Investments Director

AJ Bell is seeking an experienced investment leader to assume responsibility for its multi-asset investment franchise. This is a high impact, performance driven appointment at a time of sustained growth and competitive momentum for the business.

The Investments Director is responsible for the overall investment strategy, philosophy and performance of AJ Bell’s multi-asset fund range. This is a senior executive leadership role combining deep investment expertise with strategic oversight, commercial awareness and a visible external presence.

AJ Bell is a leading UK investment platform and asset management business, recognised for sustained growth, disciplined execution and a clear focus on client outcomes. As the firm continues to expand, this appointment will shape the next phase of its multi-asset franchise. The Investments Director sits at the centre of performance delivery, investment credibility and long-term competitiveness.

The successful candidate will determine how capital is allocated across asset classes, lead and develop a high-performing investment team and act as a primary representative of the firm’s investment capability to clients, intermediaries and the wider market.

This is a leadership role defined by accountability for outcomes. The Investments Director will combine analytical depth with practical judgement, forming and defending well-reasoned market views while fostering a culture of disciplined thinking and high performance across the team.

Key Responsibilities:

Asset Allocation and Investment Strategy

• Define and maintain the strategic asset allocation model, ensuring it remains robust, scalable and aligned with the risk-return objectives of each mandate
• Lead the tactical asset allocation process across equities, fixed income, alternatives, real assets and cash
• Oversee the selection, monitoring and review of underlying managers and investment vehicles within the multi-asset structure
• Ensure that the asset allocation process is clearly documented, repeatable and capable of being communicated confidently to clients and regulators
• Anticipate structural shifts in global markets and incorporate those insights into the firm’s evolving investment framework

Development and Governance of the Investment Process

• Design and continuously refine the end-to-end investment process, from research and idea generation through to portfolio construction, risk management and ongoing monitoring
• Lead Investment Committee discussions, fostering constructive challenge and ensuring clear accountability for decisions
• Implement effective escalation and decision-making frameworks to manage investment risk at every stage
• Work closely with the Investment Risk team to embed quantitative and qualitative controls, including stress testing and scenario analysis
• Ensure ongoing compliance with FCA regulations and industry standards

Leadership and Development of the Investment Team

• Provide strategic direction and leadership to senior investment professionals
• Recruit, retain and develop investment talent to support long-term growth
• Set clear performance expectations aligned to fund outcomes and business objectives
• Embed succession planning and knowledge-sharing to ensure depth and resilience within the team

External Profile and Market Engagement

• Act as a spokesperson for the firm’s investment views at client events, industry conferences and media engagements
• Contribute to thought leadership through market commentary and research publications
• Engage with existing and prospective clients to articulate strategy, performance and outlook with clarity and confidence
• Support the continued growth and positioning of the multi-asset franchise in a competitive market

What You’ll Bring:

• A minimum of 15 years’ experience in asset management, including significant senior responsibility within a multi-asset context
• Deep expertise across equity, fixed income, alternatives and real assets
• A demonstrable track record of contributing to or driving investment performance across market cycles
• Experience operating within a regulated UK investment environment
• A relevant professional qualification such as CFA or equivalent

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 644,000 customers using our award-winning platform propositions to manage assets totalling more than £103.3 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 1,500 employees and have been named one of the UK's 'Best 100 Companies to Work For’ for six consecutive years and in 2025 named a Great Place to Work®.

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.

What we offer:

• Competitive salary plus benefits, commensurate with experience
• Starting holiday entitlement of 27, increasing up to 31 days with length of service and a 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 Simply Health
• Discounted private healthcare scheme and dental plan
• Free gym
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Bike loan scheme
• Sick pay+ pledge
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, and shared parental leave
• 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
• Personal development programmes built around you and your career goals, including access to personal skills workshops
• 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 2-3 days per week in the office. For new team members, the first 3 months will be spent 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.