Strategic Partnership Director

At AJ Bell, we’re passionate about making investing easier and more accessible. As one of the UK’s largest investment platforms, we partner with financial advisers, networks, and consolidators to help people invest confidently for their future. We’re now looking for a Strategic Partnership Director to lead and grow our relationships with major advice firms and networks across the UK. This is a senior, high-impact position where you will shape AJ Bell’s engagement strategy with Nationals, Consolidators, and Networks, driving new business flows and strengthening long-term partnerships across our Investcentre, Investments, and Custody Solutions propositions.

What does the job involve?

• Developing and delivering a national strategy to grow AJ Bell’s presence within the adviser market.
• Building and deepening relationships with senior stakeholders across major Nationals, Networks, and Consolidators.
• Identifying new business opportunities and developing tailored engagement plans that deliver measurable growth.
• Collaborating closely with regional and key account teams to ensure a coordinated, data-driven approach to growth.
• Using market intelligence and business performance data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement.
• Representing AJ Bell at national forums, events, and partner meetings, acting as a senior ambassador for our brand.
• Ensuring all activity supports our regulatory commitments, including Consumer Duty and good customer outcomes.

What We’re Looking For

• Extensive experience in a strategic business development or relationship management role within financial services.
• Proven success working with Nationals, Networks, or Consolidators in the financial advice sector.
• Strong understanding of investment platforms, SIPP, and investment propositions.
• Excellent relationship management, negotiation, and presentation skills with credibility at senior levels.
• Commercially astute, data-informed, and able to translate insight into action.
• Collaborative and strategic mindset, able to influence across teams and functions.
• Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning (Level 4) or equivalent is desirable.

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 620,000 customers using our award‑winning platform propositions to manage assets totalling more than £96.1 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.
• Bike loan scheme.
• Sick pay+ pledge.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, and shared parental leave.
• Loans for travel season tickets.
• Death in service scheme.
• 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.
• Ongoing technical training.
• Professional qualification support.
• Talent development programmes.
• 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.

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 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.

EEO Statement

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.