Branch Manger - Private Clients

FJob Title: Branch Manager

Salary: Up to £100,000 plus bonus and benefits

Location: Surrey

Purpose of the role

My client is a well-established national insurance business with a substantial retail broking arm and a branch network across the UK. They combine the market recognition, insurer relationships and product breadth of a major brand with the autonomy and local presence of an independent office.

As part of their continued growth, our client is seeking an experienced Branch Manager to take full ownership of their Surrey office on the broking side of the business. Leading a team of 10, the successful candidate will hold end-to-end accountability for the branch, covering commercial performance, team leadership and development, client retention, new business growth and the office's standing in the local market. This is a hands on leadership position in one of the strongest commercial and private client territories in the South East, offering genuine autonomy over branch strategy and a clear route into regional leadership for the right performer.

Responsibilities

• Full accountability for the branch's income, expenditure and profitability against agreed targets.
• Lead, develop and motivate a team of 10 across account executive, account handling and support functions.
• Set and deliver the branch business plan, covering new business, organic growth and client retention.
• Own the branch's new business strategy, personally leading on key client and prospect relationships.
• Retain and grow the existing book, holding personal responsibility for the branch's most significant client relationships.
• Maintain strong working relationships with insurer partners and underwriters to secure the best available terms.
• Own recruitment, onboarding, performance management and succession planning for the branch.
• Ensure the branch operates in full accordance with FCA requirements and internal policy.

Day to day

• Monitor branch performance data, identify trends and take corrective action where required.
• Conduct regular one-to-ones, appraisals and development planning across the team.
• Oversee the quality and consistency of advice, service delivery and claims support.
• Lead on tender, renewal and presentation activity for significant clients and prospects.
• Build and maintain a local profile through networking and introducer relationships with accountants, solicitors and trade bodies.
• Identify and pursue cross-sell opportunities across the wider group's product suite.
• Own the branch's approach to Consumer Duty, fair value and vulnerable customer identification.
• Maintain file quality, record-keeping and audit readiness across the team.

Experience

• Proven leadership experience within insurance broking, at Branch Manager, Office Manager or senior Account Executive level.
• Demonstrable P&L ownership, or clear exposure to branch or team commercial performance.
• Strong commercial broking background with genuine technical credibility across a mixed book.
• Track record of winning and retaining business, with an established network across Surrey and the South East.
• Experience of managing, developing and retaining a team.
• Exposure to rural, agricultural, private client or HNW lines would be advantageous.

Skills

• Sound working knowledge of FCA regulation and its practical application in a retail broking environment.
• Strong commercial judgement, balancing growth against risk and service quality.
• Excellent leadership, communication and relationship-building capabilities.
• Cert CII as a minimum; Dip CII or ACII qualified, or working towards, is desirable.