AJ Bell
Reconciliations Team Leader
Get notified of more jobs like this · No spam, ever
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Job Description
Reporting to the Reconciliations Manager
The Reconciliations Team Leader is responsible for leading the day-to-day operation of the Reconciliations function whilst acting as the technical lead for the firm's reconciliation systems and controls. The role supports the reconciliation manager by leading, coaching and supporting the Reconciliations team, ensuring operational objectives, regulatory obligations and customer outcomes are achieved whilst supporting business growth through automation, process improvement and effective risk management.
Key Responsibilities
Operational Delivery & Control Oversight
- Ensure the accurate and timely completion of all reconciliation activities in accordance with regulatory requirements, internal policies and operational procedures, including:
- Client Money reconciliations, including the Internal Client Money Reconciliation (ICMR);
- Safe Custody Asset reconciliations; and
- SIPP Trustee bank account reconciliations.
- Oversee the accurate and timely execution of CASS funding and SIPP rebalancing activities, ensuring all requirements are met within defined control standards.
- Monitor reconciliation exceptions, break trends and funding exposures, ensuring aged items, high-value breaks, potential breaches and emerging risks are appropriately investigated, escalated and resolved.
- Ensure agreed KPIs, SLAs and control standards are achieved across all reconciliation and funding activities.
- Act as the primary escalation point for technical and operational reconciliation matters, providing guidance and support to the wider team.
- Perform reconciliation reviews, checking activities and technical oversight as required to maintain operational resilience and effective control coverage.
People Leadership & Team Management
- Lead, manage and develop team members through effective performance management, coaching, mentoring and development planning.
- Conduct regular one-to-one meetings, performance reviews and development discussions to support employee engagement and capability growth.
- Provide technical leadership and coaching to Administrators and Senior Administrators, ensuring appropriate knowledge sharing and development across the team.
- Manage attendance, annual leave, workload allocation and resource planning to ensure service objectives are achieved.
- Maintain appropriate succession planning, cross-training and contingency arrangements to support operational resilience.
Reconciliation System Ownership & Technical Leadership
- Act as the technical owner and subject matter expert for the firm's reconciliation platform and associated automated controls.
- Design, build, test and implement new reconciliations, automation solutions and control enhancements to support business growth, operational efficiency and regulatory requirements.
- Configure, maintain and optimise reconciliation rules, matching logic and exception management processes to ensure effective control operation.
- Proactively manage reconciliation platform performance, ensuring agreed service, availability and performance standards are maintained.
- Investigate system and reconciliation issues, identify root causes and implement effective corrective and preventative actions.
- Work collaboratively with Technology, Change teams, and third-party suppliers to deliver system enhancements, resolve issues and maximise platform capability.
- Identify and deliver automation and process improvement opportunities that enhance efficiency, strengthen controls and reduce operational risk.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Risk & Control Management
- Maintain effective oversight of reconciliation controls, ensuring control activities are performed, evidenced and operate as designed.
- Support the maintenance of risk and control assessments, ensuring emerging risks, control weaknesses and regulatory impacts are identified, escalated and addressed appropriately.
- Ensure reconciliation-related controls, risks and issues are appropriately documented, reviewed and escalated in line with governance requirements.
General Responsibilities
- Ensure all reconciliation system configuration changes are documented, tested, approved and implemented in accordance with the firm's change management framework.
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date process documentation, system documentation, procedures and operating guides relating to reconciliation activities and systems.
- Analyse management information, operational data and exception trends to identify opportunities for process improvement, control enhancement and efficiency gains.
- Support internal and external audit activity, including the provision of evidence, walkthroughs, issue remediation and management actions.
- Support business change initiatives through requirements gathering, impact assessments, testing and implementation activities.
- Foster a positive, collaborative and high-performing team culture aligned to AJ Bell values and behaviours.
- Build and maintain effective working relationships with key internal stakeholders, Technology teams, external suppliers and auditors.
- Ensure all activities are conducted in accordance with FCA requirements, Consumer Duty obligations, internal policies and regulatory expectations.
- Continuously seek opportunities to improve customer outcomes, operational efficiency and control effectiveness.
- Undertake any other reasonable duties as required by the Reconciliations Manager or wider management team.
Competence, Knowledge and Skills
Leadership & Communication
- 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.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Reconciliation & Regulatory Knowledge
- Detailed understanding of reconciliation methodologies, break management and exception management.
- Understanding of FCA CASS requirements, particularly CASS 6, 7, 8 and 10.
- Understanding of operational risk and control frameworks within a regulated financial services environment.
Technical Skills
- 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 one of the UK's Best 100 Companies to Work For for six consecutive years, and a Great Place to Work® in 2025 and 2026, a reflection of our supportive and collaborative culture.
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.
Business Areas: Operations
Location: Manchester
Department: Reconciliations
Compensation: from GBP 35000 - yearly
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London