Project and Change Manager

About Alpha FMC

Alpha Financial Markets Consulting is a leading global consultancy to the financial services industry. Founded in 2003, we have worked for over 20 years to bring together specialist, sector-focused strategy, management consulting and technology expertise to support the entire client transformation lifecycle. Having partnered with more than 1,200 clients worldwide across the asset and wealth management, alternatives and insurance industries, Alpha is truly a trusted advisor for complex change programmes. We now have over 1,180 consultants working with clients across North America, the UK, Europe, Middle East and APAC. In 2024, in recognition of our successful track record and strong growth prospects, Alpha was acquired by Bridgepoint, one of the world’s leading quoted private asset growth investors. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. We are delighted that many of our team have built long and fulfilling careers with us, many staying over a decade. We believe this is because Alpha offers a genuinely rewarding place to work: a meritocratic environment where your career can flourish, and a welcoming culture where you can be yourself, connect with others and thrive. As we look to the future, we’re excited to be looking for new Alpha colleagues – individuals who are collaborative, innovative and ambitious. We hope you will join us and help shape the next chapter of our growth journey.

Why join Alpha Business Services?

• Be part of something successful – We’re an established professional services firm with an ambitious growth trajectory. Your work directly supports and impacts our business success and makes a real contribution to the company’s success story.
• Unlock your potential – You’ll grow through meaningful work, real exposure to new challenges and continuous learning. Stretch your skills, take ownership of key responsibilities and access progression opportunities as our company grows.
• Belong to a great international team – Our culture is collaborative, supportive, and social. You’ll work with people who value teamwork, celebrate success and genuinely enjoy working together.
• Thrive with us – Benefit from flexible working, market-aligned pay and benefits and a supportive environment that helps you do your best work.

Overview of Business Services

While consultants focus on delivery client value, our ‘Business Services’ function ensures that the company runs efficiently and appropriately across a number of operational areas: People, Operations, IT, Legal and Finance. Together, these teams ensure the consultants are fully supported – working from a strong operational base that’s efficient, innovative and compliant. Business Services doesn’t just enable delivery; it empowers Alpha’s long-term success.

Overview of Change (Operations)

The Change team is a key part of the Operations function and consists of two core pillars – the Change pillar works closely with senior leadership to implement key Group-wide change and transformation projects. These projects both support the Group’s growth ambitions as well as support the Group’s internal strategic evolution, for example from inorganic acquisitions, organic acquisitions or key technological and operational change. The Business Analysis & Support pillar performs key business analysis tasks ranging from requirements development to supporting change projects, as well as managing a number of key operational and business functions across the Group. Through both its Change and Business Analysis activities, the team is pivotal to ensuring and enabling Alpha’s long-term growth and competitiveness.

Role & Requirements

We are looking to hire a Project and Change Manager into the Change team. The role requires ownership of change from a project management (PM), change management (CM) and business analysis (BA) perspective. This means demonstrating strong judgement in driving project delivery, proactively identifying risks and challenges, developing practical solutions and recommendations, and escalating issues with appropriate context and proposed options. Key responsibilities will include:

• Leading and delivering a variety of change initiatives, projects and programmes. This will include acquisition integration projects, IT, business and operational change implementation projects
• Taking responsibility for autonomously driving projects forwards, ensuring milestones and deliverables are on track
• Developing and executing detailed project and integration plans, timelines, milestones, deliverables and key project management collateral
• Establishing and maintaining appropriate project governance, working with project sponsors and stakeholders to clarify responsibilities, decision-making arrangements, approval requirements and escalation routes from project initiation through to delivery. Chairing governance when appropriate, including Steering Committee meetings – providing updates to key senior leaders within the business and leading subsequent discussions regarding project direction and/or developments
• Partnering with business and operational stakeholders to assess and implement change, and acting as a trusted advisor to leaders and teams, building buy-in and reducing resistance
• Translating complex project information into clear, concise and audience-appropriate communications, ensuring senior stakeholders have the relevant context, recommendations and information required to make informed decisions
• Identifying and managing risks, challenges, and opportunities in change projects
• Monitoring and measuring change progress, identifying barriers and driving corrective actions where needed
• Serving as an ambassador for the internal change team, providing ad-hoc support to the business where needed
• Supporting continuous improvement by capturing lessons learned and refining change approaches
• Ensuring alignment of change activities with business objectives, culture, and values
• Continuously building and leveraging a deeper and more thorough understanding of Alpha’s business model, strategy, employees, industry and clients to work on increasingly complex projects and deliver real impact for the Group

Qualifications

Must have:

• Minimum 5+ years’ experience in project management, change management, consulting and/or transformation, in particular in operational change
• Extensive proven experience in leading and delivering operational change, including acquisition integration, IT implementations, Business Change and Operational implementation projects as a project or programme manager
• Understanding and experience of the end-to-end project management and change management process, including working with key frameworks and collateral
• Proven ability to lead and deliver complex projects whilst and working with cross-functional teams
• Strong understanding of project management and change management frameworks as well as their practical applications
• A self-starter who is proactive and shows initiative
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and stakeholder management skills. Experience in working with senior (up to C-suite) stakeholders
• Strong problem-solving, analytical, and organisational skills
• Ability to influence and build relationships at all levels of the organisation
• Experience in developing and delivering change communications and training
• Ability to multitask and work on multiple initiatives simultaneously
• Good Microsoft Office and project planning skills, experience in other SaaS systems (e.g. Salesforce, Slack) is a plus

Good to have:

• Professional certification in Change Management
• Project management certification or experience working in structured project environments
• Relevant Professional Services and/or Financial Services experience
• Experience with digital transformation or large-scale systems implementations
• Exposure to business process improvement methodologies

Location and working pattern

Alpha is proud to offer a hybrid working arrangement wherein staff are able to combine office and home working. This would typically mean 2–3 days in the Leeds Alpha office; however the exact arrangements will be confirmed based upon the role and responsibilities. Occasional travel might be required, more likely at senior levels.

Benefits & Compensation

• Competitive salary with annual profit-sharing opportunity
• 25 days’ holiday additional to bank holidays
• Private Medical Health Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Mobile phone and Company laptop

Our Commitment to Inclusion

At Alpha, diversity, equity and inclusion are critical to our success. Our priorities show a focus on fostering an inclusive, equitable workplace where individuals are treated fairly regardless of gender or background. We welcome applications from disabled people and are committed to making our recruitment process and workplace accessible and inclusive for everyone.

Data Privacy Policy: Full details around what data we hold, why we hold it and for how long are available in our recruitment privacy statement (https://alphafmc.com/privacy-policy/). If you have any questions, or would like us to delete your data, please contact us by email at [email protected]