Financial Planning Administrator

The Role:

I am recruiting an experienced Financial Planning Administrator / Financial Planning Assistant, to join the team at Nicholls Stevens, a well-established, boutique, Independent Financial Planning firm based in Bristol (BS1).

This role, internally titled Client Relationship Manager, is highly varied and responsible, supporting a highly experienced Financial Planner who is also the Managing Director of the business, in delivering an exceptional financial planning service. The successful Client Relationship Manager will develop strong relationships with a varied portfolio of existing clients, servicing their on‑going needs and ensuring they are receiving a service of the highest standard. You will be responsible for collating paperwork and actioning all tasks arising from client meetings, completing the non‑technical elements of reports, chasing policy providers and overseeing the throughput of work, ensuring all tasks are completed to the required time and quality standards.

The Person:

We are looking for a highly experienced Client Relationship Manager / Financial Planning Assistant / Financial Planning Administrator/Paraplanner (or similar), with a minimum of 3 years experience of working in a financial planning, financial advice or wealth management environment, who is looking for a highly involved and responsible support role. You will be a strong relationship builder who loves client interaction and is motivated by delivering a client experience of the highest standard. You will also be an excellent task manager and administrator, proactive, highly organised and detail orientated, capable of coordinating tasks and prioritising as appropriate. You will be confident working independently but will also be a strong team player who is keen to be part of a kind, supportive, and collaborative team and work for a company who recognise and value your contribution and reward you accordingly.

Salary and Benefits:

Basic salary GBP37-45,000 (dependant on experience) + pension + 28 days holiday, increasing with service + bank holidays + 4x salary Life Cover + hybrid working (3 days in the office, 2 days from home) and flexible working hours - ideally this is a full‑time role, but we are happy to facilitate shorter working days (e.g. school hours) for the right candidate. We are also happy to provide the successful candidate with the opportunity to progress technically, if they would like to do so, supporting them both practically and financially with professional exams (Diploma and Chartership).

The Company:

Nicholls Stevens (Financial Services) Ltd are a boutique Independent Financial Planning firm, established in 1986. For 40 years they have cared for the financial needs of their clients, both corporate and personal, by applying the highest level of skill and expertise to the advice and service they give, regardless of the clients wealth - they believe that everyone, regardless of age, should have a financial plan. They have been listed by the New Model Adviser as one of the top 100 IFAs in the UK on numerous occasions and having built a strong reputation for excellence, all of their new clients come to them through recommendation. They are specialists in providing retirement advice to for those both approaching and enjoying retirement. They are also specialist corporate advisers, assisting CEOs and Finance Directors to select and run employee benefits schemes and to protect the assets of business owners. The MD of Nicholls Stevens is a leading expert in the industry she is both Fellow of the Personal Financial Society (PFS) and the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII), she has served as the National President of the Personal Finance Society and is both a Certified and Chartered Financial Planner. She has also won multiple industry awards and has written books and lectured on the topic of financial planning.

Responsibilities:

• Provide administrative support to the Managing Director/Financial Planner, working with her to deliver an exceptional financial planning service to her clients, to a consistently high standard.
• Collate notes arising from client meetings, taking responsibility for processing and progressing the action points and tasks arising.
• Liaise with clients to establish strong relationships and ensure a smooth, compliant and client centric process.
• Liaise with product providers and other third parties, obtaining policy information and updating records as appropriate.
• Task management of multiple tasks and priorities, working to frequently tight and changing deadlines.
• Coordinate the workflow and output of work produced, ensuring it is delivered within agreed timescales to a quality of the highest standard.
• Record and maintain accurate data using the company’s back‑office computer system.
• General administration as required to support the business, ensuring all business is conducted in a responsible and compliant manner.

Skills and Experience:

• 3 years+ administrative/customer service/paraplanning experience gained working in an involved support role in a financial planning or financial advice environment.
• A strong relationship builder, with a caring and client centric approach, who takes pride in providing a service of the highest standard.
• An excellent task manager and administrator, proactive, analytical, highly organised, quality focused and detail orientated, capable of coordinating and prioritising tasks.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• An aptitude for technology, competent with MS Office (PowerPoint, Excel, Teams etc.) and embracing of emerging technologies.
• Intelligent, keen to learn, adaptable to change, enthusiastic and proactive, with a proven record of taking responsibility and self‑motivation.

Application:

Dawn O Shea is recruiting the Client Relationship Manager (Financial Planning Assistant / Financial Planning Administrator) directly on behalf of Nicholls Stephens so NO AGENCIES PLEASE. If you are successful in being short‑listed, you will be contacted within the next 14 days to discuss the role and your requirements in more detail.