Trainee Financial Adviser

Job introduction

The salary for this role is in the region of £35,000 per annum dependent on skills and experience.

As a Financial Planning Consultant, you’ll play a key role in helping our customers plan for their future. You’ll build strong, lasting relationships, and deliver exceptional service from the very first interaction. Acting as their trusted initial point of contact, you’ll lead insightful fact-finding meetings to understand what matters most to each customer and help shape their financial future.

We’re looking for someone with experience supporting customers or advisers, who is either fully Diploma qualified or close to achieving it. You’ll have some experience within the financial services industry and be confident in providing expert, personalised guidance tailored to each customer’s needs.

You’ll benefit from a strong pipeline of quality referrals, driven by close collaboration with branch colleagues and our head office in Skipton, so you can focus on what you do best - supporting customers. With a clear commercial focus, you’ll deliver the right outcomes while maintaining robust risk management and high quality standards.

Who Are We?

Not just another building society. Not just another job.

We're the fourth biggest building society in the UK and what makes us a bit different is that we're a mutual organisation. We don't have shareholders, we're owned by our members.

Our colleagues say Skipton's a great place to work and you could be one of them, bringing with you new ideas on how we can keep customers at the heart of what we do.

Whatever your background, and whatever your goals, we'll help you take the next step towards a better future.

What’s In It For You?

Skipton values work/life balance and we are proud to support hybrid and flexible working, where possible. We have a newly refurbished head office which offers a vibrant and collaborative working space.

We have a range of other benefits available to you including;

• Annual discretionary bonus scheme

• 25 days standard annual leave + bank holidays + rising 1 day per year of service to a maximum of 30 days

• Holiday trading scheme allowing the ability to buy and sell additional annual leave days

• Matching employer pension contribution (up to 10% per annum)

• Colleague mortgage (conditions apply)

• Salary sacrifice scheme for hybrid & electric car

• A commitment to training and development

• Private medical insurance for all our colleagues

• 3 paid volunteering days per annum

• Diverse and inclusive colleague networks available for you to join including our Carers and Pride Alliance groups

• We care about your health and wellbeing – we provide a range of benefits that support this including cycle to work initiative and discounted gym membership

What Will You Be Doing?

• Working closely with branch teams and Financial Advisers to support the delivery of first meetings with new customers

• Leading discussions around key areas such as pensions, investments and inheritance tax, introducing our proposition in a clear and engaging way

• Preparing customers ahead of their first meeting with a Financial Adviser, ensuring they feel confident and well informed

• Gathering and accurately recording all relevant information on our customer relationship management (CRM) system to support the advice process

• Providing advisers with a full picture of each customer (including key ‘soft facts’) to help create a seamless and positive customer journey

• Using your communication skills to build rapport, understand each customers goals and motivations, and help them make informed decisions about their finances

What Do We Need From You?

• A natural and confident communicator with a passion for delivering excellent customer service

• Experience building relationships with customers – whether face to face or virtual

• Someone who is self-motivated but thrives being part of a successful team, sharing best practice and supporting others to achieve great customer outcomes

• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to maintain high quality and compliance standards in a fast paced, high-volume environment

• Flexible and adaptable, with a positive approach to change

• Comfortable learning new systems, processes and technology quickly

We’re looking for people interested in developing a career in financial advice, with a desire to progress into a Financial Adviser role. You’ll either be close to completing or have already achieved the Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning/Advice. Full support and training will be provided.

You’ll need to be based in or around Blackburn, Preston, or Warrington. Initially the role will be working from home, however we will require future flexibility to attend some face to face meetings across local branch locations as you progress in becoming a Financial Adviser.

It’s a great opportunity to build a long term career in Financial Advice, with ongoing professional development and training, in a supportive environment that genuinely values colleagues and customers.