Area Director - Central

About the Business

Quilter Cheviot has been the wealth manager of choice for individuals and families for over 250 years, and today is one of the UK's largest wealth management firms offering expert discretionary investment management and financial advice. We offer a highly personalised wealth management offering to private clients, charities, trustees, and professional partners with straightforward or more complex financial needs. We have presence throughout the UK, Ireland, Dubai and Channel Islands.
Quilter plc is a leading wealth management business, which oversees £119.6 billion in customer investments (as at 31 March 2025). It has an adviser and customer offering spanning financial advice, investment platforms, multi-asset investment solutions and discretionary fund management.

If you want to play a part in shaping the future of our business, bringing new ideas and challenge then now is a great time to join us.

About the Role

Level 5

Department: QC Advice

Location: Chester, Birmingham, Liverpool or Leicester

Contract: Permanent

The Area Director is responsible for driving regional business growth, leading adviser performance, and expanding market presence within the financial planning sector. This senior role combines strategic sales leadership, relationship management, and commercial oversight to ensure sustainable and compliant growth. The Area Director will work closely with advisers, introducers, and internal stakeholders to strengthen the firm's position and deliver excellent customer outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

Business Development & Growth

• Develop and execute a regional growth strategy aligned with national business objectives.
• Personal interventions support business growth alongside stakeholders.
• Identify and exploit new business opportunities across target client segments, introducer networks, and partnership channels.
• Build and manage a robust sales pipeline, maintaining strong activity and conversion levels across the region.
• Monitor market trends, competitor activity, and regulatory developments to inform regional strategy.
• Deliver growth targets through disciplined planning, structured activity, and ongoing performance analysis.

Sales Leadership & People Management

• Lead, coach, and motivate a team of financial planners and business development professionals to achieve high performance.
• Set clear KPIs, conduct regular performance reviews, and provide structured coaching to enhance productivity and client outcomes.
• Recruit, develop, and retain high-calibre talent to support regional expansion.
• Foster a collaborative, accountable, and commercially focused culture within the team.
• Support advisers in strengthening their client propositions, improving conversion rates, and enhancing client journeys.

Relationship Management & Stakeholder Engagement

• Build and maintain strong relationships with key introducers (accountants, solicitors, professional networks).
• Represent the business at industry events, networking opportunities, and regional meetings.
• Work effectively with internal stakeholders across compliance, operations, marketing, and investment teams to support growth plans.
• Communicate the firm's value proposition clearly and confidently to prospective clients and partners.

Operational & Commercial Accountability

• Ensure accurate forecasting, reporting, and oversight of regional performance metrics.
• Use CRM insights and sales data to drive decision-making and prioritisation.
• Oversee operational efficiency within the region, embedding scalable processes to support growth.
• Maintain a strong understanding of profitability drivers, adviser charging structures, and commercial performance.
• Ensure all activities are delivered in line with FCA regulations, internal policies, and Consumer Duty expectations.

This role is an FCA Certified role (Manager of Certification Employee role)

The role holder must:

• Have professional qualifications relevant to the Financial Planner role, in line with FCA requirements

• Ensure a thorough understanding of the QCA / FCA Consumer Duty philosophy and how this relates to our service proposition to ensure the required customer outcomes
• Continually review evidence that customers are being treated fairly in line with Consumer Duty & highlight any cases where this is not the case.
• Keep technical and regulatory knowledge up to date through the training provided by internal and external means
• Have a full understanding of internal compliance & T&C requirements to ensure QCA always operates within the required compliance guidelines & parameters
• Ensure Conduct Risk frameworks and requirements are fully embedded into the business area plans, policies, processes, procedures and practices
• Ensure colleagues understand the implications of Conduct Risk for their roles and these are reflected in performance objectives and associated training
• Ensure appropriate monitoring, reporting, disclosures and remedial actions are completed to fulfil the organisation's expectations regarding conduct risk outcomes (as defined by the FCA)
• Support and champion the promotion, training and embedding the organisations commitment to QC Values.

About You

Knowledge & Experience

• Proven experience of delivering business development growth in the financial planning or wealth management sector.
• Experience of managing and leading advisers or sales professionals.
• Deep understanding of the UK financial planning market, including pensions, investments, protection, and tax-efficient solutions.
• Understanding of the advice process end to end-fact finding, risk assessment, cashflow planning, suitability reporting-and experience of support advisers in enhancing client service quality.
• Keep up to date with regulatory and legislative changes affecting financial planning and client outcomes.
• Strong understanding of FCA regulatory requirements, including Consumer Duty.

Key Skills & Attributes

• Strong leadership and people management
• Sales management and client advice expertise
• Coaching, influencing, and negotiation skills
• Excellent relationship building skills across all seniority levels
• Problem-solving ability
• Market and industry awareness
• Ability to lead in a matrix environment
• Proficient with CRM systems and confident using data to drive performance.
• Strategic thinker with strong commercial acumen and analytical capability.
• Exceptional communication, presentation, and networking skills.
• High levels of professionalism, integrity and client-first thinking.

#LI-VS1 #QC

Inclusion & Diversity

We value diversity and strive to promote inclusivity in all aspects of our culture. We believe in equal opportunities for all, ensuring that no applicant encounters less favourable treatment based on anything but their skills, qualifications, experience, and potential. We celebrate the unique contributions of a diverse workforce and create a respectful, nurturing environment where every colleague can thrive.

Values

Do the right thing: We act with integrity and are proudly committed to going above and beyond in service of our clients and the support we provide our communities.
Always curious: We continuously seek new ideas and knowledge so we're one step ahead of our clients' needs. We look for inspiration everywhere and encourage experimentation, recognising that this is how we create brilliant solutions for brighter futures.
Embrace challenge: We aim high to transform our potential into meaningful outcomes. With ambition as our driving force and a steadfast commitment to growth, we succeed for the good of every generation.
Stronger together: Combining our diverse talents, we accomplish more collectively than we ever could do alone. We speak openly, actively listen, and support each other, and constructively challenge and embrace new ideas. We seek empowerment and demonstrate ownership and trust, with the confidence to make impactful decisions.

Core Benefits

Holiday: 182 hours (26 days)

Quilter Incentive Scheme: All employees are eligible to participate in incentive scheme, to incentivise business performance and their contribution.

Pension Scheme: A non-contributory company pension scheme that can be boosted through personal contributions.

Private Medical Insurance: Single cover as standard with options to increase cover to include your partner or children.

Life Assurance: 4x your salary.

Income Protection: 75% of salary, less state benefits, payable after 26 weeks of absence.

Healthcare Cash Plan: Jersey employees only

In addition to our core benefits, we offer a range of flexible benefits to UK employees that you can choose from and pay for conveniently via a salary deduction.