Head of Paraplanning

Role: Head of Paraplanning

Location: Holborn, London

Salary: Up to £80,000 plus extensive benefits package

We are recruiting for a highly regarded, chartered, independent, fee-based wealth management firm based in the City. They focus on providing independent, well researched and bespoke advice to individuals, companies, trustees and charitable bodies. They now seek to recruit an experienced chartered (or near) paraplanner with management and whole of market research experience.

You will love this job if you:

• Enjoy autonomy, liaising with clients directly and having your opinions heard and acted upon
• Take initiative and understand that paraplanning is not simply report writing
• Successfully manage competing priorities whilst demonstrating confidence, professionalism, discretion, positivity and superior attention to detail
• Are dedicated and fast-moving with a track record operating with urgency, focus and discipline
• Are adaptable and ambitious, enthusiastically taking on other assignments as needed
• Have strong analytical, planning, organisational and time management skills
• Are technical in nature with a clear understanding of the advice and paraplanning process
• Enjoy mentoring so to assist the junior members of the paraplanning team (largely via an internal graduate trainee programme)

What you will do:

• Managing the delegation of work to the paraplanning team who report to you directly
• Maintaining open dialogue with the Head of Administration to ensure smooth operations between the paraplanning and administration teams
• Liaising directly with the Operations Director to feedback any relevant information or issues affecting the paraplanning team as necessary.
• Liaise as the point of contact with the outsourced paraplanner (used for overflow of department workload)
• Involvement in Monthly Operations Meetings and (as needed) with Quarterly Management Meetings
• Manage the central investment proposition
• Interpret data obtained by advisers during client meetings
• Conduct research, complex calculations and cashflow forecasting to provide solutions to meet client needs and recommend an appropriate course of action through suitability reports (both bespoke and templated) presented to the adviser for sign off
• Participate in project work for example central research projects
• Become a member of the Investment Committee and contribute to the same
• Support the development of client relationships b yattending meetings when required and becoming another point of contact for clients
• Assist with technical issues including input into the communication of technical developments, Budget updates and legislative changes to planners and clients
• Establish strong relationships with advisers and senior management
• Regularly participate in team meetings,highlighting issues and owning actions through to resolution
• Proactively identify improvements for the efficiency of the team including recommending the change or introduction of external software
• Proactively enhance industry and company knowledge, through external and internal sources

What you will need:

• At least 4 years experience in a paraplanning role with management exposure within IFA firms
• Chartered (or near chartered) ideally via CII
• To be ideally educated to graduate level
• An ability to quickly and independently make sound decisions
• Ideally have experience of:
• Third party research projects including platforms, SIPPs and fund research
• IT solutions such as FE Analytics, Voyant, CashCalc and Xplan
• A proven track record of delivering written financial advice
• To be effective at technical and product whole of market researching
• Experience with training and development of paraplanners including development plans, appraisals and if required, performance improvement plans