Trainee Client Service Associate - Financial Planning Company

Cranleigh Personnel; Woking; Hybrid; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

32 days annual leave including bankhol

Private medical insurance

Income protection

Death in Service

Company pension

Rail Season Ticket Loan

Team events

Annual social events

Job summary

Cranleigh Personnel in Woking and London is seeking a Trainee Client Services Associate to support Advisers, Administrators and clients while you learn the foundations of financial planning. You don't need previous FS experience; the role focuses on attitude, work ethic, attention to detail and a desire to learn, with structured training and mentoring.

You'll alternate time between the Woking and London offices, starting with on-site training in London, then continuing a balanced split, gaining

Qualifications

• No prior financial services experience required; attitude and willingness to learn matter.
• GCSE English and Maths at grade 4/C or above is expected.

Responsibilities

• Support Advisers and Administrators with day-to-day client servicing.
• Prepare client and pre-meeting documentation.
• Maintain accurate client records and systems.
• Assist with portfolio reports and client correspondence.
• Process and complete administrative tasks.
• Identify issues and know when to ask for help or escalate.
• Learn about the wider financial planning and advice process.
• Work as part of a team to deliver a high standard of service.
• Take increasing ownership of your own workload as knowledge develops.

Skills

Strong work ethic

Attention to detail

Organised

Communicate effectively

Team player

Professionalism

Education

GCSE English and Maths (4/C) or above

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Trainee Client Services Associate

Location: Woking, with time split between Woking and London

Salary: £25,000 - £30,000 depending on experience

The Opportunity

Are you thinking about building a career within financial planning and looking for a genuine entry-level opportunity where you can learn from experienced professionals and develop your skills from the ground up?

Opportunities like this are rare. This is a chance to join an established Chartered and award-winning financial planning business as a Trainee, surrounded by experienced professionals who are genuinely committed to helping you learn, develop and build your career.

It's a genuine opportunity for someone looking to start their career within financial planning, with structured training, hands‑on experience and plenty of support along the way.

As a Trainee Client Services Associate, you'll gain experience supporting Advisers, Administrators and clients while developing a strong foundational understanding of how financial planning works.

You don't need previous financial services experience. What's most important is your attitude, work ethic, attention to detail and genuine desire to learn.

The Best of Both Worlds

Based in the company's Woking office, you'll be part of a small and collaborative team made up of 2 Advisers and 2 Administrators.

You'll benefit from the close‑knit nature of a smaller office, with plenty of opportunity to learn directly from experienced colleagues and support from a dedicated Administration Team Leader who will act as a mentor throughout your development.

You'll also spend time in the larger London office, giving you exposure to a much bigger team, a wider range of experience and the vibrancy of a busy financial planning environment.

Your first month will be spent training on‑site in the London office, giving you a strong foundation before your time is split between the London and Woking offices.

It's a great combination of close support and mentoring in Woking, alongside the wider experience and energy of the London team.

The Company

With just over 100 employees, this is an established and growing financial planning business with an excellent reputation for developing and retaining its people.

The culture is a big part of what makes the business stand out. It's a social, collaborative environment where people genuinely enjoy working together, with regular team and company‑wide social events.

We've placed several people into the business ourselves, and one of the things that really stands out is the staff retention. People join, develop and stay because they feel supported and can see where their career can go.

The Role

The Client Services team provides key support to Advisers, Paraplanners and clients, and as a trainee you'll gradually build your knowledge and take on more responsibility as your confidence develops.

You'll receive training across areas such as:

• Supporting Advisers and Administrators with day‑to‑day client servicing
• Preparing client and pre‑meeting documentation
• Maintaining accurate client records and systems
• Assisting with portfolio reports and client correspondence
• Processing and completing administrative tasks
• Identifying issues and knowing when to ask for help or escalating them
• Learning about the wider financial planning and advice process
• Working as part of a team to deliver a high standard of service
• Taking increasing ownership of your own workload as your knowledge develops

You won't be expected to know everything from day one. The focus is on learning the role properly, developing your knowledge and building confidence over time.

Progression & Development

Development is a real focus within the business, and this role is designed to give someone at the start of their career the foundations they need to build a future within financial planning.

What's on Offer

• £25,000 - £30,000, depending on experience
• Structured training and development
• Ongoing time split between the Woking and London offices
• Dedicated Administration Team Leader providing mentoring and support
• 32 days annual leave including bank holidays
• Option to buy and sell holiday
• Private medical insurance
• Income protection
• Death in Service
• Company pension scheme
• Rail Season Ticket Loan
• Regular team and company‑wide social events
• Excellent staff retention and a genuinely supportive working environment
• Opportunity to build a career within a Chartered and award‑winning business

What They're Looking For

This is a role aimed at someone early in their professional career, so previous financial services experience isn't required.

You might be:

• A recent college or sixth‑form leaver
• A recent university or apprenticeship graduate
• In your first professional role and looking for your next opportunity
• Someone with some previous office administration or customer service experience who wants to move into financial services

Most importantly, you'll be someone who:

• Has a strong work ethic and takes pride in producing quality work
• Has excellent attention to detail
• Is organised and willing to learn
• Can communicate confidently and professionally
• Works well as part of a team
• Is reliable, consistent and takes responsibility for their work
• Can stay focused when completing routine tasks
• Is comfortable asking questions and learning from more experienced colleagues
• Demonstrates professionalism and integrity
• Has a genuine interest in developing a career within financial services
• Has basic knowledge of Microsoft Office applications
• Has GCSE English and Maths at grade 4 (C) or above

Previous office administration or customer service experience would be beneficial, but is not essential.

If you're at the beginning of your career and looking for a genuine opportunity to start within financial planning, learn from experienced professionals and develop your skills within a supportive and established business, this could be a great place to start.