Business Manager - LSL Financial Services

LSL’s growing Financial Services business is one of the largest providers of services to mortgage intermediaries, specialist mortgage and protection advice to estate agency and new build customers and valuation services to the UK’s biggest mortgage lenders. Our brands include PRIMIS Mortgage Network, e.surv, Embrace Financial Services, MortgageGym, First2Protect, Linear Financial Solutions, TMA, Mortgages First & RSC New Homes.

We are keen to recruit a Business Manager into the direct distribution division. The Business Manager will play an intrinsic part in the delivery of the FS direct distribution strategy.

The Business Manager will work as part of the Senior Management Team of the LSL FS direct distribution businesses, linking up across the Financial Services Division and into the wider LSL Group. The Business Manager will lead on a diverse portfolio of projects and priorities, generally with the following characteristics:

• 
  Span multiple direct distribution businesses
• Interface with wider LSL Group (e.g. Strategy, Estate Agency, other FS businesses)
• Require a more ‘step-back’ mindset (i.e. supporting Managing Directors that are typically more focussed on business’ day-to-day delivery)

• 
  Support the Managing Director – Direct Distribution in the delivery of the business strategy; seek to identify further opportunities to continually develop this strategy
• Support the Managing Director for Embrace Financial Services (EFS) and the Manager Director for First2Protect (F2P) in delivery of their strategic responsibilities
• Oversee programme actions ensuring activity stays on track, flagging risks and identifying solutions. Take personal responsibility for delivery of a range of key activities whilst retaining wider oversight of the delivery of actions by the business
• Identify needs for support and development within the management teams and work with the Managing Director – Direct Distribution to ensure the correct infrastructure is in place to deliver for the needs of the businesses
• Support and challenge the business leadership teams to help development and provide wider perspective on opportunities beyond the standard approach
• Retain a focus on risk management for the business, raising relevant matters, identifying and developing risk management processes to ensure the businesses continue to deliver safely and within an accepted control framework whilst still challenging the ‘norm’. Manage the Direct Distribution Risk Register and associated processes
• Work with specialists and managers across the Group businesses to deliver key activities such as contract tenders renegotiations, product launches etc.
• Work as conduit between the direct distribution businesses and their partner businesses across the LSL Group covering wider FS, Estate Agency and linking with the Surveying Division
• Review and input to the operational models of the EFS & F2P businesses to continue to improve the customer journey and maximise opportunities from all customer interactions. Coordinate with the various matrix functions supporting the business including IT and marketing to build on efficiencies and increase productivity
• Work with the management and marketing teams, and Group HR to develop and deliver an internal and external communication strategy to engage employees and attract customers
• Represent the MD of Direct Distribution in selected forums / meetings

• 
  Understanding of the Financial Services markets and regulated distribution (ideally Mortgages, Protection, GI)
• Project and / or programme management experience
• Understanding of risk in a business context

• Ability to balance several objectives and tasks and prioritising key activities
• Ability to review risk with a balanced and proactive standpoint to accurately measure the risk and determine a suitable plan for resolution or management
• Strategic approach
• Innovative approach, ability to ‘think outside the box’
• Desirable but not essential - candidates possessing a digital mindset / experience to support the business around technology would also be beneficial in further leveraging the potential of LSL’s MortgageGym technology