At a Glance
- Tasks: Shape product strategy and improve development processes in a dynamic financial tech environment.
- Company: Join a leading financial services firm with a focus on innovation and collaboration.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, exposure to executive leadership, and long-term career growth opportunities.
- Other info: Collaborative international environment with significant influence over product initiatives.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by bridging business strategy and technology delivery.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in fintech or related fields with strong product management skills.
We are looking for an experienced Product Development Director to bridge business strategy and technology delivery. Reporting directly to the Group Chairman, you will shape the product roadmap, improve development processes, and ensure business initiatives are translated into clear, actionable requirements for technology teams. Success in this role will require a strong understanding of the company’s business model, operational processes, and client journey. You will challenge existing ways of working, identify opportunities for product and process improvement, and help drive greater efficiency, transparency, and alignment across the organisation.
Key Responsibilities
- Translate business priorities into a structured and commercially aligned product roadmap.
- Evaluate product ideas and business requests based on strategic value, client impact, operational benefit, technical feasibility, and delivery priority.
- Challenge and refine requirements, ensuring each initiative has a clear business objective, expected outcome, success measure, and agreed priority before entering development.
- Act as the primary liaison between business stakeholders and the IT Development team.
- Translate complex business needs into clear product requirements, functional specifications, and development-ready documentation.
- Ensure development teams understand the business purpose, scope, and expected outcomes of each initiative.
- Manage communication and expectations between leadership, business teams, and technology stakeholders regarding priorities, scope, timelines, and delivery constraints.
- Review business requests and product specifications, including AI-assisted documentation, before they enter the development pipeline.
- Identify gaps, risks, assumptions, dependencies, and unclear requirements before development begins.
- Establish and maintain consistent governance for product intake, prioritisation, documentation, delivery tracking, and post-delivery review.
- Monitor delivery progress, risks, blockers, dependencies, and changes in scope across the roadmap.
- Support prioritisation decisions where business demands or technical constraints compete.
- Improve product development workflows, operating models, and cross-functional communication.
- Work closely with Product, Technology, QA, Operations, and business teams to improve delivery effectiveness.
- Ensure completed products and features are reviewed against the original business objectives and intended outcomes.
Must Have Qualifications
- ~10+ years’ experience within financial services, fintech, brokerage, trading technology, liquidity, capital markets, or a related industry.
- ~ Strong background in product management, business analysis, product delivery, project management, or technology-led business transformation.
- ~ Proven experience acting as the bridge between business stakeholders and software development teams.
- ~ Experience working with B2B technology products, enterprise platforms, trading systems, or financial technology solutions.
- ~ Strong project management, stakeholder management, and delivery governance experience.
- ~ Ability to translate complex business requirements into structured product or technical specifications.
- ~ Strong commercial awareness and experience improving workflows, operational efficiency, and cross-functional collaboration.
- ~ Excellent communication, influencing, and relationship-building skills.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience leading digital transformation or business process improvement initiatives.
- Experience with AI-assisted product development, business analysis, or specification management.
- Working knowledge of Atlassian Jira and Confluence for product delivery, backlog management, and documentation.
- Familiarity with SQL, Databricks, Python, or similar technologies, with the ability to understand technical concepts and collaborate effectively with engineering teams (hands-on development experience is not required).
- Agile, Scrum, SAFe, PMP, or similar delivery certifications.
- Experience within brokerage, liquidity, trading platforms, or capital markets environments.
- Experience working directly with executive leadership, founders, board members, or chairpersons.
What We Offer
- Direct exposure to executive leadership, including the Group Chairman.
- Significant influence over product strategy, delivery governance, and business transformation.
- The opportunity to shape how products and technology initiatives are delivered across the organisation.
- Exposure to complex financial technology and trading platform environments.
- A collaborative, international working environment.
- Competitive salary and benefits package.
- Long-term career growth and leadership opportunities.
Leadership Development Product Manager in London employer: Finalto
Finalto is an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic work culture in the heart of Greater London, offering employees the chance to thrive in a collaborative environment. With a strong emphasis on professional development, we provide ample opportunities for growth and advancement, ensuring that our team members are well-equipped to navigate the complexities of tax compliance and transfer pricing. Join us to be part of a forward-thinking company that values innovation and supports your career aspirations.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Leadership Development Product Manager in London
✨Tip Number 1: Get Involved in Consulting Case Competitions
Look for case competitions hosted by universities and consulting firms. They’re a fab way to showcase your problem-solving skills and meet industry players. Plus, winning one can seriously boost your CV, which we know is key when applying for roles like Leadership Development Product Manager at Finalto!
✨Tip Number 2: Leverage Alumni Networks
Tap into your university’s alumni network; many consultants love to help out new talent. Reach out to alumni who are working in management consulting, they might have insider knowledge about openings at firms like Finalto or be willing to refer you for that Leadership Development Product Manager position!
✨Tip Number 3: Attend Industry Events and Conferences
Keep an eye on management consulting events, workshops, or panels. These are prime opportunities to network with top professionals and get your name out there. You might even bump into someone from Finalto who’s on the lookout for their next Leadership Development Product Manager star!
✨Tip Number 4: Polish Your Consulting Skills Online
Engage with online platforms that offer consulting simulations or courses. Prove your chops by completing relevant projects — this not only beefs up your experience but also gives you concrete examples to chat about during interviews for that full-time Leadership Development Product Manager role at Finalto!
We think you need these skills to ace Leadership Development Product Manager in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Problem-Solving Skills:In management consulting, it's all about problem-solving—so make sure your CV highlights your analytical and critical thinking skills. Include examples from your studies or previous roles where you tackled complex issues or came up with innovative solutions. Quantify your achievements whenever possible to demonstrate your impact!
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to explain why you're a perfect fit for the consulting world. Focus on your motivation for joining the industry and how your skills align with the requirements of the role at Finalto. Remember to mention any relevant coursework or projects that showcase your understanding of strategic frameworks or business models!
Highlight Team Experience:Consultants often work in teams, so it's vital to showcase your collaborative skills. Include experiences where you've worked effectively with others, whether in academic group projects or internships. Discuss your role in the team and how you helped achieve common goals, demonstrating you can thrive in a consultancy environment.
Professionalise Your Online Presence:Make sure your LinkedIn and any other professional profiles are up to date, reflecting your career aspirations in management consulting. Connect with industry professionals and follow relevant groups—show you’re serious about entering this field. Applying through our website is a great way to get noticed, so showcase your personality and enthusiasm there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Finalto
✨Master the Case Study Game
In management consulting, case study interviews are all the rage. Make sure to practice structuring your thoughts and analysing data on the fly. Use resources like example case studies to get comfortable with frameworks and solutions. Remember, it’s not just about getting the right answer but showcasing your thought process, so talk us through your reasoning!
✨Know Your Numbers
Be prepared for some numerical and analytical questions. Brush up on your mental math and be ready to interpret data from charts or graphs. We might throw some business scenarios at you that require a quick turnaround on numerical analysis, so practice these skills to feel confident and swift!
✨Show Your Leadership Flair
As this is a full-time role, we want to see your potential as a seasoned consultant. Be ready to discuss experiences where you've led a project or a team. Think about times you've influenced decisions or navigated challenges—this is your chance to show how you can thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
✨Be a Cultural Fit
We’re not just looking for brains; we want to see if you vibe with our company culture at Finalto. Prepare to share how your values align with ours. Have a think about what makes a great team environment for you and how you can contribute to that. A good cultural fit goes a long way in management consulting!