UK - AWM - Investments - Director

Alpha Financial Markets Consulting (Alpha FMC) is the leading global consultancy to the asset and wealth management industry. We are a boutique management consulting firm that offers the world’s top asset and wealth managers a competitive edge through our expertise and industry insight. Our team is of a uniquely high calibre and by focusing on asset and wealth management alone we build deep knowledge and experience within our industry. We work with a blue-chip client base, including 80% of the top 50 global asset management firms, and work with over 660 clients across the globe. We have our headquarters located in the United Kingdom and offices in other major European financial centres (Luxembourg, France, Switzerland, Netherlands, Germany) and globally across North America, MENA and Asia-Pacific.

Following a hugely successful AIM listing where Alpha listed with a market cap of £160m in 2017, the company enjoyed further substantial growth before selling to one of the world's leading quoted private asset growth investors (Bridgepoint) for £626m in August 2024. As such, we are now at a critical turning point in our growth. We are looking to grow the company across all levels. Pivotal to our success in this, we will be assembling the next generation of leaders, responsible for growing, elevating our market position further and nurturing the junior talent through the business. At Alpha, we pride ourselves in fostering a meritocratic environment perfect for building a career and meeting great people, as well as a rewarding place to work

The Investments Practice

Within Alpha the Investments Practice works on some of Alpha’s largest and highest profile projects. We work across the front office of an asset manager covering research, fund management, trading, risk, performance and attribution, and work on large scale enterprise transformation projects. Our people are market leading experts across the major technology platforms, including Blackrock Aladdin, Charles River, Simcorp and Bloomberg. Our technology specific projects are growing in both complexity and frequency and as such we are recruiting for a senior role in this area. There is an opportunity to grow this area of the business and to shape an emerging practice area. Please see below an outline of the responsibilities of the role as well as the requirements.

Role Responsibilities

• Managing highly successful client engagements to achieve strong client satisfaction rating – including management of Alpha team and potentially contractors too
• Developing strategies and driving high-quality work products within expected timeframes on budget
• Delivering strategies by bringing together diverse stakeholders to work effectively in partnership
• Analysing the client current state, developing proposals, and assisting and implementing recommendations or solutions to ensure the best use of clients’ resources
• Conducting research, surveys and interviews and discussing organisational problems with clients
• Monitoring progress, managing risks and ensuring key stakeholders are kept informed about progress of project and expected outcomes to ensure client efficiency
• Reviewing current processes, analysing client organisational reports and other documentation, researching new methods and procedures and flagging deviations from standard procedures
• Staying abreast of current business and industry trends relevant to the client's business
• Identifying and executing appropriate client/vendor entertainment opportunities
• Develop and maintain long-term client relationships and networks
• Making a strong contribution towards business development
• Undertaking effective account management including financial management
• Work with clients to quickly understand their current technology estate, then recommend improvements, upgrades or whole new architectures

Role Requirements (Skills, Experience and Qualifications)

• A strong end to end understanding of the asset management value chain.
• Demonstrate an ability to work across asset classes and support clients developing active and passive solutions across a multi-asset portfolio
• Strong understanding of the technology, data and AI solutions that clients can deploy, with the ability to convey solutions in business friendly language
• Ability to lead engagements and teams of 3-10 colleagues
• Excellent delivery trackrecord, embodying Alpha's culture of client-first delivery excellence
• Demonstrable proficiency in relationship development and client account management
• Senior stakeholder management and influencing skills, demonstrated with clients and colleagues
• Ability to show initiative when dealing with clients, form strong relationships with new clients, and maintain existing relationships
• Superb interpersonal skills, with ability to influence and lead
• The ability to proffer good mentorship and coaching skills towards other team members
• An in-depth understanding of market trends, drivers and outlook of the Asset and Wealth Management market
• Strong academic background including a minimum of a 2:1 degree from a leading institution
• First-class communication, presentation and problem-solving skills
• Business language fluency in English
• Willingness to travel