Risk & Governance Project Manager (Fixed Term Contract)

AJ Bell is seeking an experienced Risk & Governance Project Manager to lead the selection and implementation of a transformative Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) system, supporting our enterprise risk management, internal audit, and control monitoring functions.

This is an 18-month fixed-term role, with the potential to transition into a permanent position. For added flexibility, we may also consider a pro-rated 4-day work week.

We are looking for someone with prior experience in risk management or related fields (such as quality assurance, compliance, or audit), who is highly organised, communicates effectively, and has a proven track record in project management.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the planning, execution, and implementation of a new GRC system across Risk, Finance, Internal Control, and Internal Audit functions.
• Engage key stakeholders to define and consolidate user requirements across assurance functions.
• Develop a comprehensive project plan covering all stages: selection, design, development, testing, and deployment.
• Prepare a business case for management review, detailing the project’s vision, benefits, strategic alignment, and cost/time estimates.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with project stakeholders and external suppliers.
• Manage project timelines, resources, and budgets to ensure on-time, within-scope delivery.
• Provide regular status updates to sponsors and executive management, addressing project risks, issues, and dependencies.
• Support the Head of Risk in optimising system efficiencies and advancing the enterprise risk framework.

What you'll have:

• Preferred experience in risk management or a related field such as quality assurance, audit, or compliance monitoring.
• Proven project management skills, demonstrated through successful third-party vendor selection or delivery of significant internal system or framework enhancements.
• Strong analytical skills with meticulous attention to detail, coupled with a proactive approach to challenge norms and drive impact in a dynamic, fast-paced team.
• Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate effectively and persuasively across all stakeholder levels.

About us

AJ Bell is one of the fastest-growing investment platform businesses in the UK offering an award-winning range of solutions that caters for everyone, from professional financial advisers, to DIY investors with little to no experience. We have over 542,000 customers using our award-winning platform propositions to manage assets totalling more than £86.5 billion. Our customers trust us with their investments, and by continuously striving to make investing easier, we aim to help even more people take control of their financial futures.

Having listed on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange in December 2018, AJ Bell is now a FTSE 250 company.

Headquartered in Manchester with offices in central London and Bristol, we now have over 1,450 employees and have been named one of the UK's 'Best 100 Companies to Work For’ for six consecutive years.

At AJ Bell you can expect a friendly working environment with a strong sense of teamwork, we have a great sense of pride in what we do, and this is reflected in our guiding principles.

Our perks and benefits

• Starting salary of c£55k (DOE)
• Starting holiday entitlement of 27 days, increasing up to 31 days with length of service
• Holiday buy and sell scheme
• A choice of pension schemes with matched contributions up to 8%
• Discretionary bonus scheme
• Annual free share awards scheme
• Buy As You Earn (BAYE) Scheme
• Health Cash Plan – provided by SimplyHealth
• Discounted private healthcare scheme and dental plan
• Free gym membership, with an on-site gym providing a wide range of free classes
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Bike loan scheme
• Sick pay+ pledge
• Discounted nursery fees at Kids Planet on Exchange Quay
• Loans for travel season tickets
• Death in service scheme
• Paid time off for volunteer work
• Charitable giving opportunities through salary sacrifice
• Calendar of social events, including monthly payday drinks, annual Christmas party, summer party and much more
• Parking at Exchange Quay
• Personal development programmes built around you and your career goals, including access to personal skills workshops
• Ongoing technical training
• Professional qualification support
• Talent management programmes
• Peer recognition scheme, with rewards including restaurant and shopping vouchers or time off
• Monthly leadership breakfasts and lunches
• Casual dress code
• Access to a range of benefits from our sponsorship deals

Hybrid working

At AJ Bell, our people are the heart of our culture. We believe in building strong connections by working together. That's why we offer a hybrid working model, where you’ll spend a minimum of 50% of your working time per month in the office. For new team members, an initial period will be full-time in the office to help you immerse yourself in our business and build valuable relationships with your colleagues.

AJ Bell is committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and all employees are empowered to bring their whole self to work.

We do not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, pregnancy, religion, physical and mental disability, marital status and any other characteristics protected by the Equality Act 2010. All decisions to hire are based on qualifications, merit and business need.

If you like the sound of the above, or just want to know more about the company and the role, we'd love to speak to you.