Trading Performance Lead in Haywards Heath

We’re 1st Central, a market-leading insurance company utilising smart data and technology at pace. Rapid growth has been based on giving our 1.4 million customers exactly what they want: great value insurance with an excellent service. We’re looking for a Trading Performance Lead to lead the analysis and tracking of acquisition and persistency KPIs, ensuring performance is optimised and budget targets are consistently achieved.

You’ll identify key opportunities and deliver robust analysis that directly supports commercial objectives and enables informed decision making. This is a flexible hybrid role, with occasional visits to our offices in Salford Quays (Manchester) or Haywards Heath (West Sussex) when required. For those based further afield, we also welcome applications from remote UK based workers. We offer excellent flexibility in working patterns and a company wide culture you can be proud to be part of.

Core skills we’re looking for to succeed in the role:

• Analytical & Problem Solving Skills: Highly numerate and analytical with the ability to distil complex data into clear insights and actionable recommendations.
• IT Skills: Strong technical capability, including SQL or Databricks, advanced Excel proficiency, and beneficial programming experience.
• Stakeholder & Influencing Skills: Strong influencing skills, with the ability to engage and build credibility with senior stakeholders and external partners.
• Organisation & Time Management: Excellent time-management skills, with the ability to prioritise competing workstreams effectively. High attention to detail and strong organisational capability.
• Entrepreneurial & Strategic Mindset: An entrepreneurial outlook with a keen eye for identifying opportunities and driving continuous improvement.

Professional background: Experienced in personal lines insurance or other financial services organisations, with additional experience working with large UK insurance datasets.

What’s involved:

• You’ll lead the analysis and tracking of existing MI to support understanding of acquisition and persistency KPIs, identifying performance trends, risks, and opportunities.
• You’ll support the Acquisition/Persistency Performance Manager in executing the customer acquisition and persistency strategy.
• You’ll develop commercial initiatives across functional teams to deliver new capability or improvements in acquisition/persistency performance.
• You’ll work with finance to support the acquisition/persistency Performance manager with forecasting, budget and retrospective analysis processes.
• You’ll access and analyse often large amounts of information, data and market intelligence from multiple sources to create insight to optimise trading activities and generate new tactical and strategic initiatives.
• You’ll deputise for the acquisition/persistency Performance manager with the Daily Trade stand-ups ensuring appropriate updates are delivered and any analysis/actions completed in a timely manner.
• You’ll lead, inspire and coach the junior analysts in the team to deliver business objectives, aiding with their development.

Experience:

• Experience of working within a highly regulated environment.
• Strong understanding of the insurance or financial services industry and its products.
• Strong stakeholder management experience within a fast paced, matrixed environment.
• Exposure to insurance business functions – pricing, digital, finance, operations, underwriting.
• Experience engaging with senior management in a customer-focused business.
• Minimum 3 years’ experience of personal lines insurance or other financial services organisation.
• Proficiency in SAS/SQL, Excel, and statistical analysis methods.

Skills:

• Highly numerate and analytical with the ability to distil complex data into clear insights and recommendations.
• Strong influencing skills, with the ability to engage senior stakeholders and external partners.
• Self-motivated and proactive, with a structured approach to problem-solving.
• Strong IT skills, including Excel; programming experience is a plus.
• Excellent communication & presentation skills, both verbal and written.
• Excellent time management and ability to prioritise competing workstreams.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, both written and verbal.
• High attention to detail and strong organisational skills.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a keen eye for identifying opportunities.

Knowledge:

• Ideally, a solid understanding of retail insurance products, industry dynamics, and distribution channels.
• Experience in subscription-based businesses in other sectors will also be considered.

Behaviours:

• Professional, confident and personable.
• Commercially focused with a strong customer ethic.
• Flexible and positive attitude with an agile approach to project management.
• Able to work independently and collaboratively within a team.
• Strong influencing skills with internal and external stakeholders.
• Committed to driving business improvements and delivering results.
• Analytical mindset with a data-driven approach to decision-making.
• Determined and resilient, with a focus on overcoming obstacles and delivering change.

Think you’re a match? Apply today and step into a role where your expertise drives real results, discover where this opportunity could take you.

What can we do for you?

People first. Always. We’re passionate about our colleagues and know the best people deserve an extraordinary working environment. We owe it to them so that’s what we offer. Our workplaces are energetic, inspirational, supportive.

Intrigued? Our Talent team can tell you everything you need to know about what we want and what we’re offering, so feel free to get in touch.