63 Chief Operating Officer jobs in the United Kingdom

Chief Operating Officer - London, Hybrid, up to 200k + Package

Are you the sort of person who thrives on turning ideas into execution?

Have you successfully driven company growth while maintaining seamless operations?

Have you taken data heavy businesses and made core functions work effortlessly?

If you understand how data can be sold, how to identify new markets, and how to scale core teams, this role is for you.

The founder of the organisation has the vision a unique product that is set to disrupt the way their sector operates but need you to implement.

Think of the challenges marketplace companies faced when scaling their products to market like Uber, Deliveroo, or Etsy.

If you're confident operating in that kind of face paced environment at a smaller organisation, you'll thrive here but rewarded for it.

What you need:

• A strong background in operational leadership for a company that sells data or operates at scale in the martech industry.

Chief Operating Officer - London, Hybrid, up to 200k + Package

Are you the sort of person who thrives on turning ideas into execution?

Have you successfully driven company growth while maintaining seamless operations?

Have you taken data heavy businesses and made core functions work effortlessly?

If you understand how data can be sold, how to identify new markets, and how to scale core teams, this role is for you.

The founder of the organisation has the vision a unique product that is set to disrupt the way their sector operates but need you to implement.

Think of the challenges marketplace companies faced when scaling their products to market like Uber, Deliveroo, or Etsy.

If you're confident operating in that kind of face paced environment at a smaller organisation, you'll thrive here but rewarded for it.

What you need:

• A strong background in operational leadership for a company that sells data or operates at scale in the martech industry.

• Turnover: £1M+ (2024), uilt solely on private domiciliary care.

• Clients: Exclusively private, across South Oxfordshire and surrounding areas.

• Backing: Privately owned, with experienced board-level support and access to capital.

• Strategy: Expand live-in care services across the South, eventually into London’s high-net-worth market.

• Infrastructure: New website, external digital marketing partners, PASS system, and Xero finance system already in place.

• Grow the brand : Shape positioning, pricing, and client experience to become the go-to name in private live-in care.

• Lead the team : Build on a strong office team of five, including a newly appointed Registered Care Manager. Hire your own team as needed.

• Drive performance : Take ownership of growth, profitability, and operational excellence, while maintaining a high standard of personalised care.

• Build partnerships : Develop networks among private healthcare professionals, high-net-worth communities, and referral partners.

• Deliver results : With support from the board, you'll have full day-to-day autonomy to scale the business and execute the strategy.

• A proven leader with strong marketing, commercial, or business development credentials — ideally with experience scaling a customer-facing service.

• Someone excited by the opportunity to build a brand and a business within a growing, values-led sector.

• A confident communicator with the gravitas to engage high-net-worth clients and lead a team with empathy and authority.

• You may have been a Managing Director, Marketing Director, Strategy Lead, or Commercial Director — and now want to bring your expertise to a role with purpose, autonomy, and reward.

• Salary : c. £65,000 to £ ,000 depending on experience

• Bonus : Based on performance and results

• Equity : Free shares linked to agreed milestones

• Dividends : Once profit distribution is in place

• Support : Tools, funding, and experienced board-level input — but freedom to run the day-to-day as you see fit

INDL

The Bank of London offers a safer business banking model by holding all deposits at the Bank of England, eliminating the risk of 'bank runs.' It provides services such as real-time Clearing, Payments, and Settlement, Deposits, Embedded Banking, as well as Commercial Banking tailored to businesses. Powered by proprietary technology, the bank collaborates with SAP Fioneer to deliver innovative solutions. With a focus on exceptional service and core values of ownership, accountability, curiosity and compassion, the bank strives for excellence in all it does.

Description

We are seeking an accomplished and visionary Chief Operating Officer (COO) to lead the operational strategy and execution across our growing banking platform. Reporting directly to the CEO and serving as a key member of the Senior Leadership Team , the COO will play a pivotal role in driving operational excellence, delivering outstanding client service, and ensuring robust governance and compliance across domestic and international operations.

This is a rare opportunity to define the future of a fast-evolving, growth-focused financial institution— delivering scalable, resilient, and client-centric operations that are fit for the digital age.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and execute a forward-looking operations strategy aligned with Board-approved business goals and growth ambitions.
• Champion a customer-centric, digitally enabled operations function that delivers seamless service and drives competitive advantage.
• Establish scalable frameworks, KPIs, and performance benchmarks to enable sustainable business growth and operational excellence.

Operational Oversight

• Lead all banking operations, including critical third-party and outsourced service providers, ensuring seamless service delivery and adherence to SLAs.
• Design and optimise processes for operational efficiency, quality, control, and regulatory compliance.
• Ensure rigorous governance of all outsourcing arrangements, including performance monitoring, contract compliance, and regulatory obligations.

Financial Crime Risk Management

As first-line owner of financial crime risk management and controls, the COO will ensure efficient and compliant operational execution across the following risk areas:

• KYC & Customer Due Diligence (CDD): Oversee end-to-end KYC lifecycle, including onboarding, periodic reviews, and trigger-based updates.
• Client Onboarding: Deliver compliant, efficient onboarding journeys aligned with risk appetite and regulatory requirements.
• Transaction Monitoring: Ensure timely, effective investigation and escalation of alerts, including SAR management.
• Sanctions Compliance: Oversee screening and escalation processes for sanctions adherence across clients, payments, and vendors.
• Anti-Fraud Controls: Implement and oversee fraud detection and prevention frameworks across all customer channels.
• Surveillance: Monitor for market abuse and misconduct through robust communications and trade surveillance.
• Governance & MI: Deliver actionable financial crime metrics, ensure first-line ownership of controls, and provide insight into emerging risks.
• Policy Implementation & Training: Ensure operational teams are trained and aligned with current policies, procedures, and regulatory expectations.

Consumer Duty & Conduct Risk

• Act as the senior first-line lead for Consumer Duty, ensuring all customer journeys deliver good outcomes and fair treatment across the product lifecycle.
• Embed Consumer Duty principles into operational processes, MI, complaints handling, and service design (price & value, consumer understanding, product suitability, support).
• Lead delivery of customer outcome testing and ensure operational ownership of resulting action plans and improvements.
• Drive a culture of accountability for conduct and customer outcomes within the operations function.
• Collaborate with second line teams to identify, manage, and mitigate Conduct Risk in day-to-day operations and product delivery.

Customer Service & Payments

• Lead the delivery of high-integrity, real-time payment and settlement services across multiple channels and currencies.
• Ensure compliance with payment system rules, internal policies, and applicable regulatory standards (e.g., Faster Payments, BACS, CHAPS, SWIFT).
• Promote a strong customer-first culture, ensuring excellence in service delivery, complaint resolution, and vulnerable customer support.

Governance, Risk & Compliance

• Maintain a strong first-line control environment, aligned with enterprise risk frameworks and regulatory requirements and expectations, including the safety of client assets (segregated, safeguarding, CASS etc.)
• Ensure ownership and effective execution of first-line risk and control responsibilities, including RCSA, control testing, and incident management.
• Provide timely and transparent operational risk reporting to the Executive Team and Risk Committees, including emerging risks and remediation status.
• Ensure adherence to enterprise-wide risk policies, with clear accountability for first-line execution.
• Maintain audit readiness and diligently close audit matters raised on a timely basis.

Operational Resilience & Business Continuity

• Lead the development and execution of the Bank’s operational resilience strategy, including scenario testing, impact tolerances, and disruption readiness.
• Ensure comprehensive and regularly tested Business Continuity Plans (BCPs) are in place and tailored to the Bank’s critical business services.
• Collaborate with technology, risk, and business teams to ensure recovery time objectives are realistic and achievable.

Budgeting & Resource Planning

• Lead operational planning and budget management, ensuring alignment of resources to strategic priorities.
• Drive continuous efficiency improvements, cost optimisation, and value creation across operational functions.

Leadership & Organisational Development

• Inspire, lead, and develop a high-performing operations team aligned with the Bank’s mission, culture, and values.
• Continuously assess the operating model and talent requirements to ensure capability, agility, and succession readiness.
• Develop clear partnership, sourcing and location strategies to optimise business performance.
• Role-model the Bank’s leadership values, with a focus on collaboration, accountability, and customer-first thinking.

Executive & Board Engagement

• Serve as an active member of the ExCo , contributing to enterprise-level strategy, planning, and performance oversight.
• Provide operational input into cross-functional initiatives including product launches, risk reviews, and market entry strategies.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business, or a related discipline; MBA or equivalent postgraduate qualification preferred.
• 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in banking or financial services, with proven expertise in operations, payments, and risk control environments.
• Strong knowledge of first-line responsibilities, including financial crime compliance, conduct risk, and Consumer Duty execution.

Professional Competencies

• Deep knowledge of operational frameworks, payment systems, and regulatory standards (e.g., AML, KYC, CASS, PSD2, Consumer Duty).
• Demonstrated success leading large, multifunctional teams in complex, regulated environments.
• Experience embedding regulatory principles into scalable operational processes.
• Proven track record in digital transformation, regtech adoption, and operational innovation.

Leadership Attributes

• Visionary and results-driven, with excellent judgment and commercial acumen.
• Strong communicator and cross-functional collaborator, including at Board and ExCo level.
• Pragmatic leader with high integrity, resilience, and a deep sense of accountability.
• Passionate about customer outcomes, operational integrity, and sustainable growth.

Why Join Us?

This is more than a senior leadership role — it’s a chance to shape the operational backbone of a future-forward financial institution. As COO, you’ll be instrumental in defining how we scale, serve our customers, and respond to a rapidly evolving regulatory and operational landscape. Join us in building a platform that is efficient, resilient, and designed around fair customer outcomes.

Location

· London (5 days per week in the office)

· Travel to other locations may be required on occasion.

Diversity

Bank of London is an equal opportunity employer committed to inclusion, diversity and belonging. All qualified applicants are welcome and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, age, religion or religious expression, sex, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity and expression, transgender, national origin, or military veteran status.

Chief Operating Officer

Alex Begg Group Limited produces luxury cashmere scarves, knitwear and home furnishings in Scotland, supplying luxury brand customers across the world. The Company also manufactures product under its own brand, Begg x Co, opening a retail store in London’s Burlington Arcade in 2022. Certified B Corp, our mission is to create the world’s finest hand-crafted cashmere born out of the intersection where responsibility for people and planet meets excellence in design.

With over 150 years of experience, we employ more than 200 people across sites in Ayr and Hawick.

We are looking to appoint a strategic and well-rounded COO who will be the custodian of manufacturing excellence and efficiency across our manufacturing sites. The COO will be responsible for overseeing the business operation strategy to support growth and innovation, as well as sustainability and health & safety.

Reporting directly to the CEO you will work closely with the Chief Commercial Officer and Chief Innovation Officer as a member of the Executive Committee.

You will have a background in manufacturing, and a strong understanding of end-to-end supply chain, KPIs and operations management. Multi-site leadership experience is highly desirable. We are looking for somebody who will challenge the status quo and has a creative and entrepreneurial spirit.

The COO is the ‘Master of Operations’ at Alex Begg Group and represents a critical role in our future growth and success – if this sounds like you, we would love to hear from you!

To apply, please send your CV and covering letter to Ailsa Sutherland at For an initial confidential conversation, you can reach her at 0131 539 7087.

The Bank of London offers a safer business banking model by holding all deposits at the Bank of England, eliminating the risk of 'bank runs.' It provides services such as real-time Clearing, Payments, and Settlement, Deposits, Embedded Banking, as well as Commercial Banking tailored to businesses. Powered by proprietary technology, the bank collaborates with SAP Fioneer to deliver innovative solutions. With a focus on exceptional service and core values of ownership, accountability, curiosity and compassion, the bank strives for excellence in all it does.

Description

We are seeking an accomplished and visionary Chief Operating Officer (COO) to lead the operational strategy and execution across our growing banking platform. Reporting directly to the CEO and serving as a key member of the Senior Leadership Team , the COO will play a pivotal role in driving operational excellence, delivering outstanding client service, and ensuring robust governance and compliance across domestic and international operations.

This is a rare opportunity to define the future of a fast-evolving, growth-focused financial institution— delivering scalable, resilient, and client-centric operations that are fit for the digital age.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and execute a forward-looking operations strategy aligned with Board-approved business goals and growth ambitions.
• Champion a customer-centric, digitally enabled operations function that delivers seamless service and drives competitive advantage.
• Establish scalable frameworks, KPIs, and performance benchmarks to enable sustainable business growth and operational excellence.

Operational Oversight

• Lead all banking operations, including critical third-party and outsourced service providers, ensuring seamless service delivery and adherence to SLAs.
• Design and optimise processes for operational efficiency, quality, control, and regulatory compliance.
• Ensure rigorous governance of all outsourcing arrangements, including performance monitoring, contract compliance, and regulatory obligations.

Financial Crime Risk Management

As first-line owner of financial crime risk management and controls, the COO will ensure efficient and compliant operational execution across the following risk areas:

• KYC & Customer Due Diligence (CDD): Oversee end-to-end KYC lifecycle, including onboarding, periodic reviews, and trigger-based updates.
• Client Onboarding: Deliver compliant, efficient onboarding journeys aligned with risk appetite and regulatory requirements.
• Transaction Monitoring: Ensure timely, effective investigation and escalation of alerts, including SAR management.
• Sanctions Compliance: Oversee screening and escalation processes for sanctions adherence across clients, payments, and vendors.
• Anti-Fraud Controls: Implement and oversee fraud detection and prevention frameworks across all customer channels.
• Surveillance: Monitor for market abuse and misconduct through robust communications and trade surveillance.
• Governance & MI: Deliver actionable financial crime metrics, ensure first-line ownership of controls, and provide insight into emerging risks.
• Policy Implementation & Training: Ensure operational teams are trained and aligned with current policies, procedures, and regulatory expectations.

Consumer Duty & Conduct Risk

• Act as the senior first-line lead for Consumer Duty, ensuring all customer journeys deliver good outcomes and fair treatment across the product lifecycle.
• Embed Consumer Duty principles into operational processes, MI, complaints handling, and service design (price & value, consumer understanding, product suitability, support).
• Lead delivery of customer outcome testing and ensure operational ownership of resulting action plans and improvements.
• Drive a culture of accountability for conduct and customer outcomes within the operations function.
• Collaborate with second line teams to identify, manage, and mitigate Conduct Risk in day-to-day operations and product delivery.

Customer Service & Payments

• Lead the delivery of high-integrity, real-time payment and settlement services across multiple channels and currencies.
• Ensure compliance with payment system rules, internal policies, and applicable regulatory standards (e.g., Faster Payments, BACS, CHAPS, SWIFT).
• Promote a strong customer-first culture, ensuring excellence in service delivery, complaint resolution, and vulnerable customer support.

Governance, Risk & Compliance

• Maintain a strong first-line control environment, aligned with enterprise risk frameworks and regulatory requirements and expectations, including the safety of client assets (segregated, safeguarding, CASS etc.)
• Ensure ownership and effective execution of first-line risk and control responsibilities, including RCSA, control testing, and incident management.
• Provide timely and transparent operational risk reporting to the Executive Team and Risk Committees, including emerging risks and remediation status.
• Ensure adherence to enterprise-wide risk policies, with clear accountability for first-line execution.
• Maintain audit readiness and diligently close audit matters raised on a timely basis.

Operational Resilience & Business Continuity

• Lead the development and execution of the Bank’s operational resilience strategy, including scenario testing, impact tolerances, and disruption readiness.
• Ensure comprehensive and regularly tested Business Continuity Plans (BCPs) are in place and tailored to the Bank’s critical business services.
• Collaborate with technology, risk, and business teams to ensure recovery time objectives are realistic and achievable.

Budgeting & Resource Planning

• Lead operational planning and budget management, ensuring alignment of resources to strategic priorities.
• Drive continuous efficiency improvements, cost optimisation, and value creation across operational functions.

Leadership & Organisational Development

• Inspire, lead, and develop a high-performing operations team aligned with the Bank’s mission, culture, and values.
• Continuously assess the operating model and talent requirements to ensure capability, agility, and succession readiness.
• Develop clear partnership, sourcing and location strategies to optimise business performance.
• Role-model the Bank’s leadership values, with a focus on collaboration, accountability, and customer-first thinking.

Executive & Board Engagement

• Serve as an active member of the ExCo , contributing to enterprise-level strategy, planning, and performance oversight.
• Provide operational input into cross-functional initiatives including product launches, risk reviews, and market entry strategies.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business, or a related discipline; MBA or equivalent postgraduate qualification preferred.
• 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in banking or financial services, with proven expertise in operations, payments, and risk control environments.
• Strong knowledge of first-line responsibilities, including financial crime compliance, conduct risk, and Consumer Duty execution.

Professional Competencies

• Deep knowledge of operational frameworks, payment systems, and regulatory standards (e.g., AML, KYC, CASS, PSD2, Consumer Duty).
• Demonstrated success leading large, multifunctional teams in complex, regulated environments.
• Experience embedding regulatory principles into scalable operational processes.
• Proven track record in digital transformation, regtech adoption, and operational innovation.

Leadership Attributes

• Visionary and results-driven, with excellent judgment and commercial acumen.
• Strong communicator and cross-functional collaborator, including at Board and ExCo level.
• Pragmatic leader with high integrity, resilience, and a deep sense of accountability.
• Passionate about customer outcomes, operational integrity, and sustainable growth.

Why Join Us?

This is more than a senior leadership role — it’s a chance to shape the operational backbone of a future-forward financial institution. As COO, you’ll be instrumental in defining how we scale, serve our customers, and respond to a rapidly evolving regulatory and operational landscape. Join us in building a platform that is efficient, resilient, and designed around fair customer outcomes.

Location

· London (5 days per week in the office)

· Travel to other locations may be required on occasion.

Diversity

Bank of London is an equal opportunity employer committed to inclusion, diversity and belonging. All qualified applicants are welcome and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, age, religion or religious expression, sex, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity and expression, transgender, national origin, or military veteran status.

Parkinson | Lee Executive Search are currently recruiting the role of Chief Operating Officer for a leading engineering focussed organisation, which specialise in bespoke solutions, serving a range of clientele including highly regulated sectors.

The Chief Operating Officer will report directly to the Board, who are looking for an experienced Chief Operating Officer to spearhead a transformative agenda crucial to the next phase of sustainable growth and operational excellence.

This strategic leadership role will oversee Operations, Planning, Supply Chain, Customer Service, and collaborate closely with Sales, Finance, S&OP, R&D, and NPD functions.

Key Responsibilities:

• Drive and lead an operational transformation focused on agility, productivity, and customer responsiveness
• Define and execute scalable operations strategy aligned with business objectives, integrating Lean, Six Sigma, and CI methodologies
• Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and cross-functional collaboration among a team professionals spanning project management, assembly, testing, supply chain, and QSHE
• Enhance Sales & Operations Planning capability with accurate forecasting and integrated material strategy
• Improve OTIF performance and service execution to exceed customer expectations
• Partner with Sales, Customer Service, R&D, and NPD to ensure operational readiness for new product introductions
• Standardise core operational processes leveraging ERP and digital tools for enhanced decision-making
• Ensure operational adherence to quality standards and regulatory requirements

Parkinson Lee Executive Search are keen to speak to people who have the following skills and experience:

• Degree qualified in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, Supply Chain, or related fields
• Postgraduate qualifications (e.g., MBA, MSc) or Lean Six Sigma Black Belt preferred
• Minimum 10 years in senior leadership within complex assembly operations
• Minimum 10 years in Electronics, Mechanical, Electrical operations.
• Proven Change Management experience
• Demonstrated success driving operational and cultural change in engineering or systems-based industries
• Cross-functional leadership experience covering Planning, Procurement, Assembly Operations, Engineering, NPD, and Customer Fulfilment
• A charismatic, commercially minded and strategic thinker with board level influence, cross functional and operational leadership skills

If this role is of interest, please apply with your CV and a member of the team will make further contact, kindly note we endeavour to contact all suitable applicants within two weeks of receiving your CV.

Also note you will be required to complete an NDA as part of the process.