Operations Director in Manchester

Location: Manchester | Industry: Specialist Property Finance (Bridging, Development, Commercial & BTL) | Company Size: c.95 employees | Reporting to: Managing Director

Roma Finance is a multi-award-winning specialist lender based in Manchester. Since 2008, we have built our reputation on delivering flexible, tailored finance solutions that help property investors, developers and landlords unlock opportunity and realise their ambitions. From bridging and refurbishment loans to development and buy-to-let finance, we understand that every project is unique, and our lending reflects that.

We combine professionalism, integrity, and innovation to deliver exceptional value, fast decisions, and outstanding service. We are driven by a shared passion for excellence and continuous improvement, ensuring every customer and partner receives a genuinely personal experience.

As an independent and forward-thinking lender, we continue to evolve, investing in our people, technology, and community to create a positive impact and help more people achieve more through property.

The Role

As we continue our exciting growth journey we are evolving how we work, enhancing our systems, processes, and structures to support scale, efficiency, and an outstanding employee experience. At the same time, we are deeply committed to protecting and nurturing the culture that makes Roma unique, friendly, entrepreneurial, and people-first.

We are seeking an experienced Operations Director who is passionate about building high-performing teams, driving continuous improvement, and scaling operational excellence while staying true to our values.

Reporting to the Managing Director, the Operations Director will oversee end‐to‐end operational performance across the lending lifecycle. You will ensure that operational capability and customer outcomes mature in line with business growth and funding requirements, while consistently delivering exceptional service and meeting compliance requirements.

As a key member of the Executive team, you will lead, optimise, and scale a best‐in‐class operational platform that supports delivery of the long‐term strategy.

Key Responsibilities

• Operational Strategy & Leadership
  • Define and execute a scalable operational strategy aligned to business growth, funding structures, and customer expectations.
  • Provide leadership across operational functions including credit and portfolio management.
  • Partner closely with the Senior Leadership team to ensure efficient pipeline flow and optimal utilisation of funding lines.
  • Act as a senior operational voice at Executive Committee.
• Property-Lending Lifecycle Management
  • Own operational delivery across the full property lending lifecycle.
  • Optimise post-completion servicing, covenant monitoring, site visits, cost-to-complete assessments, and redemptions.
  • Continuously improve turnaround times, quality, and borrower outcomes.
• Risk, Compliance & Operational Resilience
  • Ensure all operational processes meet AML, regulatory, and internal risk standards.
  • Identify key risks and create and manage the risk register.
  • Strengthen operational risk management, quality assurance, and control frameworks.
  • Lead business continuity planning and operational resilience initiatives.
• People & Culture
  • Lead, mentor, and develop high-performing operational teams, fostering a culture of accountability, ownership, and collaboration.
  • Support workforce planning, recruitment, and succession planning as the business scales.
  • Embed a strong customer-centric culture aligned with the values of our business.
• Technology, Transformation & Continuous Improvement
  • Drive operational transformation using Lean / structured change methodologies to reduce bottlenecks and enhance speed-to-loan.
  • Partner with Technology & Data teams to implement and optimise core systems (CRM, servicing platforms, and workflow automation).
  • Lead operational readiness for new products, funding lines, and service models.
  • Accountable for data integrity and management information, supporting dashboards and insight to improve decision-making and risk visibility.
• Stakeholder & Partner Management
  • Ensure strong alignment with the Senior Leadership team and operational departments to support timely deal execution and portfolio performance.
  • Represent Operations at Executive Committee.

Skills & Experience

Essential

• Senior operational leadership experience within specialist property finance, bridging, development finance, or secured lending.
• Proven experience scaling operations within a fast-growing lender (50–200 FTE ideal).
• Excellent problem-solving, decision-making, and analytical skills.
• Exceptional communication and people skills, with the ability to collaborate with diverse teams and stakeholders.
• Strong grasp of operational risk, compliance, and control in a financial services environment.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop future leaders.
• Commercially minded, data-driven, and highly organised.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• A proven history of delivering operational excellence.
• A strong sense of ownership and commitment to the company vision and growth.
• Experience of creating and delivering operational strategy.

Desirable

• Exposure to private funding structures, warehouse facilities, and securitisation requirements.
• Experience of technology modernisation, implementation, and optimisation of systems.
• Formal continuous improvement or project management qualifications (e.g. Lean, Six Sigma, PRINCE2).

Diversity and Inclusion

At Roma Finance, we believe diversity drives innovation and success. We are committed to creating an environment where everyone, regardless of gender, background, or life experience can thrive. We actively encourage women and individuals from underrepresented groups to apply, even if you don’t meet every single requirement. Your unique perspective matters to us. We value skills, potential, and passion as much as experience, and we are dedicated to supporting your growth through mentorship, flexible working options, and an inclusive culture where every voice is heard. If you are excited about the role but unsure if you tick every box, we would still love to hear from you.

What We Offer

• Competitive executive-level salary, bonus, and benefits package.
• A rare opportunity to shape and scale the operational backbone of a high-growth specialist lender.
• A collaborative, entrepreneurial culture with genuine autonomy and influence.
• Modern Manchester office and a leadership role with visible, lasting impact across the business.