Senior Financial Planner Support

My client is an award winning advice firm with offices in Norfolk and Suffolk, they have been established for over 35 years. Their Bury St. Edmunds based team are looking for a Senior Financial Planning Administrator to join their team of successful administration professionals. The successful candidate will benefit from a market leading salary and benefits package and importantly the opportunity to progress in their career with support both personally and financially, in addition all professional exam costs are met, and study is supported (whilst progression is encouraged it is not a prerequisite of the role and those happy within the role are equally attractive in their consideration).

Purpose of role

• To undertake a senior lead support role to the Financial Planners and Directors to ensure clients receive a consistent, high level of service and support.
• To coach and develop team members to ensure delivery of a high-quality service to clients.
• To ensure that client records are up to date and that internal systems and processes are followed consistently by all team members.

Key responsibilities

• Generate and compile documents to create accurate client review packs and check packs where appropriate.
• Deliver a proactive high-quality support service to Financial Planners and Directors, assisting with urgent and technical problem solving where necessary.
• Ensure all client correspondence is clear and accurate, arranging completion of policy analysis, liaising with providers and then the Financial Planner, retaining a full audit history of information provided.
• Keep Financial Planners and team members up to date with progress and manage any issues that may arise, escalating any concerns or complaints as necessary. Hold weekly review meetings with Financial Planners to discuss priorities and any issues arising.
• Prepare for, and attend, client meetings to support Financial Planners by presenting part of the meeting as appropriate, for example cashflow/CGT calculations, as and when required, in conjunction with line manager approval.
• Conduct pre and post reviews, delegating to FP/team support, as appropriate, for certain tasks. Ensure meeting notes are issued promptly, and actions are completed.
• Coach and develop junior team members to enable them to undertake tasks that will benefit the team and ultimately the client.
• Understanding more complex products and assisting with developing procedures for the team.
• Working with platforms and providers where required to ensure clients holdings are correctly managed. This includes authorising SL Wrap wizards, checking inputs to platforms and actioning instructions received to the Client Instruction Queue.
• Generate template suitability letters from Intelligent Office (IO).
• Develop other team members to enable them to learn/support this activity.
• In conjunction with the Financial Planner, ensure the cash weightings are checked each week and actioned.
• Ensure IO is up to date and opportunities are added and maintained regularly and correctly, in consultation with the Financial Planner.
• Ensure all client instructions are processed, using the respective advice flow, checklists and IO event lists and tasks.
• Undertake and manage project activity to ensure the efficient running of the office e.g. streamlining processes and documents, create framework for checking work, ensure templates/documents are updated and in the right place, workflow management.
• Ensure compliance with legislation, rules and procedures at all times. Liaise with the Compliance Manager and Team Leader when standards or processes are not adhered to.

Personal Specification

• Diploma qualified or equivalent experience.
• Other qualifications as appropriate.
• Management Qualification or relevant training.
• Good understanding of systems and processes.
• Providing accurate and timely financial services administrative support.
• Development of others.
• Writing suitability letters.
• Producing schedules for all clients.
• Management of client complaints.
• Identifying areas for improvement.
• Experience of dealing with a number of high-level technical queries.
• Experience of dealing with the most complex and challenging situations.
• Knowledge of pensions and investments.
• Sharing knowledge and best practice with others.
• Understanding of providers and resolving issues.
• Attention to detail/accuracy.
• Computer literate and data management.
• Analytical.
• Planning, time management and organisational skills.
• Team working.
• Ability to train others.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships.
• Communication – written and verbal.
• Ability to challenge where necessary.
• Ability to work proactively and on own initiative.
• Leadership skills - motivating and inspiring others.
• Coaching, mentoring and team building.
• Creativity and innovation.
• Excellent report writing and presentation skills.
• Decision-making and problem solving.
• Active listening with empathy, asking the right questions with curiosity to gain insight into people.
• Communicating with emotional intelligence.
• Communicating under pressure.
• Effective writing.
• Presenting data and information with confidence.
• Ability to communicate complex information in a simple way.
• Giving and receiving feedback.
• Adaptable – ability to flex your style and approach in response to different clients and different circumstances.
• Negotiating.
• Behaving in a professional manner.
• Trust and integrity.
• Curiosity and willingness to learn and improve.
• Commercial awareness.
• Genuine interest in people.

Benefits

• 29 days holiday + office closed between Christmas and New Year + Birthday off.
• 5% pension contribution.
• Flexible working.
• Hybrid working (two days from home).
• Profit Share.
• Social events.
• Free parking.
• Free drinks/fruit.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Length of service recognition.
• Discounted legal services.
• Life cover and income protection.
• Healthcare cash plan.
• Private health care scheme.
• Professional qualifications supported financially.