Managing Director - Financial Services - Insurance Services

Leadership

• Ensure the external face of the Company is well represented to all stakeholders at a senior level internally & externally.
• Accountable to the Board but also advise and engage Board Members.
• Work closely with the Group Commercial Director and heads of other subsidiaries and departments to ensure effective decision making and benefit the whole organisation.
• Lead, motivate and develop teams, continually improving the organisation’s capabilities and resilience.
• Ensure that the culture of Unity is fully aligned with the wider Association.
• Seek and maintain effective links and relationships at senior levels with insurers, clients, and partners, key decision makers to exchange information and to ensure the company is providing the required quality of services.
• Ensure the Company is fully FCA compliant and meet all personal and business obligations to the regulator as a CF1 Approved Person for the Company.
• Be the internal advocate for the company at all times, voicing its needs on group wide policies that affect the company’s business and staff.
• At all times oversee the wider reputational and financial management of the Company and manage its risks effectively to safeguard the company and The Scout Association.

Strategy and Operation

• Agree the overall direction of the business with the Board, develop the strategic and financial plans and budgets - monthly, quarterly and annually and monitor progress against these, take appropriate actions wherever necessary and in the most effective and cost efficient way to ensure the company delivers on these
• Champion new business and sales activities and strategies to accelerate growth
• In particular champion the strategy and sales from new areas such as the wider charities market as well as development of new products and services for existing markets and open doors by networking at a senior level, leveraging existing connections and developing new contacts to assist the sales team
• Provide guidance and input into large bids and tenders as required; as the senior face of the company participate at key client ‘pitches’ and events to support the team
• Ensure the company develops and maintains an effective marketing plan and strategy and ensure the Company is ‘punching above its weight’
• Lead and drive key negotiations with insurers, partners, suppliers, and others to negotiate the most beneficial terms for the company and oversee the development and maintenance of good governance, systems and procedures to withstand any regulatory audits; maintain good relations with the FCA.
• Oversee the medium and long term resourcing needs to deliver the strategy, ensure the recruitment and retention of well-motivated, trained and developed staff and develop a culture where Unity staff feel that they are part of The Scout Association and understand how the work of Unity enables the association to deliver its work 11
• Seek continual improvements across all areas of the business to drive up standards and on-going development of the company and ensure the company complies with health and safety.

Skills and abilities

• Excellent organisation & planning skills, operating strategically with an ability to be hands on.
• Excellent written and verbal communications, able to articulate, persuade and negotiate.
• Excellent presentation and selling skills able to pitch confidently at a strategic level.
• Excellent analytical & problem-solving skills, use of metrics to understand key business drivers.
• Excellent level of Financial awareness.
• Good level of IT skills and digital awareness.

Knowledge, experience and qualifications

• A broker background ideal but not essential within charity insurance, with proven senior sales management experience.
• Proven experience of leading, motivating, developing and managing a multi-disciplinary teams including marketing and operational management.
• Previous experience with professional processes in large organisations and an ability to transfer them to a growing SME business.
• Experience of Profit & Loss Management and fulfilling financial responsibility.
• Previous experience working at board level.
• Knowledge and experience of FCA regulations and requirements of an Approved Person, in addition to being technically credible with good all round knowledge and understanding of the commercial insurance market.
• Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of insurance systems, processes, financial management and wider management principles and techniques.
• Previous exposure/knowledge of dealing with company regulatory and statutory audit functions.
• ACII qualified, educated to degree level in Business Administration or relevant industry experience.

Personal qualities

• Excellent networker, with a broad range of connections in the field of insurance.
• Willing to undertake routine business travel as and when required both nationally and internally.
• Share our Scout values and commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.

Closing date: Monday 6th February 2023 at 5pm.