Senior Paraplanner – Technical & Advice support at Focus Financial Partners

<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Position Summary</strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, you will act as a trusted technical partner to advisers nationally — supporting comprehensive strategy development, drafting high-quality advice documents, and contributing to advice quality, risk management and continuous improvement.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">You will work across advanced strategies involving superannuation, SMSFs, investments, taxation and retirement planning, and will be relied upon for judgement, technical insight and end‑to‑end ownership of advice delivery.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">For the right person, this role offers meaningful scope, variety, and influence — without stepping into a client‑owning adviser position.</span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Primary Responsibilities</strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Paraplanning &amp; Advice Delivery</span></span></p> <ul> <li style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Prepare comprehensive, high-quality Statements of Advice (SOAs) and Records of Advice (ROAs) for HNW and UHNW clients.</span></li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Translate adviser and client objectives into clear, compliant and well‑structured advice strategies.</span></li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Manage advice documentation end‑to‑end, ensuring accuracy, timeliness and consistency with Escala standards.</span></li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Balance quality and throughput, maintaining strong attention to detail.</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Technical Expertise &amp; Adviser Partnership</span></span></p> <ul> <li style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Apply deep technical knowledge across superannuation, SMSFs, investments, taxation and retirement strategies.</span></li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Provide practical technical guidance and recommendations to advisers on complex matters.</span></li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Stay current with legislative and regulatory change and ensure advice approaches remain contemporary and defensible.</span></li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Build strong, trusted working relationships with advisers and their teams nationally.</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Client Interaction &amp; Advice Support</span></span></p> <ul> <li style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Attend client meetings where complex strategies require technical explanation or support.</span></li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Clearly articulate advice strategies in a client‑appropriate and professional manner.</span></li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Provide retail financial advice within authorised scope and Escala’s advice framework (if licenced).</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Compliance, Quality &amp; Risk Management</span></span></p> <ul> <li style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Ensure all advice meets regulatory, AFSL and internal compliance requirements.</span></li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Support and respond to file reviews and remediation activities.</span></li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Contribute to identifying and resolving legacy or higher‑risk advice matters.</span></li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Maintain accurate, well‑documented advice records and uphold best‑interest obligations.</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Systems, Process &amp; Continuous Improvement</span></span></p> <ul> <li style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Utilise Xplan and related systems for modelling, projections and strategy development.</span></li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Identify opportunities to improve workflows, templates and advice efficiency.</span></li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Share knowledge and insights to lift technical capability and consistency across the business.</span></li> </ul> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Qualifications</strong></span></p> <ul> <li style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Demonstrated experience delivering complex paraplanning or technical advice in a HNW / UHNW advice environment.</span></li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Strong technical capability and ability to convert complexity into clear, compliant advice.</span></li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Proven ability to manage volume without compromising quality.</span></li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Solid understanding of Australian financial services regulation and advice standards.</span></li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Excellent written communication skills and attention to detail.</span></li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Confidence working closely with advisers as a technical partner.</span></li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Strong Xplan capability, including modelling and projections.</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Desirable</strong></span></p> <ul> <li style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Financial planning qualifications and/or progress toward professional accreditation.</span></li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Experience supporting advisers across multiple offices or adviser teams.</span></li> </ul> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>About Escala Partners</strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Escala Partners is the new standard in personalised wealth management. Everything we do is designed to put our clients’ interests first and realise their financial aspirations. We develop tailored strategies focused on creating and preserving wealth; offer objective, considered advice based on market-leading research; and work collaboratively as a team so we can deliver superior outcomes. This is our point of difference: a completely new experience in wealth management.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">#LI-SF1</span></p><div class="content-conclusion"><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>About Focus Financial Partners</strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Focus is a leading financial services firm comprised of integrated wealth management, family office, and business management services. Blending deep expertise and expansive resources with a boutique, client-first fiduciary philosophy, Focus helps individuals, families, and institutions navigate complex financial situations with highly personalized solutions tailored to their unique needs. To learn more about Focus, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://protect.checkpoint.com/v2/___https:/mcas-proxyweb.mcas.ms/certificate-checker?login=false&amp;originalUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.focusfinancialpartners.com.mcas.ms%3FMcasTsid%3D20892&amp;McasCSRF=17a55f8bbf7c1a828873b443c93438c90f956e865b157078ce47695678ecb61e___.YzJ1OmZvY3VzcGFydG5lcnM6YzpvOjk5ZjFkMmE2MWY3YWJhOWM1MTUyMTUzMGI3NWMyY2VhOjY6NWQxYjo5M2Q1NmZiMDc3OTdlMzc1YTg0ZmRiYzVjOTA3MDk2OTcyZWIyOGI1YzNmZmI4MDc2MGMwZWM4YzIyOGE0N2NkOnA6VDpO">www.focusfinancialpartners.com</a>&nbsp;or follow the company on&nbsp;<a href="https://protect.checkpoint.com/v2/___https:/www.linkedin.com/company/focus-financial-partners___.YzJ1OmZvY3VzcGFydG5lcnM6YzpvOmQ1YjM0NmNjMjMzMTcwZmViMGI3OWExNTFmZmM3NjQwOjY6YjQ0OTpmNWViYzRmODkzYTRhYmYwNjBkNmFmMGJlYjE5ZWI3Njc1MTZiNmExYjBmNWVmMGEyMjdkNzM5NTBhYTQ3OTE1OnA6VDpO">LinkedIn</a>.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Focus is an equal opportunity employer and bases its employment decisions on the employee or candidate’s skillset, and without regard to an employee or candidate’s race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state and/or federal law.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Focus complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a>.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><strong><em>The following language is for US based roles only</em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><strong>For California Applicants:&nbsp;</strong><span data-teams="true">Information on your California privacy rights can be found</span><strong><span data-teams="true"> <a id="menur4dt" class="fui-Link ___1q1shib f2hkw1w f3rmtva f1ewtqcl fyind8e f1k6fduh f1w7gpdv fk6fouc fjoy568 figsok6 f1s184ao f1mk8lai fnbmjn9 f1o700av f13mvf36 f1cmlufx f9n3di6 f1ids18y f1tx3yz7 f1deo86v f1eh06m1 f1iescvh fhgqx19 f1olyrje f1p93eir f1nev41a f1h8hb77 f1lqvz6u f10aw75t fsle3fq f17ae5zn" href="https://focus-financial.files.svdcdn.com/production/documents/Privacy-Notice-Personnel-Supplement-for-CA-residents-Jan-1-2025-Final-Clean.pdf?dm=1740065249" target="_blank">here</a></span></strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><strong>For Indiana Applicants: </strong>It is unlawful for an employer to discriminate against a prospective employee on the basis of status as a veteran by refusing to employ an applicant on the basis that they are a veteran of the armed forces of the United States, a member of the Indiana National Guard or a member of a reserve component.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><strong>For Maryland Applicants: </strong>I UNDERSTAND THAT UNDER MARYLAND LAW, AN EMPLOYER MAY NOT REQUIRE OR DEMAND, AS A CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT, PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYMENT OR CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT, THAT ANY INDIVIDUAL SUBMIT TO OR TAKE A POLYGRAP OR SIMILAR TEST.&nbsp; AN EMPLOYER WHO VIOLATES THIS LAW IS GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR AND SUBJECT TO A FINE NOT EXCEEDING $100.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><strong>For Massachusetts Applicants:</strong> It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment.&nbsp; An employer who violates this shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><strong>For Montana Applicants: </strong>If hired, the employment relationship is governed by the Wrongful Discharge from Employment Act. Mont. Code Ann. Section 39-2-901.<strong> </strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><strong>For Rhode Island Applicants:</strong> Focus is subject to Chapters 29-38 of Title 28 of the General Laws of Rhode Island and is therefore covered by the state’s workers’ compensation law. If you willfully provide false information about your ability to perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodations, you may be barred from filing a claim under the provisions of the Workers’ Compensation Act of the State of Rhode Island if the false information is directly related to the personal injury that is the basis for the new claim for compensation.&nbsp; The Company complies fully with the Americans with Disabilities Act.</span></p></div>