
- Ensure alignment with the AJ Bell Product Governance Framework, Risk Management Framework and Guiding Principles
- Maintain oversight of product-related risks and actively manage the advised risk register
- Delivery of Product-Related Change
- Provide leadership and direction to product and change teams delivering advised product initiatives
- Ensure change activity is delivered efficiently and in line with agreed scope, timelines and budgets
- Resolve prioritisation conflicts and manage trade-offs across competing initiatives
- Ensure clear ownership, accountability and decision-making across product change activity
- Internal Stakeholder Leadership
- Act as the primary senior interface for advised products across internal stakeholders
- Drive effective collaboration across product, technology, operations, risk, compliance and change
- Provide clear direction and escalation to manage delivery risk
- Ensure senior stakeholders have appropriate visibility of product plans, progress, risks and issues
- People & Budget Management
- Lead and manage individuals across product and change teams, including organisational design, objective setting and performance management
- Align team objectives to product strategy, roadmap delivery and governance expectations
- Manage product budgets and ensure spend remains within agreed forecasts
- Promote a culture of continuous improvement, strong controls and disciplined execution
What We’re Looking For:
- In-depth knowledge of the UK advised market and regulated savings and investments products
- Strong understanding of product governance, FCA rules and regulatory expectations
- Proven experience managing complex product portfolios and multi-year roadmaps
- Strong leadership and stakeholder management capability across multidisciplinary teams
- The ability to prioritise effectively, manage competing demands and make clear, evidence-based decisions
- Commercial and strategic awareness aligned to delivery and governance objectives
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:
- 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%
- Discretionary bonus scheme
- Buy As You Earn (BAYE) Scheme
- PMI Health Cash Plan – provided by SimplyHealth
- Discounted private healthcare scheme and dental plan
- Free gym membership
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Sick pay+ pledge
- Enhanced maternity, paternity, and shared parental leave
- Loans for travel season tickets
- Charitable giving opportunities through salary sacrifice
- Calendar of social events, including monthly payday drinks, annual Christmas party, summer party and much more
- Ongoing technical training
- Peer recognition scheme, with rewards including restaurant and shopping vouchers or time off
- Monthly leadership breakfasts and lunches
- Casual dress code
- Access to a range of benefits from our sponsorship deals
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 Manchester 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.
Product Director in Manchester employer: AJ Bell Management Limited
Contact Detail:
AJ Bell Management Limited Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Product Director in Manchester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend relevant events, and don’t be shy about asking for introductions. The more people you know, the better your chances of landing that Product Director role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching AJ Bell inside out. Understand their products, values, and recent news. This will help you tailor your answers and show that you're genuinely interested in the company and its mission.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your experience aligns with the responsibilities of the Product Director role. Highlight your leadership skills and how you've successfully managed product portfolios in the past.
✨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 serious about joining the AJ Bell team.
We think you need these skills to ace Product Director in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Product Director role. Highlight your experience in managing complex product portfolios and your understanding of the UK advised market. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for AJ Bell. Share specific examples of your leadership and stakeholder management skills, and how they relate to the responsibilities outlined in the job description.
Showcase Your Strategic Thinking: In your application, demonstrate your ability to translate business strategy into actionable product plans. We’re looking for someone who can prioritise effectively and manage competing demands, so make sure to highlight relevant experiences.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at AJ Bell Management Limited
✨Know Your Product Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into AJ Bell's advised product portfolio. Understand the nuances of their offerings and how they align with market needs. This will not only show your genuine interest but also allow you to discuss how you can enhance their product strategy.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Experience
Prepare examples that showcase your leadership skills, especially in managing complex product portfolios. Be ready to discuss how you've successfully led cross-functional teams and navigated challenges in previous roles, as this is crucial for a senior position like Product Director.
✨Align with Regulatory Knowledge
Brush up on FCA rules and product governance frameworks relevant to the UK advised market. Being able to articulate how you ensure compliance and manage risks will demonstrate your capability to handle the responsibilities of this role effectively.
✨Showcase Strategic Thinking
Think about how you would translate business strategies into actionable product plans. Prepare to discuss your approach to prioritising product roadmaps and managing competing demands, as this will highlight your strategic awareness and decision-making skills.