Head of Data & AI

Trade Nation is seeking an experienced and forward-thinking Head of Data & AI to lead our data and artificial intelligence strategy across the organisation. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, this role combines two interconnected mandates: enabling self-service access to data across the business and embedding AI into everyday operations.

As a multi-jurisdictional CFD and spread betting broker with regulated entities across the UK, Australia, the EU, the Bahamas and Seychelles, we are looking for a leader who can build on our existing data foundations, scale successful initiatives, simplify organically grown processes and drive measurable business impact through AI.

The role is weighted approximately 60% towards AI and 40% towards Data, leading a team of Data Analysts while partnering closely with Data Engineering, Compliance and senior business stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

* Own and drive Trade Nation's AI strategy from opportunity identification through to deployment, adoption and value realisation
* Redesign business workflows around AI, focusing on practical outcomes rather than tool adoption.
* Build AI capability through training, prompt libraries, templates and a network of AI champions.
* Measure and report AI adoption, success metrics and lessons learned.
* Own the business-facing gold layer of the data warehouse, including metrics, definitions and quality standards.
* Develop and extend the semantic data model to ensure consistent, trusted access to business data.
* Champion data self-service, empowering teams to answer their own questions efficiently.
* Establish and maintain best practices for analytics engineering, including testing, version control, documentation and code reviews.
* Simplify and improve the quality of the data estate.
* Deliver proactive insights and recommendations to senior leadership.

Requirements

Essential Experience

* Proven leadership experience within Data, Analytics or AI functions.
* Demonstrable success implementing AI solutions that have transformed business workflows and delivered measurable impact.
* Strong track record of delivering projects from concept through to production and adoption.
* Hands-on expertise in SQL, data modelling and analytics engineering.
* Experience with dbt or similar version-controlled transformation frameworks.
* Strong understanding of data warehouse architecture and semantic modelling.
* Experience working with Redshift, Snowflake, BigQuery or similar cloud data platforms.
* Background in financial services, trading, brokerage or capital markets.
* Experience leading, coaching and developing analytics teams.
* Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills with both technical and non-technical audiences.

Desirable Experience

* Experience with CFD, spread betting or brokerage platforms.
* Knowledge of trading systems and back-office financial services data structures.
* Experience in multi-entity, multi-regulator environments.
* Exposure to regulatory reporting frameworks such as MiFID II, MiFIR or ASIC requirements.
* Experience implementing AI solutions within regulated financial services environments.

Personal Attributes

* Curious about how businesses operate and eager to understand commercial processes before recommending solutions.
* Strategic thinker with a practical, delivery-focused mindset.
* Self-starter who proactively identifies opportunities and drives change.
* Comfortable challenging the status quo and being challenged in return.
* Passionate about enabling others through data and technology.

Benefits

* Competitive salary, and discretionary annual bonus.

* Private healthcare.
* Active Lifestyle allowance.
* Annual leave above minimum entitlement.
* Up to 3 weeks allowance to work in any location.