At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategy and transformation for Direct Retail at AXA Ireland, driving growth and innovation.
- Company: Join AXA Ireland, a leader in financial services with a focus on customer excellence.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional development.
- Other info: Dynamic role with excellent career progression and collaboration across teams.
- Why this job: Shape the future of Direct Retail and make a real impact on customer experiences.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in financial services with strong leadership and change management experience.
The predicted salary is between 59576 - 70089 £ per year.
Lead the strategy, transformation, and performance agenda for Direct Retail at AXA Ireland. You will shape the future direction of Direct Retail, lead strategy development and execution, drive large-scale transformation initiatives, and enhance business performance to support sustainable growth, operational excellence, and outstanding customer outcomes.
Reporting to the Director of Direct Retail, you will work with senior leaders across AXA Ireland and the AXA Group to modernise customer journeys, accelerate innovation, and enable the Direct Retail function to deliver its growth ambitions. This role can be based in Dublin, Derry, or Belfast with hybrid working.
What You'll Be Doing
You will lead the strategy, transformation, performance, and governance agenda for Direct Retail to deliver sustainable growth, operational excellence, and exceptional customer outcomes.
Key Areas
- Strategic Leadership & Planning — Develop, refine, and communicate the Direct Retail strategy; ensure alignment with objectives, customer needs, and market opportunities. Translate strategic priorities into clearly defined projects and initiatives with delivery milestones and performance measures. Monitor market trends, customer behaviour, competitor activity, and technology developments to identify opportunities for growth and innovation. Provide strategic recommendations and insights to senior leaders to support decision-making and long-term planning.
- People Leadership — Lead, motivate, and develop the Strategy & Performance teams (including First Line Risk and Product Owners across ROI and NI). Foster accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement; support talent development through coaching, mentoring, succession planning, and capability-building initiatives. Promote cross-functional collaboration to deliver strategic priorities and operational excellence.
- Customer & Project Delivery — Oversee Product Owners in defining and managing product roadmaps aligned to strategy, customer needs, and risk management standards. Lead transformation and change initiatives from concept to implementation, delivering within timelines, budgets, and benefit expectations. Prioritise projects that drive modernisation, operational efficiency, customer satisfaction, and growth. Ensure customer needs remain central to decision-making and that initiatives improve journeys and experiences.
- Operational Performance & Governance — Drive continuous improvement across processes, systems, and tools to optimise performance and value. Ensure Direct Retail remains focused on strategic objectives and delivers measurable outcomes. Collaborate with senior leaders in HR, IT, Compliance, and other areas to embed strategic initiatives. Act as a trusted advisor, providing performance reporting, insights, and recommendations. Lead transversal projects of strategic importance, working with AXA Group and external partners as required. Monitor external trends and innovations, including the evolution of the contact centre of the future, to identify opportunities for AXA Ireland. Ensure supporting processes comply with CPC and other regulatory requirements, working with Compliance teams. Lead the Direct Retail Risk function, ensuring projects comply with regulatory, legal, risk, and governance requirements; proactively identify and mitigate risks.
- Financial Management — Develop robust business cases with analysis, recommendations, and financial rationale to support investment decisions; evaluate strategic opportunities to support growth and performance.
What We're Looking For
Experience
- 10+ years in financial services or insurance, including at least 5 years in senior leadership, with a proven track record of driving strategic change, transformation, and performance improvement.
- Minimum 10 years in General Insurance/Financial services with at least 3 years delivering operational change and innovation projects.
- Experience delivering large-scale transformations and embedding sustainable change across customer-centric organisations.
- Experience delivering operational change and innovation in insurance or financial services; strong record of leading complex programmes and cross-functional teams to measurable outcomes.
- Hands-on experience applying Agile methodologies and change management in delivery environments; ability to engage and influence senior stakeholders.
Specialist Knowledge — Excellent programme, project, and change management; strong business acumen including financial planning, budgeting, analysis, and performance management; knowledge of insurance products, customer journeys, and market dynamics; understanding of risk management in operations, product development, and transformation; awareness of regulatory, compliance, health and safety, IT security, and data protection; knowledge of emerging technologies relevant to retail insurance and customer engagement.
Specialist Skills — Translate strategy into practical initiatives; strong leadership and team development; excellent analytical and problem-solving skills; data-informed decision-making; strong stakeholder management; outstanding communication and presentation skills; highly organised with planning, prioritisation, and execution capabilities; ability to lead change in complex, fast-paced environments; strong financial and business case development capability.
Desirable — Experience leading major transformation programmes or enterprise-wide strategic initiatives.
Qualifications
Essential — Third-level degree or equivalent qualification.
Desirable — APA and/or CIP qualification; Agile Product Owner or related Agile certification.
Regulatory Requirements — This role is designated as a Controlled Function (CF1) under the Central Bank of Ireland's Fitness and Probity Regime. The successful candidate will be required to meet and maintain Fitness and Probity standards; demonstrate integrity and financial soundness; comply with the Minimum Competency Code where applicable; adhere to the Consumer Protection Code and all applicable regulatory requirements; ensure continued compliance with the Central Bank of Ireland's Conduct Standards.
This recruitment campaign will be used to support permanent, temporary, and/or extension for upcoming similar positions.
Locations
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Direct Retail Strategy & Performance in Derry, Londonderry
✨Tap into Campus Networks
If you're still in uni, don’t forget to engage with your campus's career services and attend finance-related events. Banks often do presentations and recruitment drives on campus, so put yourself out there and make use of these opportunities to show off your passion for the field.
✨Get Certified
Consider pursuing relevant certifications like the CFA or ACCA while you’re job hunting. They not only beef up your CV but also connect you with professional bodies which can lead to networking opportunities and even job openings in banking and financial services.
✨Connect on Professional Platforms
Join finance-focused groups on platforms like LinkedIn and engage in discussions. This can really help you stand out from the crowd, allowing potential employers to see your knowledge and interest in industry trends. Plus, you might stumble upon job postings shared exclusively within the group.
✨Apply Directly and Be Proactive
Don’t shy away from reaching out directly to firms like AXA Group. Use their websites and apply through them, but also consider following up with a polite email to express your enthusiasm. Being proactive can make a huge difference in getting noticed in the competitive financial services sector.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Direct Retail Strategy & Performance in Derry, Londonderry
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Numbers!:In the banking and financial services world, quantifiable achievements are key. Make sure your CV highlights your grades in relevant subjects, any financial certifications you hold, and specific projects where you've delivered measurable results. Employers love to see how your skills translate into real-world success.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Role:When applying for a full-time position, your cover letter should make a direct connection between your experience and the job description. Don't just state your enthusiasm for finance—dive into how your background in banking or financial analysis sets you apart. Let your passion shine through while being specific about what you can bring to AXA Group.
Include Relevant Financial Software Experience:If you've worked with financial modelling tools or software like Excel, SAP, or specific analytical tools during your studies or internships, bring that up! Highlighting your proficiency can really make your application pop and show you're ready to hit the ground running in a full-time role.
Research and Reflect:Before hitting that 'apply' button on AXA Group's website, do a little digging. Look up their recent projects, values, and culture. Reflecting their ethos in your application can make a huge difference and show you’re genuinely interested in being part of the team!
How to prepare for a job interview at AXA Group
✨Brush Up on Financial Analysis Skills
Make sure you're well-versed in financial concepts and analytical techniques relevant to banking and financial services. Get comfortable with tools like Excel for modelling or financial forecasting, as technical questions in this area are common during interviews with AXA Group.
✨Prepare for Case Studies
Expect to tackle case studies that demonstrate your problem-solving skills in real-world banking scenarios. Familiarise yourself with the types of problems you might face—think risk assessments or investment evaluations—and be ready to articulate your thought process clearly.
✨Show Your Passion for Finance
Since this is a full-time position, employers at AXA Group will be keen to see your genuine interest in finance. Be prepared to discuss recent industry trends or news articles that excite you, showcasing your enthusiasm and engagement with the field.
✨Network with Industry Professionals
Before your interview, reach out to current or former AXA Group employees on platforms like LinkedIn. They'll offer unique insights into the company's culture and the interview process, which can give us a delightful edge in showcasing a good fit for the team.
