Financial Services Manager

Skills / experience absolutely essential on day one

The role of supervisor is a first line/front line role where the ability to communicate effectively is of the utmost importance. There needs to be a degree of technical knowledge but getting a message across and getting advisers engaged is of more importance.

We are not looking for compliance professionals who have a technically minded bias

1) Experience of interacting with financial advisers/mortgage brokers. Having the personality to be able to communicate well in a meeting and good written documentation that stands up to scrutiny.

2) Ability to work to deadlines and under pressure at times

3) A track record of having worked remotely.

There are four main aspects to the role.

1) Conduct audits of our IFA & mortgage broker firms. This is a deep dive into their systems & controls and adherence to our procedures. Involves desktop-based preparation followed by a face to face (20%) or Teams (80%) meetings to discuss issues identified and then follow up to ensure risks mitigated.

2) Holding 121 meetings with Advisers to review their KPIs and adherence to our procedures. Typically, desktop preparation followed by a Teams meeting.

3) Renew Competent Adviser Status for our Advisers. This involves a desktop review of KPIs.

4) Identification of risks presented by firms & individuals and then agreeing actions to mitigate and manage risks.

Attitude & personality.

The ability to engage positively with an adviser or advising principal to support them address the issues identified.

Someone who can deliver tough messages/bad news in a way that comes across as supportive and helpful.

A positive outlook.

Someone with experience of both working in isolation and as part of a team.A candidate that demonstrates the ability to get on well with team mates and to be supportive to colleagues.

What types of organisations or environments ?

The current team is made up of supervisors who have a lot of compliance contracting experience, having worked on things like past business reviews. Several are former advisers, some are former bancassurance managers.

We are happy to consider candidates based nationwide.

It would be helpful to have had prior supervisory experience.

A candidate with no supervisory experience would not be discounted if they had relevant advising experience and could adapt to a supervision environment.

Which qualifications

FPC 1,2,3 as a minimum but this attracts a lower salary than noted on the vacancy.

Level 4 DipFA is preferred

A lot of the team have these qualifications as well as CeMAP & CeRER (equity release).

The role involves supervising IFAs so investment qualifications & experience in this area is required. Someone with just CeMAP would not be considered unless they were part way through their Level 4 diploma qualification.

Additional information

The Company has its head office in Horsham, West Sussex with smaller offices in Chelmsford & Nottingham. However, the supervisors in this team are remote in a home-based role where we will supply a laptop and monitor.

Occasionally there will be the need to travel to visit a firm for a face-to-face meeting and a twice-yearly team meeting in Horsham. Typically, a visit is completed in a day,

including travel but sometimes an overnight stay may be needed. Expenses are paid for travel & accommodation in such instances.

Team Meetings are currently twice a year (January & July) and involve 3 days in the head office at Horsham.

The first couple of days will be spent in Head Office in Horsham on an informal induction, with an introduction to colleagues in Head Office.

A couple of experienced supervisors will then be assigned to take the successful candidate through a programme of learning the aspects of the role. This involves observing several colleagues (to see different styles and approaches), observing and talking through preparation and what we are looking for by asking a certain question.

The assigned supervisors will then conduct joint meetings and then observe the new colleague hosting meetings. Written work will be peer checked with feedback to help improve. All the team colleagues are available via Microsoft Teams to support.

If you are interested in this role please apply now