At a Glance
- Tasks: Provide governance oversight and constructive challenge at board meetings.
- Company: Independent UK financial advisory business with a focus on client-centric services.
- Benefits: Flexible remote or hybrid work, competitive remuneration based on experience.
- Other info: Ideal for seasoned professionals seeking part-time non-executive opportunities.
- Why this job: Join a dynamic board to influence strategic direction without operational management pressure.
- Qualifications: Extensive experience in UK financial services and prior board or senior management roles.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Location: UK based, with remote or hybrid attendance depending on board requirements.
Commitment: Light touch, expected to include quarterly board meetings and limited ad hoc input.
Remuneration: To be agreed, proportionate to a part time non executive appointment.
Overview: We are supporting an independent UK financial advisory business with the appointment of an experienced Non Executive Director. The business provides independent financial advice across areas including investment advice, pensions and retirement planning, estate planning, protection planning and broader financial planning. The appointment is being made to strengthen the board and senior management structure, providing additional governance oversight, regulatory comfort and constructive challenge. This is intended to be a light touch, proportionate appointment. It is not an operational management role and it is not a mandate to reshape the business. The right person will be credible, experienced and commercially pragmatic, with a strong understanding of UK regulated financial advice, wealth management, financial planning or investment management. The individual is expected to sit as a Senior Manager Function, subject to regulatory approval and suitability.
Purpose of the role: The Non Executive Director will provide additional senior oversight and governance support to the business. They will act as a senior sounding board to the Managing Director and ownership group, providing constructive challenge where required, while remaining pragmatic, proportionate and supportive of the existing management team.
Key responsibilities:
- Attend quarterly board or senior management meetings
- Review business plan progress, performance and results
- Discuss key issues affecting the business
- Provide input on the general direction of the firm
- Act as a senior sounding board to the Managing Director and ownership group
- Support the business in maintaining an appropriate governance structure
- Provide independent perspective and constructive challenge where required
- Contribute to discussions around conduct, risk, regulatory expectations and operational oversight
- Support FCA governance requirements as a Senior Manager Function
Candidate profile: The successful candidate is likely to be a senior financial services professional with meaningful experience in regulated financial advice, wealth management, financial planning, pensions, investments, protection, estate planning or a closely related area. They may be a former financial adviser, wealth manager, IFA business owner, senior manager, managing director, compliance leader, director, founder or board adviser. This role would suit someone who has stepped back from full time executive or client advisory work and is now looking to contribute at board level through a small number of non executive or advisory appointments.
Required experience:
- Strong background in UK financial services
- Experience within an FCA regulated business
- Prior board, senior management, founder, director or senior advisory experience
- Understanding of independent financial advice, wealth management, financial planning, pensions, investments or related regulated services
- Ability to provide senior oversight and constructive challenge
- Good understanding of governance, conduct, risk and regulatory expectations
- Credibility to sit as a Senior Manager Function, subject to approval
- Strong judgement, discretion and commercial awareness
Preferred experience:
- Previous experience as a Non Executive Director, Board Adviser or Independent Director
- Previous FCA approved person or Senior Manager Function experience
- Background as a former financial adviser, wealth manager, IFA business owner, managing director, compliance officer or senior regulated financial services professional
- Experience working with smaller or growing regulated financial services businesses
- Understanding of client centric financial planning, lifetime cash flow planning and whole of market advice
- Experience across pensions, retirement planning, investment advice, estate planning or protection planning
Conflicts and independence: The preference is for someone who is no longer actively advising clients, in order to minimise potential conflicts of interest. However, candidates with other non executive, advisory or board positions may still be considered, provided any potential conflicts can be reviewed and managed appropriately.
What the business is not looking for: This is not a full time executive appointment. The requirement is for a steady, experienced senior figure who can support governance and provide useful board level perspective.
Non Executive Director in London employer: James & Partners
As an independent UK financial advisory business, we pride ourselves on fostering a collaborative and supportive work culture that values the insights of experienced professionals. Our flexible remote or hybrid working arrangements allow for a balanced commitment, while our focus on governance and regulatory excellence provides a meaningful opportunity for Non Executive Directors to contribute to the strategic direction of the firm. Join us to leverage your expertise in a role that champions constructive challenge and oversight within a dynamic financial services environment.
