PBWM UK Chief Operating Officer

London, United Kingdom

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Date live: 20/11/2025

Business Area: Private Bank Processing

Area of Expertise: Banking Operations

Contract: Permanent

Reference Code: JR-0000073988

Barclays Banking Operations

Put yourself at the heart of the Barclays. A career in banking operations puts you at the very centre of our business strategy. By putting customers at the heart of everything we do, we’re putting our whole business behind our Customer facing teams. As the face of our brand, especially in an increasingly digital world, you'll play a vital role in our customers' financial lives. Here, your voice is heard, and you’ll have the support and opportunities to thrive.

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Role Purpose

As Director, Private Bank Wealth Management UK, you will play a pivotal role in supporting the delivery of the UK PBWM strategy and operational excellence. You will work closely with senior stakeholders to drive business performance, ensure robust and scalable operations, and deliver exceptional client and colleague experiences. You will help shape and execute the vision for PBWM UK (Private Banks clients above £3m investable assets and Wealth Management clients above £1m investible assets, booked in the UK), focusing on growth, efficiency, compliance, and cultural transformation.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership:
Support the PBWM UK & Crown Dependencies COO in managing day-to-day operations and process optimisation across Private Bank & Wealth Management UK platform. Drive the cost budgeting, headcount management across PBWM UK COO
Strategy Execution:
Contribute to the design and delivery of the UK PBWM strategy, supporting business growth and transformation initiatives.
Client Journey Ownership:
Champion a client-focused approach, overseeing key processes such as onboarding, investments, credit, and digital journeys to ensure seamless and innovative experiences.
Change & Transformation:
Drive continuous improvement and efficiency gains, collaborating with cross-functional teams to implement business process enhancements and digital solutions.
Risk & Compliance:
Ensure all activities are conducted in full compliance with local regulations and group policies, embedding risk management and conduct considerations in daily operations.
Stakeholder Engagement:
Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including business heads, support functions, auditors, and regulators.
People Leadership:
Develop and nurture talent within the team, fostering a culture of inclusion, collaboration, and high performance.

Essential Skills

Private Bank COO experience

Proven track record working internally in a financial services institution in the capacity of COO, ideally in the Private Bank space

Large scale bank change experience

Strong change experience/ mindset to be able to drive business growth in a large scale and legacy banking set up
Catalyst for cultural transformation, driving process optimisation, efficiency gains, and embedding a continuous improvement mindset across the organisation

Leadership, stakeholder & Team Management

Ability to manage front office bankers and senior stakeholders with experience and understanding of the business and change agenda. Ability to establish high-performing teams, demonstrating self-motivation, logical thinking, and a collegiate, team-oriented approach

Highly Valued Skills

Strategic & Commercial Acumen and communication

Structured thinker and communicator with appreciation for political sensitivity, able to design and execute strategy, drive business growth, and manage cost budgeting and control.

Risk Management & Regulatory Compliance

Strong ability to manage risk and controls, ensuring compliance with group policies, regulatory requirements, and embedding conduct considerations in daily

Accountabilities

Business ownership of system, processes & procedures on the platform and end to end client journey management, oversight, business continuity & service recovery.
Management, understanding and interpretation of local & group regulatory requirements & standards.
Driving Platform strategy and change agenda, seeking innovative solutions to differentiate, streamline and de-risk the platform to directly contribute to client experience, Banker efficiency and managing / reducing regulatory risk.
Using KPIs and data to monitor and measure of the platform effectiveness and change improvements.
Managing, reporting and representing the platform performance at relevant governance fora.
External (where required) and internal stakeholder management including regulators, senior leaders, client facing colleagues and infrastructure partners.
Provision of guidance, coaching and support to improve colleagues' delivery quality.

Director Expectations

To manage a business function, providing significant input to function wide strategic initiatives. Contribute to and influence policy and procedures for the function and plan, manage and consult on multiple complex and critical strategic projects, which may be business wide..
They manage the direction of a large team or sub-function, leading other people managers and embedding a performance culture aligned to the values of the business. Or for an individual contributor, they lead organisation wide projects and act as deep technical expert and thought leader, identifying new ways of working and collaborating cross functionally. They will train, guide and coach less experienced specialists and provide information affecting long term profits, organisational risks and strategic decisions..
Provide expert advice to senior functional management and committees to influence decisions made outside of own function, offering significant input to function wide strategic initiatives.
Manage, coordinate and enable resourcing, budgeting and policy creation for a significant sub-function.
Escalates breaches of policies / procedure appropriately.
Foster and guide compliance, ensure regulations are observed that relevant processes in place to facilitate adherence.
Focus on the external environment, regulators, or advocacy groups to both monitor and influence on behalf of Barclays, when appropriate.
Demonstrate extensive knowledge of how the function integrates with the business division / Group to achieve the overall business objectives.
Maintain broad and comprehensive knowledge of industry theories and practices within own discipline alongside up-to-date relevant sector / functional knowledge, and insight into external market developments / initiatives.
Use interpretative thinking and advanced analytical skills to solve problems and design solutions in often complex/ sensitive situations.
Exercise management authority to make significant decisions and certain strategic decisions or recommendations within own area.
Negotiate with and influence stakeholders at a senior level both internally and externally.
Act as principal contact point for key clients and counterparts in other functions/ businesses divisions.
Mandated as a spokesperson for the function and business division.

All Senior Leaders are expected to demonstrate a clear set of leadership behaviours to create an environment for colleagues to thrive and deliver to a consistently excellent standard. The four LEAD behaviours are: L – Listen and be authentic, E – Energise and inspire, A – Align across the enterprise, D – Develop others.

All colleagues will be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Values of Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence and Stewardship – our moral compass, helping us do what we believe is right. They will also be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Mindset – to Empower, Challenge and Drive – the operating manual for how we behave.

Barclays welcomes applications from all candidates and is committed to ensuring reasonable adjustments (accommodations) are put in place to allow for a fair and inclusive recruitment process. For more information and how to request one, please review Adjustments to the recruitment process.

We’re a global, vital and highly respected financial organisation with an inspiring Purpose. Operating in 39 countries and employing around 100,000 people across the world, we help communities, individuals and businesses thrive. And we’ve created financial solutions and technology that the world now takes for granted. A career with us can offer incredible variety, depth and breadth of experience, and the chance to learn from some of the best minds in technology and finance.

To find out more about Barclays' strategy please click here.

We are an equal opportunity employer and opposed to discrimination on any grounds. It is the policy of Barclays to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, colour, creed, religion, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or domestic/civil partnership status, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by law.

Barclays is required by law to confirm that you have the Legal Right to Work in any role that you apply for. If you currently hold a work visa sponsored by Barclays, or you would require sponsorship from Barclays, you must declare this as part of your application. Sponsored visas are role and entity specific and any changes must be reviewed. It is important that you ensure you are working on the correct visa at all times. Failure to accurately disclose your visa status or Legal Right to Work may result in your application or any employment offer being withdrawn at any time.

This is Barclays London

Our global HQ is in Canary Wharf, at the heart of London’s financial district. There are over 10,000 colleagues here – a hugely diverse workforce made up of the world’s best financial and tech talent. If you love the buzz of city life, this is the place to be.

Cycle or run to work? We’ve got everything you need – from cycle hire and parking areas to new showering and changing facilities.

CoSpace is our drop-in co-working space, where networks are built, problems are solved collectively and our community is strengthened.

Our Wellness Suite includes a well-equipped gym and exercise studios, and provides personal training sessions and massage therapy.

Our new trading floors enhance communication, integrate sustainability, and support health and wellbeing through innovative design and British-sourced furniture.

This is Barclays London

Supporting active commuters

Cycle or run to work? We’ve got everything you need – from cycle hire and parking areas to new showering and changing facilities.

Time to connect

CoSpace is our drop-in co-working space, where networks are built, problems are solved collectively and our community is strengthened.

Wellbeing in focus

Our Wellness Suite includes a well-equipped gym and exercise studios, and provides personal training sessions and massage therapy.

Advanced trading floors

Our new trading floors enhance communication, integrate sustainability, and support health and wellbeing through innovative design and British-sourced furniture.

Be you. Be valued. Belong.

We celebrate the unique perspectives and experiences each individual brings, believing our differences make us stronger and drive success.

You can learn more about our commitment to our colleague on our Inclusion and Opportunities page.

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Application Process

Your application

We’ll ask for information about you, your CV and cover letter.

Your assessment

Covering your behaviours and ability at work.

Your interview

Exploring your past experiences and skills.

Next step

We’ll request additional information so that you can complete our screening process

How to Apply Read our FAQ's

Working flexibly

We’re committed to providing a supportive and inclusive culture and environment for you to work in. This environment recognises and supports your personal needs, alongside the professional needs of our business. If you'd like to explore flexible working arrangements, please discuss this with the hiring manager. Your request will be reviewed in-line with the requirements of the role/business needs of the team.

Hybrid working

We have a structured approach to hybrid working, where colleagues work at an onsite location on fixed, ‘anchor’, days, as set by the business area. Please discuss the working pattern requirements for the role you are applying for with the hiring manager. Please note that working arrangements may be subject to change on reasonable notice to ensure we meet the needs of our business.

Barclays is built on an international scale.

Our geographic reach, our wide variety of functions, businesses, roles and locations reflect the rich diversity of our worldwide customer base. All of which means we offer incredible variety, depth and breadth of experience.
And the chance to learn from a globally diverse mix of colleagues, including some of the very best minds in banking, finance, technology and business. Throughout, we’ll encourage you to embrace mobility, exploring every part of our operations as you build your career.

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