Strategic Business Partner to the CEO in Swindon

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Opportunity

The Strategic Business Partner to the CEO is a pivotal role at the heart of leadership, where you’ll be entrusted with supporting the CEO, Chief of Staff & General Counsel and other Executive Committee members, across dynamic business functions. This position offers unparalleled exposure to senior leaders and stakeholders—including our Shareholders and Board members—giving you a front-row seat to strategic decision-making and corporate communications. You’ll ensure our leadership is always prepared and equipped for success. This is a unique opportunity for a proactive, curious, and adaptable individual to develop their expertise, solve complex challenges, and make a meaningful impact on the future of the business. Acting as a trusted right hand to the CEO, you will provide high-level strategic and operational support, enabling the CEO to focus on driving the company’s vision, growth, and innovation.

The ideal candidate is a proactive, resourceful, and discreet professional, a strategic thinker with exceptional problem solving and financial skills and an unwavering commitment to excellence. This is a hybrid role based in our Swindon office, with the requirement to be in the office 2-3 days a week.

Benefits

• Salary – up to £75,000
• Bonus scheme – on target bonus 10%
• 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
• Up to 3 working days per year of paid time to participate in volunteering activities
• A range of other flexible benefits to include private medical insurance, dental insurance and much more

Responsibilities

• You will work in close partnership with the CEO’s PA, members of the Executive Committee and Senior Management to ensure that there are high‑quality and comprehensive briefing materials available for the CEO where needed.
• Ensuring the CEO is briefed for meetings and proactively following up actions from meetings.
• Drafting and preparing papers and reports on behalf of the CEO.
• Working with the CEO’s PA to assist with the prioritisation of incoming issues and concerns, including those of a sensitive and confidential nature, determining the appropriate course of action, referral or response and routing or dealing with less complex matters directly.
• Undertaking complex financial modelling where required to support ad‑hoc projects, key strategic initiatives and delivery of the Strategic Plan overall.
• Supporting the CEO in the execution of special projects, strategic initiatives, developing strategy and operational improvements.
• Monitor project timelines, support the Change/Transformation team to ensure key delivery of strategic priorities, collaborate with cross‑functional teams, and report progress.
• Build and sustain professional relationships with stakeholders, clients, partners, and staff.
• Represent the CEO and the company with integrity in all interactions.
• Proactively identify challenges and opportunities, offering solutions that enhance executive productivity and business outcomes.
• Proactively seek opportunities to optimise processes, leverage technology, and streamline workflows on key strategic projects and BAU activity.

Requirements

• Ability to carry out complex financial modelling and understand and interpret financial information, would be desirable.
• Experience supporting C‑level executives, preferably CEOs or founders.
• Strategy development and implementation experience.
• Experience leading change/transformation initiatives.
• Project management experience or certification with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver initiatives on time desirable.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, videoconferencing platforms, and document management tools.
• Previous exposure to board governance and regulatory environments is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to manage confidential materials and information with professionalism.

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.