Client Manager

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​​Equilibrium is more than just a Chartered Financial Planning company—we’re an award-winning, independent firm based in Handforth, Cheshire, with one clear purpose: making people’s lives better. Whether it’s our clients, our team, our community, or anyone who crosses our path! We believe in creating a positive impact in everything we do. 

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We’ve been named one of the top 10 companies to work for in the Best Companies Top 100 List 2023, and we’re the #2 Best Financial Services Company to work for in the UK. Plus, we’re proudly managing over £1.25bn in assets for our clients. Ready to be part of something big? This is where it all happens! 

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​Finding the right people is the secret to our success. We're incredibly proud of our amazing team and their dedication to excellence. Join us and you'll enjoy fantastic benefits, a challenging, exciting role, with boundless opportunities for growth and development. We’re serious about what we do, we don’t take ourselves too seriously though, and make time for fun along the way too!   

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​We're not your typical financial planning firm, and this isn't your typical paraplanner role. We believe that every financial plan should be unique. Our goal is to provide our clients with a life plan that empowers them to live the life they want, look after those they love and leave a powerful legacy. Within the role, you will support our financial planners whilst having day-to-day responsibility for a bank of clients. You will also be expected to proactively manage and build relationships with clients. 

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​To achieve this, our new Client Manager will:

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• Attend client meetings alongside the Financial Planner and create meeting minutes that accurately reflect the information gathered to fully document a client's financial needs and objectives

• Maintain an ongoing relationship with the clients, keeping them informed, answering queries and arranging review meetings

• Work alongside the Financial Planner following meetings to discuss the client's circumstances and be involved in creating and implementing a financial strategy to meet the client's financial objectives and circumstances

• Maintain an ongoing relationship with the clients, keeping them informed, answering queries and arranging review meetings

• Carry out research and analyse products and services that are appropriate to each client's financial circumstances and discussing appropriate solutions with the Financial Planner

• Prepare clear investment strategy, mandate, and recommendation reports, ensuring adherence with regulatory standards for review by the Financial Planner

• Complete quarterly reviews of clients’ portfolios to support the ongoing client relationship, including maintaining a client file review system to regularly assess client holdings and changing financial priorities

• Effectively use research and planning systems such as Analytics, O&M, Voyant, Papercloud and wrap platforms such as Nucleus

• Be responsible for ensuring that recommendations are fully implemented in a timely manner

• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of the industry, compliance and regulatory developments

• Work in line with the requirements of the Consumer Duty legislation to achieve the best outcomes for our clients

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Qualifications

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Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) Level 4 Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning, or an equivalent qualification

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At Equilibrium, we live our values through the following:

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• Integrity – we treat everyone with respect, take responsibility for ourselves and what we do, and are open and authentic in all of our dealings

• Growth – we foster a growth mindset, with a curiosity and desire to learn and grow both professionally and personally

• Simplicity – we look for the clearest path to the best outcome, being adaptable in our approach. We are clear communicators with the ability to land a message appropriate to our audience

• Excellence – we will consistently work to high standards, showing great care and attention to detail in everything that we do

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So why join us?

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At Equilibrium, the work environment is fast-paced. We have a hard-working, energetic team, who adapt to change easily. We are a friendly and supportive bunch, and Equilibrium’s culture is rooted in fun, collaboration, learning, and growth. We strive for excellence, setting high standards, while fully committing to supporting and nurturing your development, which means we expect your best but we’ll also give you ours.

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Helping people live the lives they want to live, look after those they love, and leave powerful legacies is part of the day job. We genuinely want to help create more choices and more freedom for our clients, ultimately making their lives, and the lives of those around them, better.

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To support our team's development, we cover the costs of study materials and exam fees for relevant qualifications. Additionally, we offer paid study and exam leave.

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We offer an exciting, performance-driven bonus of up to 7%, designed to reward the entire team for successfully completing projects and achieving key milestones. Our team oriented incentive recognises collective effort and results, ensuring everyone shares in the success.

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To ensure a healthy work-life balance, we provide a minimum of 33 days holiday plus bank holidays, which can increase to 38 days based on length of service. We also offer a flexible working framework, allowing team members to work from home when appropriate and where reasonable, flex their work hours, in line with business requirements. We also provide the benefits you’d expect from an award-winning company such as bonuses, pension, death in service, income protection and more.

Description of Individual

Wealth & Asset Management Senior Consultant – Job Description

The Business

Square 4 is a dynamic and ambitious firm that specialises in providing consulting and resourcing services. We provide tailored advisory support to regulated firms on all governance, risk and compliance related matters and temporary resource to support short term operational challenges.

Our mission in supporting firms across a complex and challenging regulatory agenda is to provide an unrivalled level of interaction – service and expertise, helping to protect firms and allowing them to ultimately grow and thrive.

At Square 4, we embody a spirit of innovation, dedication, and excellence in everything we do. We take pride in serving a diverse range of clients, spanning from various segments within the financial services industry such as Retail Banks, Consumer Credit, Life and Pensions, Wealth and Asset Managers, Private Equity, to Utilities and Telecommunications firms.

We are a commercial business, but our purpose and values extend beyond top line. We want our business to be a force for good and are committed to making a difference for our people, our clients, and our communities.

We are committed to making a difference for our people, our clients, and our communities and so with a name like Square 4, it was an easy decision to give 4% of our earnings back to charities yearly.

Responsibilities

The primarily responsibility of the Senior Consultant is to support in the delivery of advisory engagements to our clients. Additionally, the role entails contributing to ‘take to market’ initiatives and business development.

Key aspects associated with the role include:

• Acting as an ambassador for Square 4 across the industry.

• Leading the development of bespoke solutions to enable our clients to meet their regulatory and operational obligations.

• Leading on the production of material and activities for all aspects of client delivery such as training, reports, presentations, business gap analysis, project planning, risk management, in-depth case reviews, time management in line with the project budget.

• Providing regulatory and conduct risk-focused subject matter expertise as required to support the delivery of our existing and prospective engagements.

• Supporting in business development activity by providing regulatory and industry insights, contributing to thought leadership content, participating in webinars and roundtables, engaging with stakeholders, supporting sales bids, delivering presentations, and other relevant tasks.

• Providing leadership to a team of consultants, including associate resources and supporting the advisory director's directives.

• Assisting in the recruitment of new team members.

• Actively participating in client account management, developing and fostering close relationships with key stakeholders.

• Working collaboratively across the business to support strategic initiatives, business planning, operations and other activities to support the ongoing growth of the business.

You should relish the opportunity to take on immediate responsibility and gain a wide range of experience from day one as part of a fast-growing company.

Core Values, Behaviours and Requirements

You have, and can demonstrate, the following skills and attributes:

• Alignment with our core values: innovation, passion, engagement and a commitment to delivering excellence.

• An outstanding work ethic combined with a desire for continuous learning and personal development.

• Exceptional multitasking skills, coupled with fantastic organisation and acute attention to detail.

• Strong analytical and gap analysis ability.

• A can-do attitude and an ability to “get things done” efficiently under tight deadlines, with the ability to prioritise and adapt accordingly.

• Creative problem-solving abilities, maintaining an innovative and solution-orientated approach.

• Proactive and high-energy demeanour, coupled with confidence in your own ability and skillset.

• Outstanding professional communication skills – both written and oral.

• Proficient in communicating effectively and transparently with team members, actively listening to others' perspectives and providing constructive feedback when necessary.

• Demonstrated ability to collaborate seamlessly within cross-functional teams, fostering a culture of trust, respect, and mutual support.

• Knowledge and a practical understanding of the UK financial services sector and FCA regulatory agenda.

• A comprehensive understanding of the regulatory and supervisory landscape.

• A thorough understanding of the ‘nature’ of consulting, with a strong ability to apply a consultancy mindset to everyday tasks (demonstrating conscientious consultancy principles).

Company Benefits

We provide the following benefits to our permanent employees:

• The opportunity to work in a fast-growing company with a well-defined mission and values that are actively practiced each day.

• Option to work remotely or in our London-based office.

• Flexible working arrangements tailored to accommodate business requirements.

• Unlimited holiday to promote work-life balance.

• Corporate away days, including team-building activities.

• Opportunities to take part in volunteer days.

• Investment in personal development and support for career aspirations through provided funding for training and qualifications.

• Participation in an EMI (Enterprise Management Incentive) – share option plan (by exception).

• Pension scheme.

• Private medical insurance provided by BUPA.

Retail Lending Senior Consultant – Job Description

The Business

Square 4 is a dynamic and ambitious firm that specialises in providing consulting and resourcing services. We provide tailored advisory support to regulated firms on all governance, risk and compliance related matters and temporary resource to support short term operational challenges.

Our mission in supporting firms across a complex and challenging regulatory agenda is to provide an unrivalled level of interaction – service and expertise, helping to protect firms and allowing them to ultimately grow and thrive.

At Square 4, we embody a spirit of innovation, dedication, and excellence in everything we do. We take pride in serving a diverse range of clients, spanning from various segments within the financial services industry such as Retail Banks, Consumer Credit, Life and Pensions, Wealth and Asset Managers, Private Equity, to Utilities and Telecommunications firms.

We are a commercial business, but our purpose and values extend beyond top line. We want our business to be a force for good and are committed to making a difference for our people, our clients, and our communities.

We are committed to making a difference for our people, our clients, and our communities and so with a name like Square 4, it was an easy decision to give 4% of our earnings back to charities yearly.

Responsibilities

The primarily responsibility of the Senior Consultant is to support in the delivery of advisory engagements to our clients. Additionally, the role entails contributing to ‘take to market’ initiatives and business development.

Key aspects associated with the role include:

• Acting as an ambassador for Square 4 across the industry.

• Leading the development of bespoke solutions to enable our clients to meet their regulatory and operational obligations.

• Leading on the production of material and activities for all aspects of client delivery such as training, reports, presentations, business gap analysis, project planning, risk management, in-depth case reviews, time management in line with the project budget.

• Providing regulatory and conduct risk-focused subject matter expertise as required to support the delivery of our existing and prospective engagements.

• Supporting in business development activity by providing regulatory and industry insights, contributing to thought leadership content, participating in webinars and roundtables, engaging with stakeholders, supporting sales bids, delivering presentations, and other relevant tasks.

• Providing leadership to a team of consultants, including associate resources and supporting the advisory director's directives.

• Assisting in the recruitment of new team members.

• Actively participating in client account management, developing and fostering close relationships with key stakeholders.

• Working collaboratively across the business to support strategic initiatives, business planning, operations and other activities to support the ongoing growth of the business.

You should relish the opportunity to take on immediate responsibility and gain a wide range of experience from day one as part of a fast-growing company.

Core Values, Behaviours and Requirements

You have, and can demonstrate, the following skills and attributes:

• Alignment with our core values: innovation, passion, engagement and a commitment to delivering excellence.

• An outstanding work ethic combined with a desire for continuous learning and personal development.

• Exceptional multitasking skills, coupled with fantastic organisation and acute attention to detail.

• Strong analytical and gap analysis ability.

• A can-do attitude and an ability to “get things done” efficiently under tight deadlines, with the ability to prioritise and adapt accordingly.

• Creative problem-solving abilities, maintaining an innovative and solution-orientated approach.

• Proactive and high-energy demeanour, coupled with confidence in your own ability and skillset.

• Outstanding professional communication skills – both written and oral.

• Proficient in communicating effectively and transparently with team members, actively listening to others' perspectives and providing constructive feedback when necessary.

• Demonstrated ability to collaborate seamlessly within cross-functional teams, fostering a culture of trust, respect, and mutual support.

• Knowledge and a practical understanding of the UK financial services sector and FCA regulatory agenda.

• A comprehensive understanding of the regulatory and supervisory landscape.

• A thorough understanding of the ‘nature’ of consulting, with a strong ability to apply a consultancy mindset to everyday tasks (demonstrating conscientious consultancy principles).

Company Benefits

We provide the following benefits to our permanent employees:

• The opportunity to work in a fast-growing company with a well-defined mission and values that are actively practiced each day.

• Option to work remotely or in our London-based office.

• Flexible working arrangements tailored to accommodate business requirements.

• Unlimited holiday to promote work-life balance.

• Corporate away days, including team-building activities.

• Opportunities to take part in volunteer days.

• Investment in personal development and support for career aspirations through provided funding for training and qualifications.

• Participation in an EMI (Enterprise Management Incentive) – share option plan (by exception).

• Pension scheme.

• Private medical insurance provided by BUPA.

Retail Lending Consultant – Job Description

The Business

Square 4 is a dynamic and ambitious firm that specialises in providing consulting and resourcing services. We provide tailored advisory support to regulated firms on all governance, risk and compliance related matters and temporary resource to support short term operational challenges.

Our mission in supporting firms across a complex and challenging regulatory agenda is to provide an unrivalled level of interaction – service and expertise, helping to protect firms and allowing them to ultimately grow and thrive.

At Square 4, we embody a spirit of innovation, dedication, and excellence in everything we do. We take pride in serving a diverse range of clients, spanning from various segments within the financial services industry such as Retail Banks, Consumer Credit, Life and Pensions, Wealth and Asset Managers, Private Equity, to Utilities and Telecommunications firms.

We are a commercial business, but our purpose and values extend beyond top line. We want our business to be a force for good and are committed to making a difference for our people, our clients, and our communities.

We are committed to making a difference for our people, our clients, and our communities and so with a name like Square 4, it was an easy decision to give 4% of our earnings back to charities yearly.

Responsibilities

The primarily responsibility of a Consultant is to support in the delivery of advisory engagements to our clients. Additionally, the role entails contributing to ‘take to market’ initiatives and business development.

Key aspects associated with the role include:

• Acting as an ambassador for Square 4 across the industry.

• Supporting the delivery of consulting engagements through strong regulatory knowledge and industry knowledge of best practices.

• Supporting the development of critical materials for delivery (e.g. reports, presentations, project planning, risk management, in-depth case reviews, engagement profitability etc).

• Supporting in business development activity by providing regulatory and industry insights, contributing to thought leadership content, participating in webinars and roundtables, engaging with stakeholders, supporting sales bids, delivering presentations, and other relevant tasks.

• Supporting the management of consultants and contractors on client projects.

• Working collaboratively across the business to support strategic initiatives, business planning, operations and other activities to support the ongoing growth of the business.

You should relish the opportunity to take on immediate responsibility and gain a wide range of experience from day one as part of a fast-growing company.

Core Values, Behaviours and Requirements

You have, and can demonstrate, the following skills and attributes:

• Alignment with our core values: innovation, passion, engagement and a commitment to delivering excellence.

• An outstanding work ethic combined with a desire for continuous learning and personal development.

• Exceptional multitasking skills, coupled with fantastic organisation and acute attention to detail.

• A can-do attitude and an ability to “get things done” efficiently under tight deadlines, with the ability to prioritise and adapt accordingly.

• Creative problem-solving abilities, maintaining an innovative and solution-orientated approach.

• Proactive and high-energy demeanour, coupled with confidence in your own ability and skillset.

• Outstanding professional communication skills – both written and oral.

• Knowledge and a practical understanding of the UK financial services sector and FCA regulatory agenda.

• A comprehensive understanding of the regulatory and supervisory landscape.

Company Benefits

We provide the following benefits to our permanent employees:

• The opportunity to work in a fast-growing company with a well-defined mission and values that are actively practised each day.

• Option to work remotely or in our London-based office.

• Flexible working arrangements tailored to accommodate business requirements.

• Unlimited holiday to promote work-life balance.

• Corporate away days, including team-building activities.

• Opportunities to take part in volunteer days.

• Investment in personal development and support for career aspirations through provided funding of training and qualifications.

• Participation in an EMI (Enterprise Management Incentive) – share option plan (by exception).

• Pension scheme.

• Private medical insurance provided by BUPA.

Southernhay Financial Planning – Field Compliance Officer

An innovative consolidator in the wealth management and financial planning arena is seeking a diligent Field Compliance Officer to join our team and help to ensure our new and existing advisors meet the compliance requirements of the FCA.

You will be pivotal in ensuring that our firm adheres to the FCA’s regulatory requirements, standards and our internal policies at each of our sites across the West of England and beyond. The ideal candidate will be proficient in analysing and implementing regulations and procedures that comply with Hybrid’s regulatory framework under the SMCR, TC and FIT. You will monitor activities to ensure that our advice is suitable and fully compliant with the Consumer Duty. You will be based in the West Country and will work on a hybrid basis, and cover our offices in Exeter, Sidmouth and Bristol and, on occasion in London too. Your contributions will be crucial in safeguarding our clients’ financial wellbeing and enhancing our reputation by ensuring that our company strictly follows guidelines.

You will report to the Chief Compliance Officer and MLRO and will be supported by a major national compliance consultancy.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement an effective compliance monitoring programme in conjunction with the CCO.
• Report on monitoring visits to sites and thematic reviews across the business
• Create and manage effective action plans in response to audit findings and compliance violations.
• Regularly audit company procedures, practices, and documents to identify possible weaknesses or risk.
• Assess company operations to determine compliance risk.
• Ensure certified advisors comply with the FCA FIT and TC regimes
• Assist the CCO in the development and delivery of training on the latest regulations and processes.
• Resolve employee concerns about legal compliance.
• On occasion, deputise for the CCO.
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Requirements:

• A self starer who can work independently
• Ability to travel (Driving licence).
• Experience as a Compliance Officer
• Professional qualification or working towards one in financial planning (CISI, CII, LIBF.)
• Strong knowledge of industry processes and regulations.
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal abilities.
• An analytical mindset with excellent organisational skills.

Forvis Mazars Financial Services Consulting is experiencing exciting growth and we have various opportunities for talented and high performing individuals to be based in the London office given the opportunities arising from increasing regulatory scrutiny, supervision and demand for external assurance.

Are you looking to make an impact in Financial Services Consulting?  Are you looking to grow our business as if it was your own?  And are you looking for open, engaged and collaborative teams?  Then apply to the role today!

About the team

The Prudential Risk and Regulation offering provides a number of tailored solutions to support our FS clients around the interpretation and implementation of regulations to help them achieve regulatory compliance and manage regulators' expectations. We help clients develop and review their key regulatory submissions – such as their Capital & Liquidity adequacy process documents, Recovery & Resolution plans, and their regulatory submissions. We also support clients on organisational, regulatory or systems transformation initiatives to help them manage prudential risk.

Typical engagements in the Prudential Risk and Regulation service area include:

• Reviewing and refining clients' ICAAP, ILAAPs, ICARA's, wind down and recovery plans.

• Responding to clients' queries on the interpretation and implementation of prudential rules.

• Reviewing COREP, FINREP, PRA 110 and other regulatory returns.

• Performing skilled persons reviews in line with the PRA's expectations.

• Reviewing the effectiveness of regulatory change projects.

• Providing assurance on clients' processing of regulatory data.

• Reviewing firms' prudential risk management capabilities – including reviews of relevant policies and procedures; and, how such risks are identified, measured, monitored, measured, and reported.

• Providing internal audit subject matter expertise.

About the role

As a Senior Manager / Manager you would be expected to:

• Lead multiple client engagement teams, working with a wide variety of FS clients to deliver high quality professional services.

• Play a key role in business development activities for allocated key accounts or a category of FS clients / prospects.

• Work as part of small and large sized multi-disciplinary engagement teams to deliver the types of engagements listed above.

• Gather and analyse information, perform gap analysis, identify areas of improvements and offer value-adding recommendations.

• Lead workshops to resolve client issues, design robust processes / controls and develop an implementation plan.

• Work with stakeholders within clients' organisational structure to implement improvements.

• Managing the execution of client engagements by monitoring and reporting on delivery status, identifying and managing any issues and risks that could impact delivery, and providing guidance and quality review of others.

• Producing materials to help clients understand the impact of regulatory developments and changing risk practices on their business model, control framework, reporting obligations as well as capital and liquidity requirements.

• Developing client relationships, grow networks and assist in identifying and converting engagement opportunities

• Developing product offerings and preparation of technical proposals and pitches to clients

• Assisting in developing and delivering internal and external training materials

• Mentoring, coaching and developing junior team members.

What are we looking for?

• You will have gained significant experience in Prudential regulatory matters and risk management practices, either in industry, another consultancy, and/or the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA).

• Knowledge of, and experience in navigating and interpreting the provisions of the PRA rulebook, supervisory statements and other on-shored EU laws and regulations. This should include one or more of the following:

• The UK prudential regulatory framework, covering existing and forthcoming regulations, specifically, knowledge of the PRA Rulebook, Supervisory Statements, the FCA Handbook and Basel 3.1

• Preparation or review of Internal Capital Adequacy Assessment Process (ICAAP), in particular Pillar 1 capital requirements, Pillar 2 risks, robustness of stress test scenarios; Internal Liquidity Adequacy Assessment Process (ILAAP), Internal Capital Adequacy and Risk Assessment (ICARA), Regulatory Reporting (COREP, FINREP, PRA) and Recovery Plan (RP)

• Good understanding of the PRA's supervisory model – including internal and external risk factors, and risk mitigants.

• Experience of reviewing regulatory returns, s166 reports, and firms' business models.

About Forvis Mazars

Forvis Mazars is a leading global professional services network operating under a single brand with just two members: Forvis Mazars, LLP in the United States and Forvis Mazars Group SC, an internationally integrated partnership operating in over 100 countries and territories. Both members share a commitment to providing an unmatched client experience, delivering audit & assurance, tax, advisory and consulting services across the globe. 

We are one diverse, multicultural, multi-generational team with a huge sense of connection and belonging. This is a place where you can take ownership of your career, get involved, believe in yourself and put your ideas into action.  

At Forvis Mazars, we celebrate individuality and thrive on teamwork. We give people the freedom to make a personal contribution to our shared purpose. We support one another to deliver quality, create change and make an impact so that everyone can reach their full potential.  

Central London based office location with a hybrid working model!