About St. James's Place
What is St. James's Place?
St. James's Place (SJP) is one of the largest advice-led wealth management firms in the UK. Its own words: "Since 1991, clients have put their trust in our advice to help them create a future and a world they believe in." The business combines a corporate organisation with the SJP Partnership — a network of financial advisers — across financial planning, investments, retirement and later-life advice. SJP frames its purpose as giving "our clients, advisers, employees, shareholders and wider society the confidence to create the futures they want", and describes its current strategy as "significantly investing in technology, streamlining the way we work and creating an environment where colleagues feel engaged, empowered and accountable". The St. James's Place Charitable Foundation, set up in 1992, has distributed more than £145 million.
Where will I work?
SJP hires in the UK. Its Cornerstone careers site currently advertises roles in Cirencester (the head office), London, Bristol and Edinburgh, with Cirencester carrying the largest share. Offices are designed around hybrid rather than fixed desks: "A hot-desk office space suitable for our flexible, hybrid working environment", with "pods, breakout spaces and meeting rooms", and — "where possible" — the chance to "adapt for your day, such as working outside or using standing desks".
What is the St. James's Place team like?
Roles sit across Investment management, Finance, People, Client/Comms & Marketing, Group Risk & Legal and Technology. SJP calls culture "the glue that binds us together" and says healthy cultures "need deliberate and ongoing attention" — staying "curious, connected and transparent", and treating mistakes "as an opportunity to get better, faster". Community networks include a Disability and Neurodiversity Network, Professional Women's Network, LGBTQ+ Network, Race and Ethnicity Network and Working Families Group. One employee, Faye in Advice Policy & Operations, describes it as "a place where you're backed by your team, trusted to take ownership of your role, and empowered to shape it around your strengths and passions."
Work-Life Balance
SJP does not publish a four-day, compressed or reduced-hours schedule, and none of its live job ads mention one. What it does publish is breadth of flexibility: "we have introduced a hybrid working policy to provide greater flexibility for part-time work, job-sharing, remote working, and flexibility on hours", and people "are encouraged to work in a flexible way that suits their lifestyle where possible, so please ask the question and start a conversation!" The recruitment FAQ adds: "Our core business hours are 9am-5pm with an hour for lunch, however we are happy to consider alternative working patterns." Holiday is 28 days plus bank holidays, and employees get "two days in work time for community support per year".
Perks and Benefits
- 28 days holiday plus bank holidays, with the option to buy 5 more
- Non-contributory pension: 10% of salary, rising to 12.5% after five years and 15% after ten
- Private Medical Scheme covering employees and their families
- 26 weeks full pay for maternity, paternity and adoption leave
- Annual discretionary bonus scheme
- In-house learning app plus coaching and mentoring at all levels
- Disability and Neurodiversity Network, one of five community networks