Client Services Support Administrator (IFA practice experience desirable)

Are you looking for a new role in the Financial Services sector? Would you like to join a well-established Financial Planning firm that offers an excellent working environment where you are valued? My client, based on the outskirts of Norwich and trading since 2010, is looking for an experienced Administrator with a strong background in an IFA Practice setting or a similar Financial Services role to join their friendly team.

The ideal candidate will have a minimum of two years’ experience in the sector and have previously used the back-office system Intelligent Office, as well as knowledge of platforms such as Transact, Standard Life, Elevate, and OMW (desirable, not essential). Above all else, you will be a great person to work with, a hard worker, and a team player. My client offers advice regarding pensions, SIPPS, savings, investments, protection plans, and trust planning.

Role Purpose

This is a key role to provide a first-class proactive support service to the Advisers and clients. Working closely with the Advisers, Directors, and Paraplanners, you will be responsible for ensuring the client always receives the highest level of service. You will need to enjoy working as part of a successful team and actively contribute towards a common goal.

You will be expected to arrange plans and investments as recommended by the Advisers and provide administrative and technical support to enable them to advise their clients accordingly, ensuring compliance and regulatory requirements are adhered to. You will be fully accountable and self-reliant, able to produce accurate work with minimum input from others. It is expected that you are working towards the CII or CISI professional qualification benchmark or are committed to achieving this. My client will assist you with financial support for further training and examination where relevant, but you will be expected to take full responsibility for your continuous professional and personal development.

Relevant Skills and Knowledge

• Good understanding of financial services terminology.
• Knowledge of financial services solutions and associated regulatory and compliance requirements (for example, tax-efficient investments, retirement provision, investments, protection, ‘know your client’).
• Ability to multi-task and juggle a busy and varied workload.
• Ability to accurately follow a process.

General Responsibilities

• Liaising with product, wrap, and solution providers.
• Developing and maintaining internal relationships across the business, communicating effectively.
• Responding to internal and external queries promptly.
• Ensuring processes and procedures are followed and service standards are met.
• Time and priority management.

Specific Responsibilities

• Arranging agency servicing transfers and ensuring plan information is accurate and up to date.
• Keeping up to date with IT and back-office systems changes to ensure efficiency and accuracy.
• Preparing files for review meetings (annual, half-yearly, and ad-hoc), writing agendas, and ensuring post-meeting actions are processed within service level agreements.
• Diary and task management of client work.
• Processing and submitting new business.
• Processing and submitting changes to existing plans, investments, and policies (for example, amendments to premiums, withdrawals, funds).
• Producing plan, policy, and fund information.
• Ensuring the client file meets auditing expectations.
• Annual re-assessments of suitability.
• Annual drawdown re-assessment.
• Processing changes to client details and liaising with third parties to ensure changes are accurately completed.
• Data extraction, checking, and analysis.
• Prioritising work and contributing to the team and business goals.
• Taking accurate minutes of meetings.
• Client communication (letter, email, telephone, and face-to-face).
• Bulk mailing (letter and email).
• Assisting with implementing and improving administrative processes.
• Ensuring new client sign-ups are processed timely and accurately, and the file is compliant, with the required servicing and fee schedule adhered to.
• Accurate system updating and identifying and rectifying errors.
• Preparing and dispatching client valuation reports.
• Providing technical support to the Advisers and other team members.
• Answering technical client queries.
• Competent administration through wrap platforms utilized by the company.
• Answering the telephone promptly and communicating positively and effectively.
• Other ad hoc duties as required.

Benefits

• Flexible approach, operating a 37-hour week; start between 8 and 9 and leave anytime between 5 and 6; Fridays are 9-3 for everyone; lunch break of 1 to 1.5 hours.
• Death in service 4 x salary.
• Free parking.
• Standard pension, 3% employer contribution.
• Holiday entitlement is 26 days (an extra day off for your birthday if it falls on a working day).
• Financial assistance with further and ongoing studies.