Position: Senior Associate/Head of Department - Financial Mis-Selling – Heirloom Fair Legal
Location: Manchester, Warrington or London
Heirloom Fair Legal is an ambitious, forward-thinking firm that leverages technology to ethically and efficiently offer Finance, Adjudication, Insurance and Representation services to UK consumer claimants. With aggressive growth targets and an entrepreneurial ethos, we are seeking a Head of Department - Financial Mis-Selling to lead and grow one of our key legal case types.
Role Summary: Role Overview
We are seeking a commercially driven and execution-focused Head of Department - Financial Mis-Selling to work alongside our existing team helping to expand and optimise our financial mis-selling claims function. This is a leadership role with a focus on driving performance in the consumer protection areas HFL focuses on. The successful candidate will report to the Director of Legal Operations and be tasked with delivering key objectives to set up and then run a new business area. They should have a proven track record of executing strategy, implementing efficient processes, and growing high-performing teams within legal services in the mass consumer protection claim space.
In addition, the ideal candidate will bring a strong understanding of regulatory and compliance requirements and strong experience in optimizing the client journey, ensuring that clients receive the quality legal representation that they deserve. They must also be comfortable with thinking differently and utilising technology to enhance efficiency and claimant outcomes. They should be comfortable working in an entrepreneurial but supportive culture, able to work with autonomy while supporting, educating and developing their colleagues. We are direct and operate a flat structure, working hard but not at the expense of all else, with a focus on team excellence rather than personal agendas and ego.
Key Responsibilities
Department Growth & Expansion
* Work collaboratively with the Law Firm division’s Director of Legal Operations to launch and run new financial mis-selling claim types in response to market opportunities.
* Establish and maintain relationships with funders, insurers, and industry partners to maximise claim viability.
* Leverage industry data and regulatory changes to identify strategic growth areas for the department.
Operational Execution & Process Optimisation
* Jointly drive efficiency improvements in existing case workflows, ensuring smooth, profitable, and compliant claim progression.
* Implement and refine case management systems, automation tools, and best practices to enhance efficiency.
* Monitor and achieve key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure department success and continuously optimise processes.
Strategic
* Collaborate with the law firm’s Director of Legal Operations to shape and execute the firm’s financial mis-selling claims.
* Continuously evaluate the market, emerging risks, and competitive landscape to ensure the firm remains at the forefront of financial mis-selling litigation.
* Report to senior leadership on departmental performance, key initiatives, and strategic recommendations.
Team Leadership & Development
* Build and lead a high-performing team, ensuring the right balance of legal, operational, and financial expertise.
* Support recruitment, training, and mentorship programmes to develop talent and build a strong pipeline of future leaders.
* Ensure optimal resource allocation between new and existing claims teams to balance growth with operational effectiveness.
Key Requirements
Experience & Skills
* Proven experience managing legal departments or claims businesses, ideally within financial mis-selling or consumer litigation.
* Strong execution capability, with the ability to translate strategy into action and deliver measurable results.
* Deep understanding of financial mis-selling claims, regulatory frameworks (SRA, FCA), and funding structures.
* Excellent leadership skills, with the ability to build, develop, and retain high-performing teams.
* Collaborative mindset, with experience working alongside senior peers to drive business growth.
Qualifications
* Legal qualification (preferred but not essential if substantial industry experience is demonstrated). Candidates with a track record in operations will also be considered.
* Strong regulatory knowledge, particularly in financial mis-selling and consumer protection.
What We Offer
* A high-impact role with significant autonomy to shape the firm’s future and make a meaningful impact on the legal sector and access to legal justice.
* Competitive salary and performance-based incentives.
* A collaborative and entrepreneurial work environment alongside high-performance peers.
* Flexibility and support to allow pursuit of excellence both at work and in personal life.