Description

Executive Director - Asset Management (SMF3)

Location: Canary Wharf

Regulatory Status: FCA Senior Management Function (SMF3 - Executive Director)

Reporting Line: Board of Directors

The Role
This is a senior executive leadership role within a UK-regulated asset management firm. The Executive Director (SMF3) will have overall responsibility for the day-to-day leadership, governance, and regulatory oversight of the firm's UK asset management business .

The role is best suited to a senior asset management professional who has operated at Executive Director / Managing Director level and is comfortable combining commercial leadership, investment governance, risk oversight, and FCA engagement .

This is not a specialist finance, operations, or compliance role . Instead, it is a business-line executive position with accountability for how the asset management activity is run, controlled, and governed.

Key Responsibilities

Executive & Business Leadership

• Provide overall leadership and strategic direction for the firm's UK asset management activities.
• Act as a senior decision-maker for the business, with accountability for performance, governance, and regulatory outcomes.
• Work closely with the Board to deliver the firm's strategic objectives.

Investment & Portfolio Governance

• Oversee the investment governance framework, including:
  • Investment strategies and mandates
  • Risk limits and controls
  • Valuation, performance monitoring, and conflicts management
  • Best execution arrangements
• Ensure robust oversight of portfolio management activity without necessarily acting as a portfolio manager.

Risk & Control Oversight

• Hold senior responsibility for the firm's risk management framework, including:
  • Market and liquidity risk
  • Operational and regulatory risk
• Ensure effective internal controls and appropriate escalation of issues.

Regulatory & FCA Engagement

• Act as a senior regulatory contact for the FCA on matters relating to the firm's asset management activities.
• Ensure compliance with:
  • FCA Handbook requirements
  • SM&CR obligations
  • Conduct Rules and broader regulatory expectations
• Ensure clear allocation and oversight of prescribed responsibilities across senior management.

Financial & Operational Oversight

• Provide executive oversight of financial performance, budgeting, and resource allocation for the asset management business.
• Work with Finance, Operations, and Compliance functions to ensure the firm is appropriately resourced and controlled (without running those functions day-to-day).

Candidate Profile
We are looking for a senior asset management leader with strong governance and regulatory judgement.

Essential experience:

• Significant senior-level experience (typically 7+ years) within a UK-regulated asset management environment .
• Prior FCA approval as an SMF3
• Experience operating at Executive Director / Managing Director / senior leadership level .
• Strong understanding of:
  • UK asset management regulation
  • FCA expectations
  • SM&CR and Conduct Rules
• Proven experience overseeing:
  • Investment governance
  • Portfolio management frameworks
  • Risk and control environments
• Comfortable engaging with Boards, regulators, and senior stakeholders.

Highly desirable:

• Professional qualifications such as CFA, ACA, MBA , or simila