Apprentice Financial Planning Assistant

HERBERT SCOTT LTD

East Sussex (BN7 1YE)

Closes on Monday 30 November 2026

Posted on 15 October 2026

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Summary

A unique opportunity to launch your career in financial planning. Through practical experience, professional mentoring, and dedicated study support, you'll work towards achieving the Level 4 Paraplanner and Financial Planner standard and develop the skills needed for a successful future in financial services.

Wage

£25,000 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
Paraplanner and financial planner (level 4)
Hours
Monday to Friday 9am- 5pm

37 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Wednesday 9 December 2026

Duration

2 years

Positions available

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

A Financial Planning Assistant (FPA) performs a role similar to that commonly known within the industry as a paraplanner. The FPA position is client-facing and involves a higher level of direct involvement in client relationships and ongoing case management.

We are seeking a candidate who is looking to build a long-term career in financial services.

The successful candidate will be expected to develop strong technical knowledge while building confidence in working directly with clients.  They should be comfortable communicating with clients, supporting advisers in meetings, and taking ownership of client cases as their experience grows.

This role offers a structured career pathway, as detailed in the table, with opportunities to progress into a Financial Planner position for candidates who demonstrate the required skills, qualifications and commitment.

You would be expected to quickly learn the ropes as a client administrator to give you the basis to progress your apprenticeship studies and develop your FPA skills.

This position is office-based.

The FPA job description:

  • Support the business in building and maintaining deep, meaningful relationships with all clients
  • Coordinate meetings necessary to deliver our new and review meeting client propositions
  • Own client meeting preparation and post-meeting follow up work alongside our Financial Planners and Senior Paraplanners, including cashflow planning
  • Attend client meetings, assisting Financial Planners as and when required
  • Liaise with product providers to obtain and analyse existing policy information
  • Produce timely, compliant and accurate meeting file notes, leading to the writing of quality suitability reports
  • Maintain a good understanding of all Platforms used to support our clients and produce accurate paperwork linked to the onboarding of new business e.g. Illustrations, Applications, KIIDs etc.
  • Maintain compliant client files

Where you'll work

The Left Bank
173 High Street
Lewes
East Sussex
BN7 1YE

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider

SKILLS EDGE TRAINING LTD

Training course

Paraplanner and financial planner (level 4)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • Use software packages and digital tools to deliver financial advice or paraplanning services in line with cyber and data security requirements, using data securely and safely.
  • Provide services to clients in line with the business proposition, adhering to Consumer Duty and Treating Customers Fairly (TCF) principles.
  • Prepare financial recommendations in accordance with risk, regulatory, and governance requirements.
  • Comply with service and quality assurance standards for the business, for example complaints procedures and productivity.
  • Communicate with clients and colleagues using methods appropriate for the intended audience, including verbal, written, digital, and virtual.
  • Interpret and communicate financial and business information in a way that facilitates understanding for the intended audience, for example finance and non-finance stakeholders.
  • Build and maintain collaborative, professional relationships with internal and external stakeholders to deliver advisory tasks and achieve successful customer outcomes.
  • Plan and prioritise work to support positive outcomes for both the customer and the firm.
  • Provide individual advice relevant to clients in line with regulatory requirements.
  • Use feedback to reflect on own practice and identify opportunities for continuous professional development (CPD).
  • Paraplanner – Analyse clients’ current circumstances and research appropriate solutions to meet their needs, objectives, and attitudes to risk.
  • Paraplanner – Provide financial planning support to colleagues using appropriate market knowledge and available software and research tools.
  • Paraplanner – Conduct technical product and fund analysis.
  • Paraplanner – Create personalised client-facing financial planning reports that are tailored appropriately to the audience and in line with regulatory and firm standards.
  • Paraplanner – Securely maintain client files with evidence of any research and analysis undertaken.
  • Financial Planner – Conduct KYC activities to fact-find relevant information and establish clients’ financial needs and objectives, including identifying when and where clients may be experiencing vulnerabilities.
  • Financial Planner – Establish overall risk profiles for clients through an understanding of the clients’ financial knowledge and experience, attitude to investment risk, capacity for loss, and understanding of their vulnerabilities.
  • Financial Planner – Identify, prioritise, and address clients’ needs in line with regulatory requirements.
  • Financial Planner – Deliver advice solutions that support clients in achieving their financial objectives.
  • Financial Planner – Collaborate with customers to create new opportunities for business growth, for example through referrals and networking.
  • Financial Planner – Establish clients’ views on responsible and sustainable investing and the impact this may have on available solutions and outcomes.
  • Use software packages and digital tools to deliver financial advice or paraplanning services in line with cyber and data security requirements, using data securely and safely.
  • Provide services to clients in line with the business proposition, adhering to Consumer Duty and Treating Customers Fairly (TCF) principles.
  • Prepare financial recommendations in accordance with risk, regulatory, and governance requirements.
  • Comply with service and quality assurance standards for the business, for example complaints procedures and productivity.
  • Communicate with clients and colleagues using methods appropriate for the intended audience, including verbal, written, digital, and virtual.
  • Interpret and communicate financial and business information in a way that facilitates understanding for the intended audience, for example finance and non-finance stakeholders.
  • Build and maintain collaborative, professional relationships with internal and external stakeholders to deliver advisory tasks and achieve successful customer outcomes.
  • Plan and prioritise work to support positive outcomes for both the customer and the firm.
  • Provide individual advice relevant to clients in line with regulatory requirements.
  • Use feedback to reflect on own practice and identify opportunities for continuous professional development (CPD).

Training schedule

Your training will be completed online via your workplace address

More training information

You will achieve the Paraplanner and Financial Planner Level 4 Apprenticeship Standard:

  • Fully and part funded learning and development programme that includes the DipPFS Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning
  • Develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours of successful Paraplanners
  • Free CII membership for non-members through the CII Aspire Apprenticeship Programme for those who have not previously been a paid member
  • Includes CII digital study book and exam entry for each R0 exam
  • The Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning includes:
    • R01 Financial Services Regulation and Ethics
    • R02 Investment Principles and Risk
    • R03 Personal Taxation
    • R04 Pensions and Retirement Planning
    • R05 Financial Protection
    • R06 Financial Planning Practice
  • Multiple seminars per R0 exam!
  • All seminars recorded and available on-demand
  • Interactive chat, forums and class notebooks for real-time support and assistance from experienced financial services professionals
  • Additional resources through RM Advance
  • Regular tutorials and assessments from an experienced financial service professional

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade Grade 4(C))
  • Maths (grade Grade 4(C))

Level 3 and Above in:

Financial Related (Business/Economics) (grade Pass)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • IT skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Organisation skills
  • Customer care skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Administrative skills
  • Team working
  • Initiative

About this employer

Herbert Scott is a Chartered financial planning firm dedicated to helping clients achieve financial confidence through personalised advice, long-term planning, and trusted ongoing support.

http://www.herbertscott.uk (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).

  • Possibility to progress to a Financial Planner role – dependent on company requirements and progression

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

SKILLS EDGE TRAINING LTD

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000059248.

Apply now

Closes on Monday 30 November 2026