Sanlam Financial Adviser - Elyon

Sanlam; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Sanlam is seeking a senior advisory professional to manage complex intermediary and client portfolios, providing thought leadership on advice solutions and influencing distribution strategy. The role safeguards long-term client and business outcomes within Sanlam Life and Savings in South Africa.

You will lead high-level relationship management, offer policy and financial guidance, and negotiate terms within approved boundaries, drawing on extensive industry experience.

Qualifications

• Advanced verbal communication skills and the ability to convey complex ideas clearly.
• Ability to quickly build trust with decision-makers and influencers within customer organizations.
• Proven track record of closing deals and progressing sales conversations to commitments.
• Skills to initiate structured, value-focused sales conversations with clients.
• Understanding of intermediaries' roles and how they affect client outcomes.
• Experience in maintaining long-term client relationships and cross-functional collaboration.
• Minimum 5 years of general experience in advisory/sales roles.
• Very limited to 3 months managerial experience in early leadership contexts.

Responsibilities

• Customer Relationship Management: develop and execute plans to manage key accounts and influence decision-makers.
• Information and Business Advice: provide specialist guidance on policies, procedures and complex queries.
• Financial Advice: implement strategy for financial guidance considering client demographics.

Skills

Verbal Communication

Builds Rapport

Closes Effectively

Initiates Compelling Sales

Intermediaries Process

Maintains the Relationship

General Experience

Managerial Experience

Education

Undergraduate Degree / Honours

Job description

Who are we?

Sanlam Life and Savings (SLS) is focused on serving our retail and corporate clients in South Africa and further developing our strategic advantages in the South African market. Sanlam Life and Savings consists of the following business units Retail Mass, Corporate, Risk and Savings, Glacier and various business enabling functions. The Sanlam Life and Savings Office provides strategic direction, coordination and support to the four clusters, as well as performing governance oversight that includes assurance provided by second line of defense functions in SLS, to enable us to meet our business objectives.

Who are we?

Sanlam Life and Savings (SLS) is focused on serving our retail and corporate clients in South Africa and further developing our strategic advantages in the South African market. Sanlam Life and Savings consists of the following business units Retail Mass, Corporate, Risk and Savings, Glacier and various business enabling functions. The Sanlam Life and Savings Office provides strategic direction, coordination and support to the four clusters, as well as performing governance oversight that includes assurance provided by second line of defense functions in SLS, to enable us to meet our business objectives.

Purpose of the Role

To serve as a senior advisory authority by managing complex intermediary and/or client portfolios, providing thought leadership on advice solutions, influencing distribution strategy at a segment level, and safeguarding long-term client and business outcomes.

Overview Of Role Responsibilities (Level 1-13)

Customer Relationship Management / Account Management

- Level 6 - Adaptation Develop and implement a relationship management plan for existing customer accounts to identify and build relationships with relevant decision-makers and influencers within the customer organization and to enable effective two-way flow of information and resolution of issues. Collect feedback from identified customers or customer segments to ensure their needs are met, providing themes, summary analyses, and recommendations for changes based on customer input.

Information and Business Advice

- Level 6 - Adaptation Provide specialist advice on the interpretation and application of policies and procedures, resolving queries and issues and referring very complex or contentious issues to others.

Financial Advice

- Level 6 - Adaptation Implement the strategy for providing financial advice within an area of limited complexity, taking its distinctive client demographics and needs into account.

Pricing and Terms Negotiation

- Level 6 - Adaptation Lead and deliver structured pricing and terms projects and procedures. Negotiate within approved boundaries.

Customer Needs Clarification

- Level 6 - Adaptation Set clear objectives for each sales call or meeting; tailor standard materials to make presentations to decision-makers and influencers within the customer organization; and ask relevant questions to gather information, to evaluate the customer's level of interest, and to identify and respond to areas requiring further information or explanation.

Required Skills

Verbal Communication

- Advanced Works at an advanced level to express ideas, request actions, formulate plans, and policies by means of clear and effective verbal communications. Typically works independently and provides guidance.

Builds Rapport

- Advanced Works at an advanced level to quickly and effectively establish trust within the buying centers in the client's organization. Typically works independently and provides guidance.

Closes Effectively

- Fully Competent Works with full competence to pre-plan, suggest, and confirm mutually beneficial commitments that are appropriate and clear and that move the sales/client relationship forward. Typically works without supervision and may provide technical guidance.

Initiates Compelling Sales Conversations

- Fully Competent Works with full competence to propose a mutually agreed-upon agenda to start sales conversations that offer value to the client. Typically works without supervision and may provide technical guidance.

Intermediaries Process

- Fully Competent Works with full competence to understand the role and responsibilities of the intermediary in relation to both client and product providers. Typically works without supervision and may provide technical guidance.

Maintains the Relationship

- Advanced Works at an advanced level to cultivate and sustain positive interpersonal connections, fostering trust, collaboration, and effective communication to support enduring professional relationships. Typically works independently and provides guidance.

General Experience

Experience enables job holder to deal with the majority of situations and to advise others (Minimum 5 years)

Managerial Experience

Very limited (0 to 3 months)

Education

Undergraduate Degree / Honours Tertiary Degree

Required Behavioural Competencies

• Communicates Effectively
• Manages Complexity
• Ensures Accountability
• Builds Networks
• Instils Trust
• Customer Focus

The Sanlam Group is committed to achieving transformation and embraces diversity. This commitment is what drives us to achieve a diverse, inclusive and equitable workplace as we believe that these are key components to ensuring a thriving and sustainable business in South Africa. The Group's Employment Equity plan and targets will be considered as part of the selection process.