Business Assistant in London

Business Assistant in London

London Full-Time 25650 - 31350 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
St. James's Place

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Support Investment Management Directors with diary management, travel arrangements, and event planning.
  • Company: Join a dynamic company transforming its business for future success.
  • Benefits: Enjoy 28 days' leave, private medical insurance, and a generous pension scheme.
  • Other info: Embrace a flexible workplace with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
  • Why this job: Kickstart your career in a supportive environment where your contributions truly matter.
  • Qualifications: Experience in administrative roles and strong organisational skills are essential.

The predicted salary is between 25650 - 31350 £ per year.

Are you ready to chart your own career path? With our refreshed strategy, we’re building on our rich heritage and transforming our business to be more scalable and efficient, unlocking the capabilities needed for future success. This includes significantly investing in technology, streamlining the way we work and creating an environment where colleagues feel engaged, empowered and accountable; where they can show up, speak up and perform - because we believe in the difference our work makes.

At a glance:

  • Location: London - Lombard Street Office
  • Workplace Type: On-Site
  • Employment Type: Permanent
  • Seniority: Entry Level

In this role, you'll provide comprehensive support to the Investment Management Directors, ensuring the efficient management of day-to-day activities. In addition, you will collaborate effectively with all other Executive/Business Assistants, fostering a supportive and communicative environment. This includes participating in regular check-ins, sharing information, and coordinating on cross-team workflows to help maintain efficiency. Your ability to build positive working relationships and communicate clearly will be essential in supporting the overall administrative functions smoothly.

You’ll oversee and co-ordinate diary commitments for both internal and external meetings. This includes preparing agendas, accurately capturing minutes, and recording action items to facilitate effective follow-up. You will also handle travel arrangements, including booking local and international travel and accommodation, while managing and tracking expenses in compliance with company policies. Additionally, you will lead event planning activities within your directorate and coordinate absence and annual leave requests for the senior leadership team.

What you'll be doing:

  • Diary Management – manage complex diary requests, to include booking appointments & arranging meetings, face to face and virtually.
  • Scheduling and responding to meeting invites. As the first point of contact for all visitors, managing all in-person meeting requirements – from arranging catering to ensuring IT equipment is set up and fully functional.
  • Production and formatting of meeting agendas & minutes, meeting actions.
  • Ensure Board and Committee paper deadlines are met, working with colleagues who prepare content and ensuring that adequate time is scheduled for senior leadership to review papers.
  • Coordinating travel arrangements for local and international travel as well as preparing and distributing schedules/agendas for travel.
  • Prepare, reconcile, and track expense reports through travel and expense system.
  • Supporting procurement with the management of invoices raising purchase orders and processing payments.
  • Manage delegated responsibilities for holiday approvals including absence & sickness management.
  • Organising IT requirements and coordinating the onboarding of new employees.
  • Event Organisation, support Senior Directors in planning department-wide events, such as town halls, working group meetings, off-sites, and social gatherings.

Who we're looking for:

  • Essential Criteria
    • Proven experience as a personal assistant, or similar administrative role.
    • Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage calendars and coordinate multiple stakeholders.
    • Good communication skills, with the ability to manage correspondence, and engage with both internal and external stakeholders.
    • Proactive problem-solving approach, with the ability to anticipate needs, manage competing priorities, and work under pressure.
    • Ability to work on-site as required in a dynamic office environment, providing hands-on support and fostering strong in-person relationships with key stakeholders.
    • Strong IT proficiency, including experience with Microsoft packages and calendar management tools.
    • Ability to work onsite 4 days per week in a dynamic office environment, providing hands-on support and fostering strong in-person relationships with key stakeholders.
  • Desirable Criteria
    • Experience in coordinating travel arrangements and managing expenses in line with company policies.
    • Ability to plan and execute events, including internal meetings and leadership team activities.
    • Proactive and adaptable approach, with the ability to anticipate needs and problem-solve efficiently.

What's in it for you?

Whatever stage of life you're in, our benefits are designed to provide the support, flexibility, and peace of mind you need to thrive both at work and beyond. In addition to our discretionary annual bonus scheme, which reflects both individual and company performance, you'll benefit from a market-leading benefits package tailored to support your wellbeing, financial security, and family life. Our benefits include:

  • 28 days' annual leave plus bank holidays, with the option to purchase up to 5 additional days.
  • Private Medical Insurance – company-funded cover for you and your immediate family.
  • Generous Pension Scheme – a non-contributory employer contribution of 10%, increasing with length of service up to 15%, plus the opportunity to increase this through salary sacrifice.
  • Enhanced Parental Leave – up to 26 weeks' full pay to support growing families.
  • Protection Benefits – company-funded critical illness cover, income protection, and life assurance.
  • EV salary sacrifice scheme through Tusker.

Reasonable Adjustments

We're an equal opportunities employer and want to ensure our recruitment process is accessible and inclusive for all, if you require reasonable adjustment(s) at any stage please let us know by emailing us at careers@sjp.co.uk.

Research tells us that applicants (especially those from underrepresented groups) can be put off from applying for a role if they do not meet all the criteria or have been on an extended career-break. If you think you would be a good match for this role and can demonstrate some transferable experience please apply, regardless of whether you tick every box.

What's next?

If you're excited about this role and believe you have the skills and experience we're looking for, we'd love to hear from you! Please submit an application by clicking ‘apply’ below and our team will be in touch. As a business regulated by the FCA we would advise you to familiarise yourself with the conduct regulations and in particular consumer duty obligations prior to an interview with SJP.

Business Assistant in London employer: St. James's Place

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St. James's Place

Contact Details:

St. James's Place Recruitment Team

We think you need these skills to ace Business Assistant in London

Diary Management
Organisational Skills
Communication Skills
Problem-Solving Skills
Event Planning
Travel Coordination
Expense Management