Head of Integration and Diligence

Following recent investment from Bain Capital and aligned with our strategic goals around succession and renewal in the network, we’re building a team to oversee and manage our strategic investments into the franchisees within The Openwork Partnership.

As the Head of Integration & Diligence, you will lead the assessment and integration of acquired firms into the Openwork Partnership. You’ll ensure risks are identified early, transitions are managed, and that business continuity is maintained. Reporting to the Strategic Investments Director, you will play a key role in delivering strategically aligned integrations that support adviser lifecycle goals and drive value creation.

This is a permanent hybrid role, and can be based in either our Swindon or London office, with the requirement to be in the office 2 days a week.

The benefits:

• Salary – up to £105,000
• Car allowance – £5,486
• Bonus scheme - on target bonus – 17.5%
• 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. 
• A range of other flexible benefits to include private medical insurance, dental insurance and much more.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading and coordinating all aspects of diligence for potential acquisitions.
• Assessing operational health, financial stability, compliance standards, and cultural fit of target firms and evaluate the quality and segmentation, of client books and adviser relationships.
• Identifying and report on risks or complexities that may impact integration or client outcomes.
• Working closely with compliance, legal, finance, and commercial teams to deliver thorough diligence reports and executive recommendations.
• Post-Acquisition – Integration and Transition.
• Owning the full integration lifecycle for acquired firms or client books, ensuring a seamless and timely transition that supports the wider adviser lifecycle strategic ambitions
• Ensuring regulatory obligations and best practices (e.g., TCF, FCA principles) are upheld throughout the transition.
• Collaborating with internal teams (Operations, Compliance, Technology, Client Services) to align systems, processes, and data flows.
• Tracking, reporting, and managing integration performance metrics and post-deal success criteria.
• Serving as the primary point of contact between acquired firms and the central support functions during the transition.
• Influencing and guide stakeholders across the business to ensure alignment and accountability across workstreams.
• Providing leadership and oversight to an integration team as the acquisition programme grows.

• Comprehensive background in the intermediated / retail financial services industry and significant experience of working on project management, acquisitions, diligence and integration.
• Relevant post graduate professional qualification (e.g. ACA, CFA) or project management qualifications beneficial.
• Proven ability to communicate effectively at all levels in the organisation.
• Deep understanding of the UK financial advice market, including regulatory frameworks (FCA), client servicing models, and adviser business structures.
• Detailed understanding of business commercials, identification of risks and commercial mitigations.
• Company systems and procedures, i.e. contracts, regulatory regime.
• Ability to understand the complex interdependencies between internal functions and operational considerations.
• Exceptional project and stakeholder management skills; able to lead multiple complex integrations simultaneously.
• Excellent interpersonal, presentation and communication skills, written and verbal.
• Committed and flexible team player with the ability to work on own initiative.
• High level of emotional intelligence and communication skills to manage adviser and client transitions sensitively and effectively.
• Ability to confront difficult issues and take ownership for resolution, without the need for approval.
• Competent at prioritising, resourcing, planning and performance management.
• Able to take responsibility, act decisively and be accountable.
• A reputation for diplomacy and discretion. 

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.