Head of Operations; PropertyMortgages

Head of Operations (Property/Mortgages)

Lead operational excellence drive transformation and help shape the future of our Property business.

At Castle Trust Bank we pride ourselves on being a fintech challenger bank providing specialist property mortgages retail finance lending and savings accounts to a variety of customers.

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Head of Operations to lead our Pre-Completion Operations and Controls functions within our Property division. This is a high-impact leadership role responsible for ensuring the efficient compliant and customer-focused delivery of services while driving operational excellence risk management and continuous improvement across the business.

This role is based in Basingstoke with some travel to London on a hybrid basis of 4 days a week in the office and 1 day at home.

The role and what youll lead and deliver

As Head of Operations you will provide strategic leadership across key operational functions ensuring service excellence strong governance effective controls and scalable operational processes that support the continued growth of our Property business. You will work closely with senior stakeholders across the Bank helping to deliver exceptional customer outcomes while maintaining robust regulatory and risk standards.

Leadership & Strategy

• Lead the Pre-Completion Operations and Controls functions ensuring alignment to business objectives customer outcomes and regulatory requirements.
• Develop high-performing teams through effective leadership coaching succession planning and performance management.
• Provide strategic direction to support the growth and evolution of the Property business.

Operational Performance

• Maintain accountability for operational performance across the division.
• Ensure service standards quality measures productivity targets and customer outcomes are achieved.
• Monitor operational metrics and implement improvements to enhance efficiency scalability and service delivery.

Risk Governance & Controls

• Oversee the operational risk and control framework across the Property business.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements internal policies and risk appetite.
• Lead responses to audits reviews and control findings ensuring timely remediation and continuous improvement.

Stakeholder & Supplier Management

• Act as the senior escalation point for operational customer broker and partner matters.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders across the organisation.
• Manage relationships with key third-party suppliers ensuring service standards and contractual obligations are met.

Change & Continuous Improvement

• Drive operational excellence through process optimisation automation and technology enhancements.
• Lead business change initiatives that improve operational effectiveness and customer outcomes.
• Support and sponsor strategic projects that enable sustainable business growth.

Financial & Commercial Leadership

• Manage departmental budgets resource planning and operational capacity.
• Ensure operational efficiency while supporting wider business objectives and commercial priorities.

What youll bring

Essential

• Significant leadership experience within a regulated lending banking or financial services environment.
• Proven track record of leading operational teams and delivering excellent service quality and customer outcomes.
• Strong understanding of mortgage lending and/or loan servicing operations including the end-to-end customer journey.
• Experience of operational risk management controls governance and regulatory compliance.
• Demonstrable experience of leading operational change process improvement and transformation initiatives.
• Experience managing third-party suppliers and service providers.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills at Executive and Board level.
• Experience of budget management resource planning and operational capacity management.
• Excellent communication decision-making and leadership capability.

Desirable

• Experience managing audit activity and regulatory reviews.
• FCA-regulated experience.
• Knowledge of Consumer Duty and customer outcome frameworks.
• Experience delivering technology-enabled transformation and…