Corporate Development and Strategy Manager in Swindon

We are seeking a high-calibre strategic professional to play a key central role in developing and delivering our Group Strategy and Value Creation Plan. Working closely with the CEO, CFO, Head of Strategy and our shareholders, this role will provide insight, challenge and leadership across key strategic, corporate and shareholder initiatives, including M&A and ad-hoc strategy projects. This is a highly visible role with significant exposure to senior stakeholders, offering the opportunity to influence decision-making and support the long-term growth of the business. This role is hybrid working, 3 days a week in the office with regular travel to London.

The benefits:

• Salary - £70,000 to £80,000
• Bonus scheme - on target bonus - 15%
• Pension scheme - contribute up to 5% of your salary and Openwork will match you and put in an extra 5%
• Critical illness cover
• Income protection - 1x salary
• Death in service - 4x salary
• 27 days holiday + bank holidays, with the opportunity to buy up to an additional 10 days
• A range of other flexible benefits to include private medical insurance, dental insurance and much more.

Key Accountabilities:

• Support the ongoing development, maintenance and monitoring of the Group Strategy and Value Creation Plan, ensuring effective delivery of key strategic initiatives.
• Provide strategic oversight and support to the CEO, CFO and Head of Strategic Planning on major corporate and strategic priorities.
• Play a leading role in Corporate Development projects, including external M&A activity.
• Work closely with Bain Capital, across both specific projects and broader relationship management.
• Produce materials and updates to meet Bain Capital and LLP reporting requirements.
• Act as a trusted sounding board to the Executive team, providing insight, analysis and constructive challenge where appropriate.
• Lead and deliver ad-hoc strategic projects with minimal supervision, as agreed from time to time.

What will you need to succeed?

• Educated to Degree level
• Relevant post graduate professional qualification (e.g. ACA, CFA)
• Experience of working for a top-tier professional services / consultancy firm preferred
• At least 3 years’ experience in the intermediated / retail financial services industry
• Proven ability to communicate effectively at all levels in the organisation
• Corporate Development / M&A experience preferred
• Experience of operating in a matrix structure preferred

Knowledge:

• Detailed understanding of business commercials and strategy
• Company systems and procedures, i.e. contracts, regulatory regime
• Good understanding of the legal, taxation and accounting policy and practice relevant to key strategic initiatives – e.g. PBO

Skills and Competencies:

• Strong analytical capability
• Numerate and literate
• Committed and flexible team player with the ability to work on own initiative
• Ability to understand the complex interdependencies between individual and corporate deliverables
• Strategic thinker with ability to simplify the complex for wider understanding
• Excellent interpersonal, presentation and communication skills, written and verbal
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills
• Ability to confront difficult issues and take ownership for resolution, without the need for approval
• Competent at prioritising, resourcing, planning and performance management
• Able to take responsibility, act decisively and be accountable
• Reputation for diplomacy and discretion

Why us?

We're a dynamic, fast paced, and growing business with huge ambition. This is all made possible by the brilliant people who are part of The Openwork Partnership family. We're investing heavily in our colleagues, continuously striving to give them the platform to develop personally and professionally and reach their full potential. We’re also very proud of our culture, as one of the Best 100 Large Companies to work for in 2022. The Openwork Partnership values, and respects individuality and we are committed to building an inclusive culture and environment which truly recognises and celebrates our colleague’s individual differences and identities – just like our financial advice, for us, it’s personal. We believe everyone can make a difference and your race, religion, disability, and gender will never be a barrier. At Openwork, we have a strong ethic of care for each other where you can balance a successful career with your commitments and interests outside of work. We believe that you will bring your best self to work if you are trusted to choose when, where and how you do it.