Operations Director Financial Services jobs

Transformation & Strategy

DirectorThe Henderson Group | Belfast, Northern Ireland

Berwick Partners is delighted to be partnering with the Henderson Group on the appointment of a Transformation & Strategy Director.

Henderson is one of Northern Ireland’s largest and most successful privately owned businesses, with operations across wholesale, retail, foodservice, technology and property. Under long-term family ownership, the Group has consistently reinvested in its people, infrastructure, stores and technology, creating a stable and resilient business for continued growth.

Building on an established transformation journey, Henderson is now creating this senior leadership role to develop a cohesive Group strategy, shape future investment priorities and ensure change delivers clear and measurable business value.

A responsible business driven by its ‘Tomorrow Matters’ strategy supporting People, Planet and Place. Deeply rooted in the communities it serves, the Group is proud to make a meaningful difference, supporting more than 15 key charities and contributing in excess of £2.4 million annually.

The Role

Reporting to the CFO, the Transformation & Strategy Director will lead the development and execution of Henderson’s Group strategy while providing executive oversight of its established transformation function.

Working closely with shareholders, Boards and Managing Directors, the successful candidate will shape long-term priorities, strengthen investment decision-making and ensure transformation activity delivers measurable business value.

Key responsibilities include:

• Developing and implementing a multi-year Group strategy
• Leading long-range planning, forecasting and strategic insight
• Building on the established Group PMO to strengthen value-based prioritisation, governance and benefits realisation
• Identifying growth, diversification and acquisition opportunities
• Developing investment propositions and supporting capital allocation decisions
• Overseeing business transformation, organisational change, innovation, data and analytics
• Delivering measurable revenue growth, cost savings and profit improvement.

The Person

This opportunity will suit an accomplished Strategy Director, Transformation Director, Corporate Development Director or Value Creation leader with experience operating across a complex, multi-brand organisation.

You are likely to bring:

• Senior leadership experience across strategy, transformation, value creation or corporate development
• Experience developing and executing strategy within a multi-brand business, matrixed or diversified organisation
• A record of delivering enterprise transformation and measurable commercial benefits
• Exposure to investment appraisal, capital allocation, M&A or post-acquisition integration
• Strong financial literacy and commercial judgement
• The credibility to influence shareholders, Boards and senior business leaders
• A collaborative, engaging and constructively challenging leadership style.

Relevant experience may have been gained within retail, wholesale, FMCG, consumer, foodservice, distribution or another complex Group environment. Candidates from private equity-backed businesses and leading advisory firms will also be considered where they can demonstrate practical delivery experience within an operating business.

The Opportunity

This is a rare opportunity to help shape the future direction of a successful, stable and growing family-owned Group. Henderson has already established strong foundations across transformation, programme governance, automation and business engagement. The role offers significant influence and visibility, with the opportunity to build on these foundations, establish a new Group strategy capability and ensure future investment and transformation deliver measurable commercial value.

• Location: Belfast, Northern Ireland
• Remuneration: Competitive base salary, plus car allowance, performance-related bonus, pension, private healthcare and executive benefits.

For a confidential discussion, contact:

Rob Fain | Principal Consultant | Berwick Partners

M: 07989 410 140

E: rob.fain@berwickpartners.co.uk

Work Location: In person