The Role:

We have an exciting Paraplanner role available for an aspiring individual who wants to progress their career with in a growing Independent Financial Advice Firm. We are looking for a team player who is committed to delivering an outstanding Client experience and strives to put our Clients needs and outcomes at the forefront of everything they do. Our Paraplanners will be talking with Clients as required, taking the information gathered by our Administration Team, and analysing this in conjunction with the Adviser meeting notes, wider client information and their fact find form, to develop a financial suitability strategy that meets the outcomes that the Advice Team have agreed with the relevant Clients or family group. These can span from a simple pension switch through to complex HNW multi pension, ISA, GIA, EIS and/or VCT cases.

What we offer:

This is a primarily office-based role, with flexible hours, a competitive salary and attractive package of benefits. For the right candidate we may consider an element of home working. Our aim is to ensure our people have a good work life balance and are fully supported with paid for training and development. On top of this we offer a pension, health cover and more. This is all designed to make sure our people can grow in their careers, and that we, as responsible employers, are looking after each team members health and well-being.

To Apply:

So if you have 4 or 5 years’ experience in similar roles, then please apply to this job advert including your CV and a covering letter describing what relevant skills and experience you can bring to Berkshire IFA, along with your salary expectations.

Paraplanner Job Description

Summary:

Paraplanners at Berkshire IFA are responsible for developing financial solutions that fulfil the outcomes our clients are seeking. Working in collaboration with the Financial Planning Team to prepare recommendations and produce suitability reports focusing on the needs of the client, consumer duty principles as set out by the FCA and company policies. This includes but isn’t limited to maintaining full client records, data gathering, and application form preparation and submission. The role will involves promoting the company’s services in a professional and FCA compliant manner.

Core Duties, Experience and Responsibilities:

• 3-5 years Paraplanning experience.
• You will have the vision and ability to write two multi-pension and investment suitability reports per week, or 5 simple suitability or review reports per week, for our HNW Clients.
• Familiar with core Consumer duty principles, and able to put them at the heart of everything we do at Berkshire IFA.
• Put the Client needs and out comes first in every situation, in a fully compliant manner.
• Lead the preparation of suitability reports for approval by the Financial Adviser, and prepare associated documentation as required. Work with the Administration Team ensure all information is available for a suitability report to be produced. This will include the pre-completion of documentation ready for clients to check and sign.
• Have at least Level 4 Diploma in Financial Planning or equivalent so able act as a knowledge bank for queries of a technical nature, and when the adviser isn’t available.
• Responsible for day-to-day paraplanning tasks - identifying what’s required, where client cases have information missing or outstanding actions. Then working with the advisers and administrative team to obtain this information and subsequently writing a suitability report ready for adviser approval.
• Act as a Paraplanning mentor for less experienced team members - as they join Berkshire IFA. Adopt an inclusive and inspiring leadership style to help future team members identify any development areas they need to address to achieve their own career aspirations.
• Record any client communications (whether that communication is written, oral or electronic) including client related communications with third parties.
• Identify areas for financial planning and developing solutions suitable to meet the client’s needs and objectives. This will include the preparation of tax calculations where necessary.
• Willing to help out - You may at times be required to provide support with administrative functions, for example: new business processing, income matching, collating and providing management information and organising future planning meetings with Clients on behalf of the Financial Adviser.
• Where necessary you will liaise with product providers and other third parties to acquire any additional information that may be required in order to assess the client’s needs and to help formulate any recommendations made by the adviser.
• Client Contact - On occasion it may be necessary to deal with technical or general queries from clients.
• Continuous Personal Development - All of our team must commit to keeping their knowledge up to date and retaining supporting records for review. We support all Training and Development.

Team Support/Communication:

• It is important that the Financial Advisors, Paraplanners, Administrators and the wider Berkshire IFA team work well together as a strong team, offering assistance to clients irrespective of whether or not the Financial Adviser is available. You may be expected to cover for colleagues who are absent.

Essential Education, Qualifications & Training:

• Level 4+ Financial services qualifications, RO exams are preferable.

IT Skills:

• Fully competent in all the major desktop applications (proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook etc).
• Previous experience using report writing software is a distinct advantage.
• Previous experience of all the main Platforms and IO will be advantageous

Hours of Work: Full time - 37.5 hours per week or Part time - 20, 25 or 30 hours per work are available.

Salary: Ranges from £45,000 to £55,000 dependent on experience for full time people, pro-rata for part time, plus a comprehensive benefits package.