Client Overview
First Rate Exchange Services is one of the UK's leading foreign exchange providers, delivering travel money and international payment solutions through an extensive network of retail and corporate partners. Operating within a highly regulated financial services environment, the organisation relies on safe, compliant and efficiently managed workplaces to support its operations.
To strengthen its property and workplace function, First Rate Exchange Services partnered with Maxwell Stephens to recruit an experienced Facilities Manager to oversee multiple office locations and lead all aspects of facilities management, compliance and workplace services.
The Challenge
First Rate Exchange Services required a Facilities Manager capable of taking ownership of its corporate estate while ensuring operational excellence, statutory compliance and an exceptional workplace experience for employees and visitors.
The successful candidate would become the organisation's lead facilities professional, managing multiple sites while acting as the designated Health & Safety Competent Person.
Key responsibilities included:
- Managing the day-to-day operation of multiple office locations.
- Acting as the organisation's Health & Safety Competent Person.
- Ensuring compliance with all Health & Safety, fire safety and statutory regulations.
- Managing planned and reactive building maintenance.
- Building strong relationships with landlords, contractors and service providers.
- Leading procurement and contract management activities.
- Developing and maintaining business continuity and disaster recovery plans.
- Supporting office projects, workplace improvements and space planning.
- Monitoring supplier performance and service delivery.
- Providing expert advice on facilities, property and workplace compliance.
The role required an experienced Facilities Manager with excellent technical knowledge, commercial awareness and the ability to operate confidently within a regulated financial services environment.
Our Approach
Maxwell Stephens worked closely with First Rate Exchange Services to develop a thorough understanding of the organisation's operational priorities, workplace culture and long-term business objectives.
Using our specialist Facilities Management network, we conducted a targeted executive search to identify professionals with experience managing corporate office environments and regulated workplaces.
Our search focused on candidates with:
- Multi-site Facilities Management experience.
- Strong Health & Safety and compliance expertise.
- Corporate office and financial services experience.
- Contractor and supplier management capability.
- Business continuity and workplace resilience experience.
- Property and landlord management expertise.
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
- Professional qualifications including IWFM (formerly BIFM), IOSH and NEBOSH.
Each shortlisted candidate underwent a comprehensive assessment to evaluate technical capability, leadership skills, commercial awareness and cultural fit.
The Outcome
Maxwell Stephens successfully appointed an experienced Facilities Manager who brought an excellent combination of technical expertise, compliance knowledge and operational leadership.
The successful candidate quickly assumed responsibility for the organisation's workplace operations, helping ensure that every office remained safe, compliant and fully aligned with business requirements.
Results Delivered
Improved Workplace Operations
The appointment strengthened the day-to-day management of multiple office locations, ensuring consistently high standards of service delivery across the estate.
Enhanced Health & Safety Compliance
As the organisation's Competent Person, the successful candidate strengthened governance around Health & Safety, fire safety and statutory compliance, reducing operational risk and supporting a safe working environment.
Stronger Supplier Performance
Through effective contract management and supplier oversight, service delivery improved while maintaining value for money across facilities services.
Business Continuity & Operational Resilience
Robust business continuity planning and testing enhanced organisational resilience, ensuring the business remained prepared for operational disruption.
Strategic Facilities Leadership
By providing expert advice on workplace operations, property management and compliance, the Facilities Manager became a trusted partner to senior leadership while supporting the organisation's continued growth.
The Impact
The appointment has strengthened First Rate Exchange Services' Facilities Management function by delivering experienced leadership across workplace operations, compliance, supplier management and business continuity.
By combining technical expertise with a proactive and customer-focused approach, the successful candidate has helped create a safer, more efficient and resilient workplace environment that supports the organisation's ongoing success.
This assignment demonstrates Maxwell Stephens' expertise in recruiting Facilities Management professionals for financial services organisations where compliance, operational excellence and workplace performance are business-critical.