Head of Advice

About The Role

The Head of Advice is the senior first-line leader of the advice function, accountable for the delivery of advice across the firm. While the advice proposition is owned by the Director of Client Proposition, the Head of Advice plays a key role in its development and is responsible for its delivery, overseeing advice standards, processes and ongoing client service. The role ensures the proposition is delivered consistently, supports good client outcomes, and meets Consumer Duty requirements. The Head of Advice is also a member of the Investment Oversight and Advice Policy Committee (IOAPC), with independent assurance of advice standards sitting within the Risk function.

The Director of Client Proposition defines the advice proposition. The Head of Advice brings it to life from the adviser and client perspective, ensuring advisers understand, adopt and deliver it consistently across financial planning, investment, retirement, protection and estate planning.

Key Areas of Focus

Advice Standards and Process

Owning the advice standards through which the proposition is delivered — planning methodology, the end-to-end advice process, and the technical house positions applied in complex areas such as retirement income and estate planning.

Proposition Delivery and Ongoing Service

Delivering the advice proposition set by the Director of Client Proposition — contributing to its design, ensuring ongoing service commitments are met consistently at each tier, and embedding the Client Value Proposition across advisers.

Adviser Performance and Capacity

Leading Adviser performance, productivity, and capacity — client allocation, book management, revenue per planner, and removing the complexity that keeps advisers from client-facing time.

Key Responsibilities Include

• Own and maintain the firm's advice standards, including planning methodology, advice process design, and suitability report structure, so that the advice proposition is delivered consistently.
• Set and maintain technical house positions on complex advice areas, acting as the senior technical escalation point for advisers.
• Contribute to the design of the advice proposition from the adviser and client perspective, and be accountable for delivering it, including the ongoing advice service, across every client segment.
• Lead the adoption and consistent application of the firm's client value, investment, and product propositions across the adviser population.
• Serve as a member of IOAPC, bringing the advice function's perspective to investment, platform, and advice policy decisions.
• Lead adviser on performance and productivity, including capacity planning, client allocation, book management, and revenue per planner.
• Own advice function for MI on service delivery, productivity, and capacity, reporting to senior leadership and the Board.
• Work with Risk and Compliance as the first-line owner of advice standards, ensuring assurance findings are translated into improvements to standards, process, and tooling.
• Lead the advice integration of acquired businesses, harmonising advice process and migrating clients onto the Group's advice proposition.
• Lead and develop the Advice Manager and wider advice support team, and support adviser recruitment, onboarding, and development, including the academy.

Our ideal person

Essential criteria

• Extensive UK financial planning experience, with a proven track record of leadership within an advice function.
• Chartered Financial Planner status or equivalent
• Deep working knowledge of FCA requirements, including COBS suitability, Consumer Duty, and expectations on ongoing advice services.
• Demonstrable experience of delivering an advice proposition at firm level, including advice standards, process design, and ongoing service delivery.
• Strong leadership and influencing skills, with the credibility to set the house position across an experienced adviser population.
• Commercial understanding of adviser economics, including productivity, capacity, and revenue per planner.

Desirable criteria

• Experience within a multi-office, acquisitive, or integrating advice business.
• Experience in designing or re-engineering the advice proposition, service tiering model, or ongoing service model, including the supporting technology.
• Familiarity with product governance, investment governance, or proposition environments.

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