Cobalt Recruitment
Associate Director Clinical Operations

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About the job
Position: Associate Director, Client Operations
Location: Central London
Type: Permanent Full Time
Working arrangement: Hybrid, with up to two days of remote working per week
Summary
Cobalt are pleased to be partnering with a leading European fund administration specialist seeking to appoint an Associate Director within its Client Operations function.
Based in Central London, this is a senior, client-facing leadership opportunity with responsibility for service delivery across a portfolio of private equity and real estate structures. The organisation offers hybrid working, with employees able to work remotely for up to two days per week.
The successful candidate will take ownership of key client relationships and deliverables, oversee operational workflows and act as a principal point of contact and escalation.
This position combines technical corporate governance responsibilities with team leadership, stakeholder management and operational improvement. It would suit an experienced corporate services professional who enjoys developing client relationships, leading teams and improving service delivery.
The role
- Take ownership of day-to-day service delivery across a portfolio of private markets clients
- Act as the principal point of contact for clients and a senior escalation point for complex matters
- Oversee corporate governance, company secretarial and entity administration workflows
- Manage client deliverables, priorities and deadlines across the portfolio
- Lead, support and develop a team of corporate services professionals
- Set clear objectives and ensure team members understand their responsibilities
- Review work and maintain high standards of accuracy, consistency and client service
- Build strong professional relationships with clients, advisers and other key stakeholders
- Coordinate effectively with colleagues and service providers across multiple jurisdictions
- Identify opportunities to improve operational processes and client outcomes
- Lead service development, process improvement and business transformation initiatives
- Support the successful implementation of new systems, processes and working practices
- Apply commercial insight to strengthen client relationships and improve service delivery
- Manage sensitive matters and potential conflicts with confidence, professionalism and discretion
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I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
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Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
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Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
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About you
- Established experience in corporate services, fund administration or a comparable professional services environment
- Strong technical knowledge of UK corporate legislation, governance and regulatory requirements
- Experience supporting private equity, real estate or other private markets structures
- Relevant professional qualification such as CGI, ICSA or an equivalent credential
- Demonstrable experience leading, motivating and developing effective teams
- Strong client relationship and stakeholder management skills
- Ability to oversee complex operational workflows and manage competing priorities
- Commercially aware and capable of identifying practical service improvements
- Experience leading operational change and process development initiatives
- Clear and effective written and verbal communication skills
- Able to manage challenging situations calmly, confidently and discreetly
- Collaborative, accountable and committed to delivering consistently high standards
- Strong awareness of confidentiality, information security and data protection obligations


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Contact
This role is being managed by Matthew Cochrane at Cobalt Recruitment.
For more information or a confidential discussion, please contact Matthew directly at:
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