Compliance Assistant - Wealth Management Firm - Kent based - Salary is negotiable

Compliance Assistant - Wealth Management Firm - Kent based - Salary is negotiable

My client are a Chartered independent wealth planning firm with offices across Kent who I have met and placed 7 members of staff with. They offer whole of market financial advice to HNW retirees, accumulators, local families and SME owners based across Sussex, Kent and London. In their current setup they manage the affairs of c.2000 clients (over £500m AUM) with assets ranging from £150k - £20m. The advisers consult on pensions, investments, tax planning, cashflow modelling, retirement planning, protections, and some esoteric schemes such as VCT & EIS schemes.

They have very longstanding relations with accountancy and solicitor practices who refer business to them and the advisers are not targeted as they have such a strong belief in ensuring clients received the best service rather than stacking up AUM. They place exceptional customer satisfaction at the top of their priorities resulting in a very high rate of retention with some relations stretch back over 20 years. The support team comprises of an experienced team of pooled Administrators & Paraplanners across 2 offices who are actively encouraged to progress and develop as both professionals and individuals via ongoing CPD and industry exams

The business has a team of senior advisers and a full suite of admin and paraplanning support staff and they have very exciting expansion plans over the next 5 years. Due to organic growth the Directors are looking to recruit more staff. Before they action their expansion plans, they need to recruit another member of staff into their compliance function to support 2 senior compliance professionals before scaling the business. The Managing Director is creating a brand-new role for a Compliance Officer/Training and Competency professional to report into the Compliance Manager to support with Training & Competency duties. Duties will include but are not limited to:

• Assist in the onboarding requirements for Financial Planners and where stated, support staff
• Provide attaining and maintaining competence first line supervision for all new and existing individuals performing an FCA activity within the company by: delivering training as required
• Undertaking Supervisor one to ones with new and existing Advisers as laid down in the Training & Competence (T&C) Scheme.
• Reviewing business cases in relation to new business and annual reviews to ascertain whether cases are suitable, suitable with development needs, unclear or unsuitable, on a pre-sale and post-sale basis and to ensure any remedial action is taken by the Financial Planner.
• Ensure formal initial and annual sign off of competency and Fit & Proper requirements in relation to Financial Planners and Senior Managers.
• Assist in the development, support and maintenance of the firm’s T&C scheme and its documentation, including the policy and ensure various registers are kept up to date.
• To develop and implement a risk rating criteria in respect of new and existing Financial Planners to ensure the frequency and type of supervision and monitoring program is appropriate to each category of Financial Planner.
• Ensure appropriate stakeholders have access to accurate Key Performance Indicators to demonstrate the necessary systems and controls are working appropriately, and risks are managed in relation to T&C and the wider Governance and Systems & Controls requirements of the firm.
• Attend Executive Meetings.
• Provide guidance and appropriate support for Professional Qualifications within an individual’s role with the aim of all Financial Planners to be Chartered or at least working towards that status.
• Maintain close working relationships across the business and its management teams, with the ability to give Learning & Development support to non-regulatory roles as well.
• Refer any compliance and/or risk related issues found in conducting the above responsibilities to the Head of Compliance.
• Work in conjunction with the Compliance to ensure the T&C requirements of the firm are met and maintained

Package and remuneration

• Salary is negotiable: £35k - £50k plus bonus
• Attractive benefits package
• 25 days holiday + bank holidays