At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead trading operations and improve processes for a dynamic investment platform.
- Company: Join Seccl, an innovative B-Corp owned by Octopus, transforming the investment industry.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous holiday, remote work options, and wellness initiatives.
- Other info: Embrace a culture of ownership, learning, and collaboration.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a fast-paced environment while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in trading operations and strong problem-solving abilities required.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.
Hybrid with two days a week in our Bath, Edinburgh or London office, travel between offices will be needed at times.
About Us
Seccl is the Octopus‑owned embedded investment platform that’s on a mission to help more people invest – and invest well. We’re B‑Corp certified with an amazing product‑market fit, impressive early traction and the potential to transform an outdated industry, for the better. We’ve been growing fast and will scale even faster over the next few years. We’re also proud to be part of Octopus, the multi‑billion group that’s on a mission to breathe new life into broken industries, through companies like Octopus Energy, Octopus Investments and Octopus Money.
The role
We’re looking for an Operations delivery lead to join our Trading team and lead the operational delivery of the full trade lifecycle. You’ll lead the day‑to‑day running and continuous improvement of trading operations across funds and equities, from execution through matching, settlement, exception management and post‑trade oversight. You’ll lead a team of six and play a key role in keeping our trading flows accurate, resilient, well‑controlled and ready to scale. This is a hands‑on leadership role. You’ll need to be comfortable getting into the detail, unblocking issues, making good decisions under pressure and helping the team build better ways of working so the same problems do not keep coming back.
We know this is a broad role. We’re not looking for someone who has done every part of it perfectly before. We are looking for someone with strong trading operations foundations, sound judgement, high ownership and the appetite to learn quickly. You might bring deeper experience in dealing, settlement, transaction reporting or operational controls. What matters most is that you can lead well, learn fast, ask good questions and raise the standard around you.
You’ll work closely with Product, Engineering, Risk and Compliance to strengthen controls, reduce operational risk and improve how we serve our customer firms. You’ll also help make sure our trading operations are designed and run in line with FCA expectations, including CASS, MiFID II and COBS obligations across dealing, settlement, reconciliations, transaction reporting and accurate books and records.
On a typical day you will…
- Lead the operational delivery of trading across funds and equities, making sure orders, trades, settlement activity and reporting are processed accurately and on time.
- Oversee execution and settlement activity across key partners and market infrastructure, including fund routing and equity settlement providers.
- Help the team manage breaks, rejects, unmatched positions and exceptions through to resolution.
- Act as an escalation point for trading incidents and operational issues, coordinating the right response and making sure fixes last.
- Own and improve operational controls across the trade lifecycle, making sure processes are well evidenced, risks are understood and books and records remain accurate.
- Support post‑trade oversight, including transaction reporting, best execution monitoring, financial crime monitoring and other trading operations controls.
- Help the team manage fund conversions, off‑platform transfers and other operational processes where accuracy, control and customer impact matter.
- Lead daily operational readiness across trading cycles, making sure monitoring, inboxes, dashboards and exception queues are reviewed, prioritised and acted on.
- Partner with Product and Engineering to simplify workflows, improve tooling, automate manual processes and reduce operational risk as we scale.
- Coach and develop a team of six, setting clear standards, building confidence and creating a culture of ownership, learning and customer‑first delivery.
This role’s for you if…
- You’ve led or mentored people in a trading, investment operations, platform operations or closely related environment.
- You have a strong understanding of the trade lifecycle, with hands‑on experience in some of the following areas: dealing, settlement, exceptions, fund trading, equity trading, transaction reporting, best execution or operational controls.
- You have strong operational judgement. When issues arise, you can work out what matters, who needs to know, what needs to happen next and how to prevent the same issue from recurring.
- You care about control, accuracy and good evidence. You do not need to be a regulatory expert, but you should understand why FCA obligations matter in day‑to‑day trading operations and be willing to deepen your knowledge quickly.
- You’re confident working in a high‑volume, fast‑moving environment where priorities can change and workloads need active management.
- You communicate clearly and practically, and can work well with Operations, Product, Engineering, Risk, Compliance and external providers.
- You’re curious and improvement‑minded. You look for better ways to run processes, reduce risk, improve service and help the team do great work.
- You lead in a way that fits Seccl: taking ownership, never settling for “good enough”, and being generous and candid with the people around you.
It would be helpful if you also have…
- Experience with fund routing, equity settlement or platform trading operations.
- Experience using or overseeing processes involving Calastone, CREST, Winterflood Business Services or similar providers.
- Experience working in a regulated fintech, investment platform, wealth management, asset servicing or custody environment.
- Knowledge of CASS, MiFID II, COBS, transaction reporting or best execution monitoring.
- Experience partnering with Product or Engineering teams to improve operational workflows, controls or automation.
What success looks like…
- The team has clear priorities, strong standards and the confidence to manage trading operations well each day.
- Trading exceptions, incidents and breaks are managed quickly, calmly and with clear ownership.
- Controls are well understood, well evidenced and continually improved as Seccl grows.
- Operational processes become simpler, safer and more scalable.
- The team feels supported, challenged and proud of the service it delivers to our customer firms and their end investors.
This role isn’t for you if…
- You rely on a lot of top‑down direction. Here, you’ll have a lot of freedom and ownership of your role, and you’ll be expected to shape your own progression.
- You’re not comfortable working in a fast‑paced environment. Our speed and scalability are what set us apart; you need to be able to act quickly and think on your feet.
- You struggle to follow through on ideas. We value people who do what they say they will. If you care about something, you have the freedom here to make it happen.
- You don’t like change. You’ll get on great here if you relish the ambiguity of rapid growth and are willing to embrace uncertainty.
What’s In It For You…
- A salary between £50,000 and £65,000 – dependant on experience + reviewed annually
- 27 days holiday + bank holidays (some can be flexible) + day off on your birthday + three days (full time) per year for dependant leave
- Two volunteering days per year
- Option to work abroad for up to six weeks a year
- Secclbrate – our recognition programme that offers a mix of flexible rewards including extra pay, additional holiday and increased learning budget
- Length of service award – one month paid sabbatical at eight years
- 6% employer pension contribution, and life assurance
- Private medical insurance with AXA Health
- Enhanced parental leave
- MacBook and up to £500 home office set up budget
- £750 per person learning budget
- Health and wellbeing initiatives including free therapy via Wellness Cloud, mental health support via Headspace
- Strong financial wellbeing focus including access to Octopus Money, Octopus Share Incentive Plan and will writing offering via Octopus Legacy
- Perkbox – flexi‑points giving you a range of discounts and perks including free weekly coffee, gym and retail discounts
- Access to initiatives like Cycle to Work and Octopus Electric Vehicle Leasing
Our culture
We’re proud to put people first, creating a culture where we truly listen to what matters most to them. Our transparent and inclusive environment encourages diversity of thought, challenge and experimentation. If this sounds like your kind of thing, we encourage you to apply even if you don’t tick every box. We’d love to hear from you!
Operations delivery lead - Trading in London employer: Seccl
Seccl is an exceptional employer that prioritises employee growth and well-being, offering a dynamic work culture where innovation and collaboration thrive. With a strong commitment to personal development, including a generous learning budget and opportunities for flexible working arrangements, employees are empowered to shape their careers while contributing to a mission-driven company that is transforming the investment industry. Located in vibrant cities like Bath, Edinburgh, and London, Seccl provides a supportive environment that values diversity and encourages a healthy work-life balance.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Operations delivery lead - Trading in London
✨Tap into Campus Networks
If you're still in uni, don’t forget to engage with your campus's career services and attend finance-related events. Banks often do presentations and recruitment drives on campus, so put yourself out there and make use of these opportunities to show off your passion for the field.
✨Get Certified
Consider pursuing relevant certifications like the CFA or ACCA while you’re job hunting. They not only beef up your CV but also connect you with professional bodies which can lead to networking opportunities and even job openings in banking and financial services.
✨Connect on Professional Platforms
Join finance-focused groups on platforms like LinkedIn and engage in discussions. This can really help you stand out from the crowd, allowing potential employers to see your knowledge and interest in industry trends. Plus, you might stumble upon job postings shared exclusively within the group.
✨Apply Directly and Be Proactive
Don’t shy away from reaching out directly to firms like Seccl. Use their websites and apply through them, but also consider following up with a polite email to express your enthusiasm. Being proactive can make a huge difference in getting noticed in the competitive financial services sector.
We think you need these skills to ace Operations delivery lead - Trading in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Numbers!:In the banking and financial services world, quantifiable achievements are key. Make sure your CV highlights your grades in relevant subjects, any financial certifications you hold, and specific projects where you've delivered measurable results. Employers love to see how your skills translate into real-world success.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Role:When applying for a full-time position, your cover letter should make a direct connection between your experience and the job description. Don't just state your enthusiasm for finance—dive into how your background in banking or financial analysis sets you apart. Let your passion shine through while being specific about what you can bring to Seccl.
Include Relevant Financial Software Experience:If you've worked with financial modelling tools or software like Excel, SAP, or specific analytical tools during your studies or internships, bring that up! Highlighting your proficiency can really make your application pop and show you're ready to hit the ground running in a full-time role.
Research and Reflect:Before hitting that 'apply' button on Seccl's website, do a little digging. Look up their recent projects, values, and culture. Reflecting their ethos in your application can make a huge difference and show you’re genuinely interested in being part of the team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Seccl
✨Brush Up on Financial Analysis Skills
Make sure you're well-versed in financial concepts and analytical techniques relevant to banking and financial services. Get comfortable with tools like Excel for modelling or financial forecasting, as technical questions in this area are common during interviews with Seccl.
✨Prepare for Case Studies
Expect to tackle case studies that demonstrate your problem-solving skills in real-world banking scenarios. Familiarise yourself with the types of problems you might face—think risk assessments or investment evaluations—and be ready to articulate your thought process clearly.
✨Show Your Passion for Finance
Since this is a full-time position, employers at Seccl will be keen to see your genuine interest in finance. Be prepared to discuss recent industry trends or news articles that excite you, showcasing your enthusiasm and engagement with the field.
✨Network with Industry Professionals
Before your interview, reach out to current or former Seccl employees on platforms like LinkedIn. They'll offer unique insights into the company's culture and the interview process, which can give us a delightful edge in showcasing a good fit for the team.
