About the role
This individual will oversee the day-to-day operations of the Paraplanning function, ensuring the timely and accurate delivery of high-quality technical support to advisers and clients. The role is pivotal in maintaining compliance standards, driving efficiency, and supporting the delivery of exceptional financial planning outcomes.
They will lead a team of paraplanners responsible for producing suitability reports, conducting research, and managing cases across the Financial Planning Support Department. This includes taking ownership of continuously improving processes, enhancing workflows, and ensuring best practice is followed throughout.
The individual will work closely with the Head of Department and other Team Leaders to achieve departmental and company objectives. They will ensure that customers remain at the heart of everything we do and that all team members adhere to Consumer Duty principles.
A successful Team Leader will have excellent communication and organisational skills, strong technical knowledge of financial planning, and the ability to coach and develop team members. They will be proactive in identifying opportunities to improve efficiency and deliver outstanding service.
The goal is to ensure all paraplanning activities are carried out accurately, efficiently, and in line with regulatory requirements, enabling advisers to provide the best possible advice and ensuring the smooth operation of the wider business.
Key Responsibilities
- Team Leadership: Manage and develop the paraplanning team, providing guidance, coaching, and performance management to ensure high-quality technical support and exceptional service delivery.
- Operational Oversight: Oversee the day-to-day operations of the paraplanning function, ensuring timely and accurate production of suitability reports within SLA, research, and technical support for advisers.
- Technical Accuracy & Compliance: Take ownership of ensuring all reports and recommendations meet regulatory requirements, internal policies, and Consumer Duty principles.
- Process Improvement: Identify opportunities to streamline paraplanning workflows, improve efficiency, and enhance the quality of advice support.
- Complex Case Support: Act as an escalation point for complex cases, providing technical expertise and ensuring solutions align with client objectives and compliance standards.
- Stakeholder Collaboration: Work closely with advisers, compliance, and other internal teams to resolve queries, support advice delivery, and implement best practices.
- Training & Development: Drive the upskilling of paraplanners, ensuring technical knowledge remains current and aligned with regulatory and market changes, and organise comprehensive training for new paraplanners joining the team.
- Training of new joiners: Contribute to the training of staff – mainly but not limited to paraplanners, advisor support and advisors – that join or are acquired by Clifton. This can include delivering the training in person at locations around the UK when acquisitions occur.
- Reporting & Analysis: Monitor and manage team performance in terms of productivity, produce regular reports on paraplanning output and quality, and provide insights to senior management.
- Project Support: Contribute to departmental projects and initiatives aimed at improving advice processes and client outcomes.
- Client-Centric Approach: Ensure all paraplanning activities keep the client’s objectives at the centre of the advice process.
Skills and Expertise
- Strong leadership and people management skills, with the ability to coach and develop a technical team.
- Comprehensive knowledge of financial planning and advice processes, including pensions, investments, and protection products.
- Excellent organisational and problem-solving abilities, with a proactive approach to managing workloads and deadlines.
- Ability to manage change effectively and deliver process improvements within the paraplanning function.
- Level 4 Diploma in Financial Planning
- High level of applied technical knowledge of financial advice and suitability requirements.
- Excellent attention to detail and commitment to producing accurate, compliant reports.
- Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret complex financial information.
- Positive and pro-active attitude to lead the team by example and foster a positive team environment
- Technology & Efficiency: Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications & CRM. In addition, the individual must actively embrace technology and AI, seeking innovative ways to improve processes, enhance efficiency, and deliver smarter solutions.
- Understanding of compliance requirements and Consumer Duty principles applicable to financial advice.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £45,000.00-£55,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company events
- Cycle to work scheme
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Experience:
- Paraplanner: 3 years (required)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Bristol BS20 0DD
