Smith & Pinching
Employee Benefits & Protection Adviser
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Employee Benefits & Protection Adviser
Norwich | Smith & Pinching
A genuine opportunity to make your mark.
Smith & Pinching is one of the East of England's most established and respected Chartered financial planning firms. Founded in 1973 and proudly independent, we are employee-owned and manage over £1.9 billion of client assets from our Norwich headquarters. Our team of more than 100 people shares a single purpose: delivering outstanding, joined-up financial planning advice that clients trust for life, and in many cases across generations.
We have built a reputation for doing things properly. We were among the very first firms in the country to be awarded Chartered Financial Planner status by the Chartered Insurance Institute, in 2009, and we continue to hold that standard as the benchmark for everything we do.
We are now looking for an experienced Employee Benefits & Protection Adviser to join our Adviser Team in Norwich and play a central role in developing two of our most important and growing service areas.
The opportunity
This is not a role built around chasing new business targets. It is a role built around expertise, relationships and doing right by clients.
You will manage and develop a portfolio of corporate clients, advising employers on employee benefits strategy and delivering high-quality protection advice to both businesses and individuals. Working alongside a wider team of financial planners, you will help ensure that employee benefits and protection form an integral, valued part of holistic financial planning for our clients.
The breadth of the role is part of what makes it compelling. On any given day you might be reviewing a Group Risk arrangement with an employer, holding a benefits clinic for their employees, or advising an individual on a complex income protection or business protection need. You will have real autonomy, a strong client base to work with, and genuine scope to shape and develop our Employee Benefits and Protection propositions.
What you will be doing
Employee Benefits
- Managing and developing a portfolio of corporate clients, building lasting relationships with employers and their HR and finance teams.
- Advising on employee benefits strategy, helping employers make the most of their benefits budgets and align their offering with their people and business goals.
- Designing, implementing and reviewing employee benefits programmes covering Group Risk, Group Protection, Pensions, Private Medical Insurance and associated benefits.
- Working with insurers and providers to source appropriate solutions and market terms.
- Supporting employers with employee communication, education and benefits engagement, including running employee clinics.
- Identifying opportunities to add value, develop relationships and grow the firm's corporate client base.
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Protection Advice
- Providing advice across Life Assurance, Critical Illness, Income Protection, Business Protection and Private Medical Insurance.
- Working alongside financial planners to identify protection needs and integrate recommendations into wider financial plans.
- Conducting thorough fact-finds, needs analyses and client reviews, and presenting clear, compliant recommendations.
- Supporting clients through ongoing reviews and as their circumstances change.
- Contributing to the continued development of Smith & Pinching's protection proposition and referral pathways.
Client Management & Compliance
- Maintaining accurate and comprehensive client records in line with FCA requirements.
- Delivering advice and recommendations to a consistently high regulatory and professional standard.
- Managing client meetings, presentations and reviews with confidence.
- Collaborating with technical, paraplanning, administration and support colleagues to deliver an excellent client experience.
What we are looking for
You will be an experienced adviser or consultant with a strong background in employee benefits and protection. Specifically, you will bring:
- Proven experience advising on Group Risk, Pensions and/or Healthcare benefits in a corporate environment.
- Experience providing protection advice across Life, Critical Illness, Income Protection and Business Protection.
- The ability to manage and develop client relationships independently, including with senior corporate contacts.
- Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to explain complex matters clearly.
- A good working knowledge of FCA requirements and the regulatory environment.
- CII Diploma qualification as a minimum, with a commitment to continuing professional development.
- We are equally interested in hearing from candidates who may have developed their expertise within a provider, insurer or employee benefits consultancy environment and are looking to move into a client-facing advisory role.
Who you are
As important as your technical background is who you are as a professional. We are looking for someone who is:
- Genuinely client-focused, with a commitment to delivering advice that makes a real difference.
- Confident and credible with corporate clients as well as individual clients.
- Commercially aware, able to identify opportunities without losing sight of what is right for the client.
- Organised and composed when managing multiple client relationships and competing priorities.
- A clear communicator who makes complex topics straightforward.
- Collaborative by nature, happy to share knowledge, support colleagues and contribute to a team.
- Committed to high standards of professional conduct and compliance.
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Why Smith & Pinching?
There are many places to work as a financial adviser. Here is what makes Smith & Pinching different.
- We are employee-owned. In 2022, ownership of the firm was transferred to The Smith & Pinching Employee Ownership Trust. That means everyone here has a stake in the firm's success, including the opportunity to share in its profits.
- We have been here for over 50 years. Our clients trust us. Many have been with us for decades, and many more have come to us through families and professional connections. That kind of longevity comes from consistently doing the right thing.
- We are Chartered. We hold the gold standard in financial planning and we take that seriously. Every adviser here is supported to develop, and the firm invests in continuous professional development.
- We have a strong and established corporate client base. You will not be starting from scratch. You will join with real client relationships to build on, the backing of a recognised and trusted brand, and a team around you.
- We look after our people. In addition to a competitive remuneration package commensurate with experience, employees benefit from:
- Annual bonus opportunity
- Employer pension contribution of 10%
- Death in Service at 4 x salary
- Cash health plan
- Flexible working hours
- Option to buy or sell additional holiday
- Paid volunteering days
- Free parking
- Cycle to work scheme
- Continuous training and development support
Ready to apply?
If you are an experienced adviser looking to combine technical expertise, client relationship management and meaningful business development within a collaborative, Chartered financial planning environment, we would love to hear from you.
Please submit your CV and a brief covering letter explaining your experience and what draws you to this role.
Smith & Pinching is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds.
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