Reconciliations Team Leader

At AJ Bell, we believe investing should feel good. For our customers, that means being able to trust that their money and investments are being looked after carefully and accurately.

Behind that confidence is a strong set of operational controls, and our Reconciliations team plays an important part in making them work. As Reconciliations Team Leader, you'll lead the day-to-day operation of the team while acting as the technical lead for our reconciliation systems and controls.

You'll bring together people leadership, technical expertise and operational oversight to make sure reconciliations are completed accurately and on time, risks are identified and addressed, and our regulatory obligations are met. You'll also help us continually improve the way we work, using data, automation and process improvement to support our growing business.

Reporting to the Reconciliations Manager, you'll lead, coach and support the team while working closely with colleagues across the business. It's a role where attention to detail matters, but so does the ability to see the bigger picture, understand risk and make confident decisions.

What you'll do

• Ensure the accurate and timely completion of reconciliations in accordance with internal policy, regulatory requirements, and operational procedures.
• Oversee the accurate and timely execution of CASS funding and SIPP rebalancing activities.
• Manage the performance, training, and development of team members using AJ Bell’s performance management processes, including 1:1s, performance reviews, and disciplinary procedures where required.
• Act as first line support for Senior Administrators and Administrators within the team for queries relating to reconciliations and funding, and escalate business risks in line with the Escalation Policy.
• Manage attendance, annual leave, resource planning, and support with succession and contingency planning.
• Monitor reconciliation exceptions, break trends, management information, and funding exposures, ensuring aged items, high-value breaks, potential breaches and emerging risks are appropriately investigated, escalated and resolved.
• Work with other internal stakeholders to drive forward improvements and changes required to support business growth.
• Monitor and analyse trends to identify opportunities for enhancement, including reducing the risk of intraday shortfalls or breaches.
• Act as the technical owner and proactively manage the performance of the reconciliations system, ensuring that the performance acceptance criteria is adhered to.
• Ensure all reconciliation system-related controls are documented, regularly reviewed, and remain effective, with updates made to the relevant risk and control assessments where appropriate.
• Assist with audit where reconciliations testing, and reviews are required.
• Assisting the Reconciliations Manager and Reconciliations team in any other areas as required.
• Achieve departmental objectives in line with agreed SLAs.
• Manages and distributes the workload of the team to ensure targets agreed with the Reconciliation Manager are met.
• Review all departmental processes to ensure they are clearly defined and fully documented to agreed standards.
• Support project implementations and upgrades through testing.
• Ensure all activities are conducted in line with FCA regulations, Consumer Duty requirements, and internal policies, delivering good outcomes for customers.

What you'll bring

You'll have experience leading an operational team and a strong understanding of reconciliations, funding and financial services controls. You'll be comfortable making decisions, investigating issues and supporting colleagues while keeping customer outcomes and regulatory requirements in focus.

Experience leading, coaching and developing operational teams.

Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.

Ability to prioritise workloads and manage competing deadlines.

Strong decision-making and problem-solving skills.

Effective planning, organisation and time management.

Detailed understanding of reconciliation methodologies, break management and exception management.

Understanding of FCA CASS requirements, particularly CASS 6, 7, 8 and 10.

Ability to perform root cause analysis on reconciliation issues and control failures.

Experience producing and interpreting MI and trend analysis.

CISI Investment Operations Certificate (IOC), including CASS module, desirable.

Other relevant financial services qualifications including CII qualifications considered advantageous.

About AJ Bell

At AJ Bell, we believe investing should feel good. Whether you're looking for an ISA, pension or dealing account, whether you want to invest with the help of a financial adviser or do it yourself, we have easy-to-use solutions to suit people from all walks of life.

We're one of the UK's fastest-growing investment platform businesses, trusted by everyone from professional financial advisers to first-time investors.

Today, over 762,000 customers trust us to manage more than £121.5 billion of assets. By continually striving to make investing simpler and more accessible, we're helping more people take control of their financial futures.

We're proud to be recognised as a Great Place to Work® for the past two years, building on six consecutive years as one of the UK's Best 100 Companies to Work For. It's recognition we're proud of and a reflection of the supportive and collaborative culture we strive to create for our people.

What we offer

• Starting salary £35,000
• 26 days holiday, increasing with service + buy/sell scheme + bank holidays
• 7% Pension with matched contributions
• Discretionary bonus scheme
• Share schemes (including free shares and BAYE)
• Health Cash Plan and discounted private healthcare
• Free onsite gym
• Enhanced family leave (subject to qualifying criteria)
• Travel and bike loan schemes

Employee Assistance Programme

Life at AJ Bell

• Regular social events including summer and Christmas parties
• Learning and development opportunities tailored to you
• Casual dress code
• Friendly, supportive team environment

Our ways of working

• We offer hybrid working, with a minimum of 50% of your working time per month spent in the office.
• For new starters, there’s an initial period of full-time office working to help you settle in and build relationships.
• Inclusion & diversity
• We’re committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels respected and able to be themselves at work.
• We welcome applications from all backgrounds and make hiring decisions based on skills, experience and potential.