Paraplanner

Location: Wakefield

Salary: £35,000–£42,000 depending on experience and qualifications

Structured hybrid working following onboarding

MBF is working with a financial planning business seeking an experienced Paraplanner or Senior Paraplanner to work closely with its Financial Planners, helping formulate advice and deliver well-researched, high-quality suitability reports.

Alongside the core paraplanning responsibilities, suitable candidates may have the opportunity to contribute to the Investment Committee’s work, gain exposure to compliance activities or develop towards a Financial Planner role.

Whether you want to deepen your technical expertise or build experience that supports a longer-term move into advice, there is scope to discuss your ambitions.

The role

Reporting to the Paraplanning Supervisor, you will support nominated Financial Planners and take an active role in researching and preparing their recommendations.

Responsibilities will include:

• Working with Financial Planners to assess client circumstances, objectives and potential planning needs.
• Reviewing existing arrangements, including asset allocation, risk, costs, performance, taxation and suitability.
• Undertaking research and preparing comparisons to help identify appropriate solutions.
• Producing suitability reports in line with agreed recommendations.
• Preparing annual suitability review letters and identifying queries for discussion with the Financial Planner.
• Gathering information required for financial cashflow analysis.
• Maintaining accurate, compliant client files and records on the CRM.
• Liaising with providers and the Client Services team to obtain information and resolve queries.
• Assisting with centrally held research supporting the firm’s central investment proposition.
• Supporting training within the department where appropriate.

About you

You will have at least two years’ relevant paraplanning experience, preferably within an independent advice environment.

For the standard Paraplanner position, you must hold the Level 4 Diploma. For the Senior Paraplanner position, you should also have made progress towards the Advanced Diploma. CII qualifications are preferred, although equivalent qualifications will be considered.

You should be confident undertaking research, preparing suitability reports and discussing technical matters with Financial Planners. An organised approach, clear communication and the ability to manage your workload are important, alongside a willingness to continue learning.

Professional development

The business offers a comprehensive study support package, including:

• Professional body membership fees, subject to sitting two exams per year.
• Paid first-attempt exam entries, with reimbursement of a subsequent successful attempt where required.
• An internal library of study materials and additional resources where approved.
• Paid leave for exam days, including subsequent attempts.
• A separate paid study day immediately before each first exam attempt.

For suitable candidates, development may also include involvement with the Investment Committee, compliance-related activities or progression towards a Financial Planner role.

Working arrangements

You can work fully from the office or follow a structured hybrid rota after onboarding:

• One week: three days in the office and two days at home.
• The following week: two days in the office and three days at home.

The business can accommodate a preference between its two set rotas.

New starters will initially be office-based for training and onboarding. Depending on how quickly you settle into the role, this may continue throughout the standard six-month probationary period.

Salary and benefits

• £35,000 to £42,000 depending on experience and qualifications.
• A target-dependent annual bonus of up to 4% of gross salary, split between two company performance measures.
• Salary sacrifice pension with a 3% employer contribution and 5% employee contribution.
• Four times gross salary death-in-service cover.
• Westfield Health medical cashback plan and retail cashback benefits.
• Access to private GP appointments, annual health checks, mental health support and nutritionist services through Aviva DigiCare+ Workplace.
• 21 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays.
• Paid Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve shutdowns, additional to annual leave.
• The option to buy up to seven additional days’ leave or sell surplus leave, subject to minimum holiday requirements.
• A fully funded Christmas party and additional social events.

Further paid festive leave may be available subject to internal targets. The office has closed throughout the festive period, without employees needing to use annual leave, in each of the past three years.

For more information, contact MBF for a confidential discussion.