Head of Strategic Accounts, Lender

Life can sometimes be unpredictable, and it pays to plan ahead. Our aim at Legal & General Retail is to help our customers plan for the unexpected, achieve financial security for their tomorrow, and protect everything that’s important to them. To better understand our customers and meet their needs, we’ve brought our protection, retirement income, savings, lending and advice, fintech and mortgage businesses under one umbrella. Created at the start of 2022 through the merging of our long-standing and trusted retail retirement and insurance businesses, we’re a fast-growing division with big, customer-centered ambitions. 

Develop and drive Lender and third party strategy required to achieve the growth and adoption objectives across LGMS. As part of the LGMS distribution team Identify, engage and unlock target distribution opportunities whilst continuing to manage, drive and retain existing relationships. Leadership of the sales team including performance management and development oversight within distribution to fulfill these strategic goals is also required.  To engage with key internal stakeholders, including counterparts across L&G Group, and to develop an effective internal network that allows the development of commercial opportunities and proposition ideas.

What you will be doing:

• Lead pitch development, engagement, and delivery across all elements of the sales lifecycle ensuring that during any formal tender or partner selection process, LGMS is aligned with the key requirements of the lender or 3rd party and therefore to be selected as the partner of choice  with the aim of winning of new and the retention of Partnerships leading to the achievement of commercial goals and adoption of technology goals .
• Develop, influence and onboard the self-generated pipeline of prospects from initial engagement through to launch and the lifetime of the relationship, working with colleagues across LGMS distribution channels for insight, client knowledge
• Responsible for the sales and distribution strategy of a portfolio of lenders and 3rd parties, successfully manage and lead the team in relation to these relationships ensuring that all commercially viable business via existing and new partners are retained and developed. Business plans, heatmaps, SLA’s and all contractual agreements are in place and result in LGMS objectives being achieved
• Develop robust prospect and client relationships, ensuring key stakeholders across the parties are aligned and engaged at all levels regularly and to work with the prospects to assist them to develop their strategic distribution plans to ensure that commercial and adoption objectives of LGMS are achieved,
• Drive proposition development to tailor propositions to win new LGMS partners to work with lenders and third parties to understand their business challenges, creating innovative solutions through detailed questioning, and leveraging of internal and external networks.
•  Lead internal governance approvals where required and to be accountable for the  risk management and governance of a portfolio of lenders and 3rd party.  Ensure that the performance levels for each firm, managed through MLPC and other risk committees is acceptable and ensure that suitable action is taken in respect of any issues identified to ensure that the interests of LGMS and its customers are protected.
• To take the lead in all matters with regard to the management of employees, ensuring that management discretion is used in a consistent manner and that the area follows the Group’s policies and procedures including the Partnership Agreement to maximise business performance.
•  Seek feedback from customers that aims to identify area’s for improvement within product design, literature administration, sales processes and provide information to relevant areas where appropriate.

• High level Customer and Account Management experience in a highly competitive environment, developing proposition initiatives, maximising existing business opportunities, commercial and people management.
• Knowledge of business strategy, customer communication and business planning including the development of strategic plans.
• Specific working knowledge of the UK mortgage lending market ideally with some S&V, estate agency and or housing market experience.
• Engagement, influencing, and presentation skills – in person, online via Teams/Zoom and in all written materials
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• Able to agree and implement courses of action to accomplish agreed sales targets
• Self-motivated and able to demonstrate positivity, perseverance and resilience
• Numerate.  Able to interpret MI/financial data effectively to create robust business cases
• Reaches data-based conclusions based on accurate information in order to quickly qualify opportunities and develop them
• Developing, negotiating and closing contracts
• Able to communicate the LGMS Strategy
• The role requires developing B2B2C propositions, via distribution partners
• This role requires an extensive network of external contacts and ideally, a detailed understanding of the UK Retail Mortgage market
• Previous experience of leading and winning new deals is an essential requirement
•  Provide leadership to manage the long-term development, behaviours and performance of the team.

Benefits:

When you commit to Legal & General, we’ll commit to you too. That means we’ll recognise and reward your hard work, your performance and your contribution.

If you join us, you’ll get access to some great benefits, including private medical insurance, 30 days holiday (excluding bank holidays), a generous pension scheme, life assurance, and Income Protection. You'll receive a car allowance of 12% of your annual salary, and you can participate in our electric car scheme, which offers employees the option to hire a brand new electric car through tax efficient salary sacrifice. We’re also proud to offer competitive family leave. 

You’ll have the opportunity to participate in our annual, performance-related bonus plan and valuable share schemes. And then there are the many discounts we offer that you can take advantage of – both for our own products and at a range of high street stores and online offerings. 

The brand with the brolly is choosing today to change tomorrow.

Since 1836, we’ve grown to become one of the world's largest asset managers, homebuilders, pension providers and insurance brands. 

We’re all here to improve the lives of our customers, build a better society for the long term, and create value for our shareholders - helping to shape a better future for society and the planet.

We need people who share our ambitions, agility and entrepreneurial spirit to help us do it.

At L&G, you’ll find a balance that helps you be your best. Empowered by hybrid working, we’re supported by technology and workplaces that enable us to work effectively wherever we are. We come together in offices to collaborate and connect, and use time at home for individual, focused activities. And, when we achieve great things, we celebrate our success and reward strong performance.

Today, there’s over 10,000 of us, working towards our mission, with plenty of opportunities to grow your career as we grow L&G. Will you join us?

Great minds don’t have to think alike, so we welcome voices from all backgrounds. Bringing together people with different life experiences helps us build empathy with our customers and drive innovation.

We don’t just talk about it, we actively promote diversity and equitable opportunities for all. That means our employment decisions are made without regard to race, colour, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability or protected veteran status. In fact, we embrace every dimension of diversity to reflect the customers and communities we serve.

We think it’s important to create an inclusive environment where we can all belong, contribute and drive progress, where you can develop and grow, and be empowered. We want you to use your voice to help us build a better tomorrow.

We all work differently, and have different needs, which is why. we’re always open to discussing flexible working arrangements. Likewise, we’re committed to finding reasonable accommodations for candidates with specific needs during our recruiting process.

So whoever you are, wherever you are, whatever your story, we'd love to hear from you.