At a Glance
- Tasks: Shape customer-focused strategies and drive operational improvements.
- Company: Join Vanquis, an award-winning employer with a supportive culture.
- Benefits: Flexible hybrid working, generous leave, and career development opportunities.
- Other info: Gain exposure to senior management and diverse teams across the organisation.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on customer experiences and operational performance.
- Qualifications: Experience in strategy development and strong analytical skills required.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
Turn operational insight into better customer and colleague outcomes. Join Operations Strategy and play a key role in supporting strategic change and continuous improvement across Collections. From shaping and implementing new initiatives through to tracking outcomes and measuring success, you will help deliver meaningful improvements for customers and colleagues.
You will contribute to strategic plans and change portfolios, champion best practice and help strengthen service standards. Reporting to the Senior Operations Strategy Manager, you will bring together insight, operational knowledge and stakeholder expertise to turn opportunities into practical, sustainable improvements.
This is an opportunity to move your career forward at Vanquis by working across operational strategy, customer outcomes and business change. You will gain broad exposure, influence decisions and see how your work improves customer interaction points and operational performance.
How you’ll make an impact:
- Shape customer-focused operational strategies and improvement plans.
- Use data, forecasting and insight to identify priorities and opportunities.
- Coordinate customer contact strategies across multiple channels.
- Support scorecard implementation and customer decisioning.
- Champion challenge, test-and-learn activity and benefit assessment.
- Coordinate programmes, resources and priorities across Customer Operations.
- Build trusted relationships with senior leaders, operational teams and external partners.
Why this role matters:
Customer Operations brings together service delivery, payment management, customer communications and operational change. This role helps connect those areas through a consistent strategy, ensuring customer impact, operational performance, risk and commercial outcomes are considered together. You will work with senior managers and colleagues across various departments and engage with debt collection agencies, debt purchasers and other third parties.
We believe in:
- Customer outcomes first.
- Test, learn and improve.
- Joined-up operations.
- Governance, risk assessment and clear documentation support sustainable change.
Requirements:
- A proven track record in a UK-regulated financial services organisation, ideally within retail banking or credit cards.
- Experience developing and implementing customer-focused operational strategies or strategic improvements.
- Strong analytical and strategic capability.
- Experience manipulating and interpreting varied data sets.
- Experience with customer-management or strategy solutions.
- Understanding of customer risk.
- Experience working in tactical or Agile delivery teams.
- Strong stakeholder management and negotiation skills.
- Clear communication and presentation skills.
- Ability to coordinate people, priorities and programmes.
You will build experience across operational strategy, customer outcomes, analytics, change delivery, governance and senior stakeholder engagement. The breadth of this role offers visibility of how strategic decisions affect customer interactions and business performance.
Why Vanquis?
- Award-Winning Employer.
- Flexible Hybrid Working.
- Two Volunteering Days.
- Inclusive Culture.
- Enhanced Family Leave.
- Up to 10% Pension Contribution.
- Paid Birthday Leave.
- 25–30 Days Annual Leave.
- Career Development Opportunities.
Strategy Manager employer: Vanquis
At Vanquis, we pride ourselves on being an award-winning employer that champions quality and innovation in technology. Our inclusive culture fosters collaboration and continuous improvement, providing employees with flexible hybrid working options, extensive career development opportunities, and a supportive environment where everyone can thrive. Join us in shaping the future of technology while enjoying benefits like enhanced family leave, generous annual leave, and dedicated volunteering days.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Strategy Manager
✨Tip Number 1: Get Involved in Consulting Case Competitions
Look for case competitions hosted by universities and consulting firms. They’re a fab way to showcase your problem-solving skills and meet industry players. Plus, winning one can seriously boost your CV, which we know is key when applying for roles like Strategy Manager at Vanquis!
✨Tip Number 2: Leverage Alumni Networks
Tap into your university’s alumni network; many consultants love to help out new talent. Reach out to alumni who are working in management consulting, they might have insider knowledge about openings at firms like Vanquis or be willing to refer you for that Strategy Manager position!
✨Tip Number 3: Attend Industry Events and Conferences
Keep an eye on management consulting events, workshops, or panels. These are prime opportunities to network with top professionals and get your name out there. You might even bump into someone from Vanquis who’s on the lookout for their next Strategy Manager star!
✨Tip Number 4: Polish Your Consulting Skills Online
Engage with online platforms that offer consulting simulations or courses. Prove your chops by completing relevant projects — this not only beefs up your experience but also gives you concrete examples to chat about during interviews for that full-time Strategy Manager role at Vanquis!
We think you need these skills to ace Strategy Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Problem-Solving Skills:In management consulting, it's all about problem-solving—so make sure your CV highlights your analytical and critical thinking skills. Include examples from your studies or previous roles where you tackled complex issues or came up with innovative solutions. Quantify your achievements whenever possible to demonstrate your impact!
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to explain why you're a perfect fit for the consulting world. Focus on your motivation for joining the industry and how your skills align with the requirements of the role at Vanquis. Remember to mention any relevant coursework or projects that showcase your understanding of strategic frameworks or business models!
Highlight Team Experience:Consultants often work in teams, so it's vital to showcase your collaborative skills. Include experiences where you've worked effectively with others, whether in academic group projects or internships. Discuss your role in the team and how you helped achieve common goals, demonstrating you can thrive in a consultancy environment.
Professionalise Your Online Presence:Make sure your LinkedIn and any other professional profiles are up to date, reflecting your career aspirations in management consulting. Connect with industry professionals and follow relevant groups—show you’re serious about entering this field. Applying through our website is a great way to get noticed, so showcase your personality and enthusiasm there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Vanquis
✨Master the Case Study Game
In management consulting, case study interviews are all the rage. Make sure to practice structuring your thoughts and analysing data on the fly. Use resources like example case studies to get comfortable with frameworks and solutions. Remember, it’s not just about getting the right answer but showcasing your thought process, so talk us through your reasoning!
✨Know Your Numbers
Be prepared for some numerical and analytical questions. Brush up on your mental math and be ready to interpret data from charts or graphs. We might throw some business scenarios at you that require a quick turnaround on numerical analysis, so practice these skills to feel confident and swift!
✨Show Your Leadership Flair
As this is a full-time role, we want to see your potential as a seasoned consultant. Be ready to discuss experiences where you've led a project or a team. Think about times you've influenced decisions or navigated challenges—this is your chance to show how you can thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
✨Be a Cultural Fit
We’re not just looking for brains; we want to see if you vibe with our company culture at Vanquis. Prepare to share how your values align with ours. Have a think about what makes a great team environment for you and how you can contribute to that. A good cultural fit goes a long way in management consulting!
