Paraplanner - Fixed Term Contract

Attivo; Cheltenham; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Non-contributory Pension 8%

Private Medical Insurance

Cashplan

Income Protection

Critical Illness

Death in Service

Parking allowance

Generous holiday allowance

Work from home and flexible working

Great culture and wellbeing

Job summary

Attivo is seeking a Paraplanner to provide comprehensive administrative and technical support. You will prepare client meeting docs, suitability reports and forms, ensuring compliance and accuracy across processes.

Role is a 12-month fixed-term contract with offices in Cheltenham and other locations; candidates nationwide are welcome. A strong pension, private medical and generous benefits accompany the role.

Qualifications

• Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning with the CII is required.
• Minimum 2 years’ Paraplanner experience.
• Knowledge of pensions and investments.
• Strong understanding of compliance processes.
• Excellent report writing and written/verbal communication skills.
• Strong analytical and research skills.
• Good organisational, time management and caseload skills.
• Experience in financial services with an IFA.
• Ability to work on own initiative and be professional.
• Ethical, discreet and able to build client relationships.
• Ability to work well under pressure with attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Analyse the client’s financial position and priorities, making recommendations.
• Complete a full suitability report for the Financial Planner.
• Ensure data gathered on the CRM is complete and up to date.
• Data gather and research new plans as appropriate.
• Maintain record keeping in the CRM and ensure timely documentation.
• Submit completed business applications to providers with all required documents.
• Take ownership of cases and monitor progress and submission.
• Communicate with the client and Financial Planner about progress and issues.
• Ensure regulatory obligations are discharged fully during engagements.
• Support responses to complaints and maintain good service standards.
• Keep professional development records and knowledge up to date.
• Study and pursue professional qualifications toward Chartered status.
• Undertake ad-hoc project work as required by the business.

Skills

Paraplanner experience

Pensions knowledge

Investments knowledge

Compliance awareness

Report writing

Analytical skills

Client communication

Time management

Independent worker

Education

Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning

Degree level education

Chartered status by the CII

Job description

About Attivo

Attivo are Lifestyle Financial Planners. We’re a privately owned company. We prefer it that way. It means we’re free to do what we feel is best for our clients and our people. Our work is all about our clients. We pride ourselves on being completely transparent, open and honest – an approach that builds trust with our clients and inspires their financial confidence.

Our experienced, highly qualified financial specialists and expert support teams are committed to delivering more for all our clients. Our independent status and unique approach to understanding our clients, their preferences and their motivation, sets us apart. We will build and provide ongoing support for a bespoke financial plan aimed at fulfilling our clients' lifestyle needs.

Whether you’re a private client or a business accessing our corporate services, you can rely on a clear, consistent service from your Financial Planner and from our experienced teams.

About The Role

As a Paraplanner, you will be providing comprehensive administrative and technical assistance. Your responsibilities will include preparing client meeting documentation, suitability reports, and application forms, ensuring that all advice is delivered and processed with the utmost accuracy and compliance. You will conduct detailed research to identify the most appropriate financial solutions from our Centralised Investment Proposition or other market alternatives, aligning them with each client's financial needs and objectives.

You will also be responsible for drafting suitability letters, completing and submitting applications, and ensuring all compliance procedures are strictly followed. To excel in this role, you will continuously develop your product, technical, and regulatory knowledge, staying current with the latest financial regulations. Your attention to detail and commitment to compliance will be vital in ensuring the highest standards of service for our clients.

This role is a fixed-term contract for 12 months, and suitable for candidates nationally as we have offices located in Cheltenham, Cardiff, Fareham, Newbury, London, Liverpool, Darlington and Grangemouth.

About You

You are a detail-oriented and analytical Paraplanner with a solid foundation in financial planning, backed by at least two years of experience in the field. Having a comprehensive understanding of pensions, investments, and estate planning you are able to research and analyse effectively clients financial positions, making informed recommendations that align with their priorities and the advice provided by Financial Planners.

Your excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, enable you to produce clear and comprehensive reports while also supporting effective client interactions. You are well-versed in compliance processes, ensuring that all regulatory obligations are met and that records are meticulously maintained in the CRM system. You take ownership of cases from start to finish, ensuring all applications are processed promptly and in line with client and provider expectations.

Key Responsibilities Include

• Analyse the client’s current financial position and given their priorities, in line with the Financial Planners advice and supporting documentation, make recommendations as appropriate.
• Complete in full a suitability report for the Financial Planner in a timely manner. Utilise Paraplanner support tools, such as Cashflow and Fund analytics, as appropriate to complete the suitability report and evidence client objectives have been met in full.
• Ensure all data gathered by the Administrators concerning the Client(s) Financial Portfolio is complete, accurate and up to date.
• Data gather and research new plans as appropriate.
• Ensure record keeping is maintained on our CRM System and that the information is unambiguous, accurate and recorded in a timely fashion.
• Submit the completed business applications to providers in a timely manner, ensuring appropriate documentation contains all new business requirements, information is accurate, compliant and all relevant supporting information attached.
• Take ownership of the case and monitor progress and submission to ensure processed in line with the providers service standards and the client’s requirements.
• Initiate/support communications with the client, by keeping the Financial Planner informed of progress and resolving any issues as they arise. Ensure all documentation and post is collected, scanned and attached to relevant client file.
• Ensure all Regulatory obligations are discharged fully during all engagements with the client.
• Support the business in responding to any complaints either being handled internally or by the Financial Ombudsman Services.
• Ensure advice files are submitted for full file checks.
• Complete any remedial actions in a timely manner.
• Maintain continuous professional development records and a comprehensive knowledge of pensions, investments and estate planning.
• Study and take professional qualifications appropriate to the role, aiming towards chartered status.
• Undertake and complete any ad-hoc project work as and when business requirements dictate and in line with the management brief.

Essential Skills And Experience

• Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning with the CII
• At least 2 years’ experience working as a Paraplanner
• A comprehensive knowledge of pensions and investments
• Good understanding of compliance processes and issues
• Excellent interpersonal, listening, numerical and IT skills
• Strong analytical and research skills
• Excellent report writing and written/verbal communication skills
• Good organisational, time management, and caseload management skills
• Experience in the financial services industry, working for an Independent Financial Adviser
• Ability to work on own initiative, sometimes for long time periods
• Professional, ethical and discreet
• Ability to build and maintain ongoing client relationships
• Ability to work well under pressure while maintaining excellent attention to detail

Desirable Skills And Experience

• Minimum 5 GCSEs graded A-B (6), or equivalent, including Maths and English
• Educated to Degree level
• Experience of Intelliflo
• Advanced Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning, and achieved Chartered status by the CII

Salary And Benefits

£35,000 - £50,000 depending on qualification and experience.

Attivo Also Offers

• Non-contributory Pension Scheme (8%)
• Private Medical Insurance
• Cashplan
• Income Protection
• Critical Illness
• Death in Service
• Parking allowance
• Generous holiday allowance, rising with length of service
• Work from home and flexible working available
• Excellent culture, promoting employee wellbeing and engagement.

Attivo is committed to being an Equal Opportunities employer. If you require reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process, please let us know and we will endeavour to make the process as accessible and as fair as possible.

Please be aware that any offer of employment will be subject to satisfactory completion of pre-employment vetting as outlined by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). This may include but not limited to adverse financial history, criminal records, UK directorship and disqualifications check.