Practice Manager in London

Porta Partners is seeking an experienced Practice Manager to deliver the day-to-day operation of the firm. Reporting to our Chief Operating Officer, the Practice Manager will carry out the essential operational work that supports our Managing Partners and advisers, and will play an important part in the firm's next stage of growth. You will keep core functions running smoothly and efficiently, make sure processes are followed and improved, and help the firm prepare for its next phase of expansion. No two days are the same, and the role has real scope to grow.

About Porta Partners

Porta Partners is a chartered financial planning practice based in London. We have advised clients for over 20 years, with more than 100 years of combined adviser experience, and are trusted by over 1,000 professionals, business owners and families across London and the UK. We cut through the jargon and build clear, practical plans that give clients confidence today and for the years ahead. We are an appointed representative of Söderberg & Partners Financial Planning (SPFP), an exciting and dynamic network whose ambitions match our own, and we are growing both organically and through acquisition.

Key responsibilities

• Finance and payroll: Lead the monthly pay run: confirm provider payments, obtain commission statements, check network payments are accurate and on time, and resolve unmatched commission. Raise and chase invoices, including introducer referral fees, and complete monthly bank and card reconciliations against the budget.
• People and HR: Lead recruitment, including job postings, screening calls, scheduling, PIFs, background checks, NDAs and offer letters. Run onboarding end to end, from offer to the end of probation, so new joiners are well cared for and settle into their career at Porta. Manage employee benefits, CPD records and advisers’ SPS hours, and the work experience programme.
• Supporting advisers and Managing Partners: Manage the case-tracking process so every case has a clear owner, next step and timescale. Inform associates’ task lists, triage incoming work, report on progress, stuck cases and pipeline, and make sure agreed processes are followed. Lead improvements to how we manage client policy information.
• Network and compliance: Support Porta’s work on SPFP projects, including the letter of authority (LOA) process and portal, compliance work and training. Manage introducer agreements, from due diligence to invoicing.
• Systems and suppliers: Support the COO on systems, supplier contracts and renewals, and act as the day-to-day contact for providers and suppliers. Keep our MI dashboard data accurate, and resolve issues with systems and people, recommending changes to prevent them recurring.
• Office management: Oversee office operations, including post, bookings and ordering technology and supplies, and make sure every client visit is a great experience.
• Projects and events: Run projects such as supplier tenders, training programmes and process improvements, with recommendations to the COO. Follow through actions from firm meetings, and manage major firm events, including our overseas trip, ACM and golf day.
• Leadership: Line manage two excellent members of the operations team: set objectives, hold one-to-ones and reviews, keep documented procedures with named cover for every task, and develop the team through our career framework.

Person specification

• Experience in operations and/or practice management, with proven line management experience.
• Practical experience of finance and HR administration: payroll, invoicing, reconciliation, recruitment, contracts, onboarding and benefits.
• A track record of delivering projects.
• A sound understanding of how a Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulated advice firm operates, including anti-money laundering, data protection and compliance.
• Able to build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Familiarity with systems such as Voyant, Plannr, Microsoft 365, and accounting and payroll software.
• Welcomes new technology and AI.
• Paraplanning experience, or a strong working knowledge of the paraplanning and advice process.
• Experience within an appointed representative of a network.
• Experience of commission and income reconciliation.
• Proactive, accountable and highly organised, with strong attention to detail and reliable follow-through on every deadline.
• Composed under pressure in a fast-paced environment.
• Fixes problems at their root.
• A confident, approachable line manager the whole team can trust, and a clear communicator with leadership, advisers, the network and suppliers.

Location and package

Full time. Based in our London office (10 Throgmorton Avenue, EC2N 2DL) Monday to Thursday, with Fridays working from home and finishing at 2.30pm. Competitive salary, a benefits package, a clear development pathway through our operations career framework with support for professional qualifications, and frequent firm events, offsite meetings, our annual ACM and an overseas trip (if targets are met).