The opportunity
We're seeking a detail-oriented and knowledgeable Pension Advice Checker to join our team in a pivotal role that ensures the highest standard of compliance and advice quality across the Openwork Partnership.
You will be responsible for reviewing both pre and post-sale pension business such as SIPPS and SSAS, protected benefits schemes and opt-outs. You'll ensure all advice and suitability reports meet current pension regulations and align with the Openwork Partnerships Conduct of Business (COB) suitable advice framework. If you're passionate about regulatory oversight, pension advice and making a real impact with a high performing partnership, we'd love to hear from you.
The benefits:
1. Salary - up to £55,000
2. Bonus scheme - on target bonus - 10%
3. Pension scheme - contribute up to 5% of your salary and Openwork will match you and put in an extra 5%
4. Critical illness cover
5. Income protection - 1x salary
6. Death in service - 4x salary
7. 27 days holiday + bank holidays, with the opportunity to buy up to an additional 10 days
8. A range of other flexible benefits to include private medical insurance, dental insurance and much more.
Key Accountabilities:
9. Checking of cases in accordance with current regulation and Openwork’s COB Suitable Advice framework
10. Identify and champion improvements to team processes and procedures.
11. Work in collaboration across the partnership ensuring that the financial advisers’ requirements are met, which allows them to provide suitable advice.
12. Identify and develop strong relationships with key contacts across the partnership (both internally and externally) providing advice and technical guidance as required
13. Regularly chase the adviser and/or providers where there are outstanding requirements
14. Ensure all work is completed compliantly and within agreed service level agreements.
15. Responsible for pro-actively managing an individual pipeline of cases.
16. Promotion of teamwork across Operations and the Network
What will you need to succeed?
Qualifications/ Experience:
17. Level 4 Diploma in Financial Planning (with completed R04 exams or equivalent) and Pension Transfer Specialist qualifications.
18. Good understanding of pension and investment products.
19. Previous experience of proactively managing a pipeline.
20. Previous experience of dealing with adviser and providers.
Knowledge:
21. Knowledge of Pensions & Investment products, including safeguarded Benefits, SIPPs, and Pension Crystallisation.
22. Good understanding of Financial Conduct Authority requirements for pension and investment transfers.
23. Awareness of Financial Conduct Authority, Treating Customers Fairy principles and general advice process.
24. Familiar with The Openwork Partnership adviser and network and/or other networks.
25. Strong IT skills, particularly with how to use MS Office, particular Word and Excel.
Skills and Competencies:
26. Sound judgement skills, ensuring impartiality and consistency.
27. Good problem solving, analytical and decision making
28. Able to express ideas and opinions to influence others and confront issues.
29. Ability to communicate, listen and negotiate effectively at a variety of levels using various mediums.
30. Able to work well as an individual and part of a wider team.
31. Time management, planning, prioritising and organisation skills.
32. An attention to detail combined with high accuracy.
33. Able to build and maintain good working relationships.
34. Flexible in approach, can handle high work and associated pressures due to service level agreement delivery.
Why us?
We're a dynamic, fast paced, and growing business with huge ambition. This is all made possible by the brilliant people who are part of The Openwork Partnership family. We're investing heavily in our colleagues, continuously striving to give them the platform to develop personally and professionally and reach their full potential.
We’re also very proud of our culture, as one of the Best 100 Large Companies to work for in 2022. The Openwork Partnership values, and respects individuality and we are committed to building an inclusive culture and environment which truly recognises and celebrates our colleague’s individual differences and identities – just like our financial advice, for us, it’s personal. We believe everyone can make a difference and your race, religion, disability, and gender will never be a barrier. At Openwork, we have a strong ethic of care for each other where you can balance a successful career with your commitments and interests outside of work. We believe that you will bring your best self to work if you are trusted to choose when, where and how you do it.