Paraplanner

CityJobs.com; Burnham-on-Sea; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 35,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

23 days holiday

Job summary

CityJobs.com is seeking a Paraplanner to support advisers in delivering high-quality financial planning. You will work closely to develop and refine lifetime strategies, contributing technically beyond traditional report writing and acting as a trusted resource for complex queries.

You will assist with client meetings in advisers' absence and provide input across more advanced planning areas, ensuring compliant, client-friendly outputs.

Qualifications

• Minimum 1 year paraplanning or technical financial planning experience.
• Ability to design and develop financial advice with advisers, not only document actions.
• Strong understanding of pensions, investments and protection.
• Research and provide solutions to complex financial planning queries.
• Produce compliant suitability reports and clear rationale.

Responsibilities

• Analyse client circumstances to support holistic financial plans.
• Contribute to design of planning strategies across accumulation, decumulation and protection.
• Assist advisers in creating long-term financial plans aligned to goals.
• Design recommendations using own technical knowledge and judgement.
• Stress test plans against risks with cashflow modelling.
• Provide technical input for complex planning scenarios.

Skills

Paraplanning

Financial planning

Pensions

Investments

Protection

FCA compliance

Reporting

Education

Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning

Tools

Intelligent Office / Intelliflo

Job description

Paraplanner

Location:Burnham-on-Sea
Working Hours:37.5-hour working week, Monday to Friday (08:45 am 5:15 pm) with 1-hour lunch break
Salary:£26,000 £35,000 (depending on experience and qualifications)

The Role

Our client is dedicated to helping clients achieve their financial goals through personalised planning and advice. They pride themselves on the quality of their advice, superior client outcomes, and building a strong, successful business founded on trust and professionalism.

They are seeking a Paraplanner to support the delivery of high-quality, client-focused financial planning. You will work closely with advisers to develop, maintain and evolve lifetime financial strategies for clients.

This role goes beyond traditional report writing, contributing directly to the design, analysis, and ongoing refinement of financial plans. The ideal candidate will be genuinely focused on paraplanning and technical financial planning, with no desire to move into an adviser role.

You will be instrumental in developing advice alongside the adviser rather than simply taking instructions and producing reports. You will be expected to bring your own technical expertise and judgement to the planning process, becoming a trusted point of reference for complex technical queries and challenging client scenarios.

This role may also involve supporting or conducting client meetings in the advisers absence, where appropriate, and providing technical input across more complex areas of financial planning.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Planning & Strategy

• Analyse client circumstances, objectives and financial position to support the development of holistic financial plans
• Contribute to the design of planning strategies across accumulation, decumulation and protection
• Support advisers in creating sustainable, long-term financial plans aligned to client goals
• Take an active role in designing recommendations alongside advisers, using your own technical knowledge and judgement
• Assist in stress testing plans against risks, life events and changing circumstances with cashflow modelling
• Provide technical input on complex planning scenarios and act as a trusted technical resource within the team

Research and Analysis

• Conduct detailed research across investments, pensions, protection and tax planning solutions
• Compare providers, products, charges and outcomes to support suitable recommendations
• Maintain a strong understanding of market developments, legislation and best practice planning approaches
• Research and provide technical guidance on more complex areas, including Trusts, Business Relief (BR) qualifying investments, VCTs and evolving pension legislation

Suitability & Report Writing

• Prepare high-quality, compliant and client-friendly suitability reports
• Clearly articulate the rationale behind recommendations in a way that supports client understanding and confidence
• Ensure consistency, accuracy and clarity across all written outputs
• Use your technical understanding to challenge, develop and strengthen recommendations where appropriate, rather than simply documenting adviser instructions

Ongoing Planning Support

• Support ongoing client reviews by analysing progress against financial plans and identifying required adjustments
• Assist advisers in updating strategies in response to client needs, legislative changes or market conditions
• Contribute to maintaining long-term client relationships through consistent, high-quality planning support
• Support or conduct client meetings in the advisers absence where appropriate

Compliance and Quality Assurance

• Ensure all work adheres to FCA regulations and internal compliance standards
• Maintain accurate, complete and well-documented client files
• Support internal quality checks and respond to compliance feedback where required
• Keep up to date with changes in financial services legislation and ensure technical recommendations remain compliant and appropriate

Collaboration & Client Experience

• Work closely with advisers, paraplanners and adviser support teams to ensure a smooth and efficient advice process
• Support the preparation for client meetings and follow-up actions where required
• Help ensure clients receive a clear, professional and consistent experience throughout their journey
• Act as a go-to person for complex technical queries and support colleagues with your specialist knowledge

Requirements

Essential

• Minimum 1 year experience in a genuine paraplanning or technical financial planning role
• Demonstrable experience of actively contributing to the design and development of financial advice alongside an adviser, rather than primarily carrying out administrative duties
• Strong understanding of financial planning principles, including pensions, investments and protection
• Strong technical knowledge and the confidence to research, analyse and provide solutions to complex financial planning queries
• Excellent analytical and research skills
• High attention to detail and commitment to quality
• Strong written communication skills with the ability to simplify technical concepts for clients
• Ability to produce clear, accurate and compliant suitability reports
• Strong understanding of FCA compliance requirements and internal standards
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and Outlook
• Strong team and cultural fit
• A genuine long-term interest in developing as a technical paraplanner, rather than progressing into an adviser role

Desirable

• Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning (or working towards)
• Experience with cashflow modelling and financial planning tools
• Knowledge of tax planning and long-term financial strategy design
• Knowledge or experience of Trusts, Business Relief (BR) qualifying investments, VCTs and complex pension planning
• Experience using Intelligent Office / Intelliflo

Personal Attributes

• Personable, professional and team-oriented
• Willingness to learn and contribute
• Highly presentable with strong interpersonal skills
• Confident in discussing complex technical matters and able to communicate effectively with advisers and clients
• Proactive and able to use your own initiative when developing financial planning solutions
• Ideally looking for a long-term career specialising in paraplanning and technical financial planning
• Ideally living within a 10-mile radius / 1520 minute commute

Whats in It For You

• 23 days holiday plus bank holidays, increasing after 2 years service (+1 day in year 3 and +1 day in year 4)
• Fully office-based role with a strong in-office learning culture and collaboration
• Regular staff social events
• Monthly external coach/counsellor visits for wellbeing support
• Staff wellbeing and challenge app with rewards system (vouchers; approx. £150£200 tax-free rewards before Christmas)
• Pension scheme: 5% employer contribution, minimum 3% employee contribution
• Life cover/death in service at approximately 1x salary
• No private medical insurance for general staff
• Strong emphasis on development, progression and merit-based growth culture
• Discretionary / ad hoc bonuses