Team Leader, Paraplanning

Position Summary

The purpose of the Paraplanning Team Lead is to manage a centralised team of paraplanners that support Focus Partners Australia Wealth with advice production, including Statement of Advice (SoAs), Records of Advice (RoAs), strategy modelling, product research (risk and wealth product comparisons) and advice template maintenance.

This role is located in Sydney, Australia. 

Primary Responsibilities

• Manage a team of internal and external paraplanners. Ie workflow, deadlines, and reporting.
• Provide regular Xplan (and other application) and template training to the team to drive efficiency.
• Support team by providing overflow capacity – i.e. writing SoAs as required to assist with overflow management.
• Ensure documentation is compliant with regulatory requirements.
• Engage with the CSM teams and advisers to ensure the paraplanning team adequately supports business needs.
• Update workflows and processes as needed.
• Provide regular reporting (Weekly, Monthly and Quarterly) to key stakeholders.
• Assisting in research related to Wealth Platforms, Underlying Investments products, Personal Insurance policies, and other financial products.
• This involves gathering information, using technology to analyse product features and benefits and preparing reports for financial planners to review.
• Provide the advisers with scenario modelling and alternatives for advisers to consider.
• Gather all information necessary prepare advice documents such as Statements of Advice, Records of Advice and Review Reports, for the financial advisers. You ensure all the documentation and filing procedures meet the organisational compliance standards.
• Ensure client data is loaded into Xplan and in line with company policies.
• Prepare and analyse information and develop recommendations for adviser to consider.
• Liaise with Enzumo, Iress and other tech providers to ensure our advice production tools are up to date and operational.
• Responsible for reviewing and updating advice templates such as Fact Finds, SoA and RoA Strategy and Product inserts.
• Liaise with Focus Partners Australia Legal and Compliance teams and Enzumo to ensure templates comply with all legislative changes
• Proactively participate in continuous improvement activities
• Support peer review processes for advice documents within agreed timeframes
• Collaborate and support others learning with Xplan or technical training. This may also include CSO and adviser training.
• Ensure any assigned advice documents from other partner firms to review and provide feedback are completed within assigned SLA.
• Attend relevant courses and actively take part in training or other activities to stay current with financial planning administration, client service and implementation practices.

Qualifications 

• 5+ years experience in paraplanning
• Degree in Finance, Economics or Business optional
• RG 146 compliant
• Diploma or Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning preferred
• Experience leading paraplanning teams preferred
• Experience managing workloads and workflow
• Advanced understanding of investment products, taxation, retirement & estate planning and risk management and insurance
• Exceptional numerical and analytical thinking
• High attention to detail and accuracy
• Ability to manage multiple priorities

Focus is a leading partnership of fiduciary wealth management and related financial services firms. Focus provides access to best practices, greater resources, and continuity planning for its affiliated advisory firms, which serve individuals, families, employers, and institutions with comprehensive financial services. Focus firms and their clients benefit from the solutions, synergies, scale, economics, and best practices offered by Focus to achieve their business objectives. For more information about Focus, please visit 

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