Head of UK Adviser Services

We are looking for a motivated and successful professional to drive our new initiative for the UK new retail advice market. The initial offering plans to be a Milliman-sponsored product that will make use of the support of various external outsourced service providers. This is to include a firm that provides sales distribution support, a firm that provides market access and market research data services, a firm that provides risk profiling of fund products, and an outsourced ACD firm to employ Milliman Financial Strategies Ltd as an investment manager.

The role will involve both coordinating relationships with these external parties, and leading the distribution and marketing efforts, while utilizing the support of the external distribution and marketing service providers. This includes being the primary Milliman contact in sales and marketing meetings and events, and acting as the market-facing contact for the new product. You will have the support of the technical leads within Milliman, as and when needed. You will also need to comply with Milliman’s regulatory and governance requirements.

We also have a number of discussions with external asset manager prospective partners that could also lead to additional joint venture initiatives for new products. Your role could also involve participation and support in these discussions, as needed.

You will:

• Work with Milliman technical leads to gain a thorough understanding of the Milliman product/strategy
• Lead the creation of marketing materials to support the product
• Lead the interactions with distribution and marketing external parties
• Utilize the tools, resources and services provided by the distribution and marketing external parties
• Attend meetings and events organized through the distribution and marketing external parties
• Lead the market awareness campaign for the Milliman product and brand
• Represent the firm at adviser conferences, events, roadshows, and lead investor‑adviser meetings.
• Lead relationships with adviser firms and parts of the adviser value chain
• Lead, manage and coordinate outsourced service providers (e.g., sales/distribution agencies, platform access services, market‑research/risk‑profiling firms) to ensure efficient routing, compliance, reporting and execution.
• Lead the production of reporting that provides key internal Milliman stakeholders with progress updates
• Become a Certified Function holder under FCA regulation
• Be willing to travel throughout the UK as part of the role

Requirements

Preferred Backgrounds:

• Senior roles in investment distribution, platform strategy, adviser services, or wealth management partnerships.
• Experience in multi‑party fund solutions or joint ventures between asset managers and service providers.
• Prior roles in product strategy or business development within asset or wealth management firms.

Job Knowledge Required:

• A bachelor’s degree in business, finance, economics or similar degree required
• CFA or equivalent qualification
• Chartered PFS or equivalent qualification
• Extensive experience in UK asset management sales / distribution (preferably distributing funds: unit trusts, OEICs, hedge funds MPS & multi‑asset solutions).
• Significant track record of selling into UK regulated adviser / intermediary channel sales, platform distribution and / or wholesale fund channels with a proven success in generating new adviser relationships, securing platform listings, achieving AUM growth and delivering against sales targets.
• Experience in managing external distribution / outsourced partners
• Deep understanding of the UK retail advice ecosystem (IFAs, adviser networks, platforms, DFMs, ACDs, product governance requirements, and client suitability processes).
• Proven track record leading or significantly contributing to distribution strategies in retail investments, platforms, or fund management and having oversight or creation of marketing campaigns for financial products, ideally regulated investment propositions.
• Experience of working with or coordinating multiple external providers (e.g. distribution partners, ACDs, risk profilers, marketing agencies, data providers).

Experience and Soft Skills Required:

• Strong product knowledge of retail investment products including derivatives‑based strategies
• Technical understanding of the derivatives, fund governance, and platform markets.
• An understanding of UK financial services regulation, especially as it relates to fund distribution, platforms, advisers and product governance.
• Deep understanding of the retail advice process
• Experience working with marketing, product and investment teams to build & launch fund propositions.
• A proven track record of undertaking high‑level discussions with distribution partners, asset managers, and adviser networks
• Strong interpersonal skills that build trust and long‑term partnerships with advisers and distributors.
• Articulate and persuasive in delivering presentations, attending panels at conferences and being the spokesperson of the organisation.
• An ability to translate technical product features into client and market benefits.
• A proven track record of driving measurable outcomes such as market traction, adviser engagement, and distribution growth
• Excellent relationship builder with senior level contacts across adviser networks, platforms and asset managers
• The ability to structure and evaluate JV or co‑branded initiatives with external managers & build and maintain strong relationships with key external distribution partners: adviser networks, IFA firms, aggregators / consolidators, discretionary fund managers (DFMs), platforms, asset managers.
• Exceptional communication skills (verbal and written) with the ability able to clearly and quickly communicate ideas and recommendations verbally, and in writing, to present to adviser audiences, boards, internal stakeholders
• Proven relationship management skills
• Ability to multitask and thrive in a fast‑paced environment
• Maturity, good judgment, and a professional demeanor

Additional Knowledge and Skills to Build:

• Ability to develop thought leadership in areas of expertise
• Strategic thinker with strong commercial acumen.
• Good understanding of CRM systems and tracking tools (Salesforce or similar).

About us

Milliman Financial Risk Management is a global leader in financial risk management for the retirement savings industry, providing investing advisory, hedging and consulting services to a broad range of global insurance, pension and investment fund clients, and on over $182 billion in global assets (as of September 30, 2024). Milliman Financial Risk Management is made up of 3 global regulated entities based in Chicago, London and Sydney. The role is to be based in London and employed into the FCA‑regulated entity Milliman Financial Strategies Ltd. Milliman Financial Strategies Ltd is responsible for monitoring risk and executing trades for the European exposures of Milliman FRM’s global hedging clients, during European market hours. In Europe, Milliman Financial Strategies Ltd has primarily focused on providing services to institutional insurance clients. Milliman Financial Strategies Ltd is now intending to develop some new fund product offerings in the UK retail advice market that will utilize similar hedging strategies offered by our global fund services business in the US and Australian markets. Globally Milliman FRM manages derivative based hedges in investment funds of over $50 billion in global assets, with a live track record of over 10 years in the US.