Investment Advisor recruitment

Job Description

The job purpose of a Investment Advisor is to support the growth of SCB's AUM in investment products by
(i) providing direct advisory services to customers on portfolio construction and portfolio review;
(ii) ensuring SCB offers a differentiated, best-in-class, consistent advisory proposition across customer segments.

This will primarily involve providing professional expert advice to customers using the SCB advisory process for asset allocation, portfolio construction and portfolio review based on the full understanding of the customer's financial position, objectives, risk tolerance and other circumstances (but not including tax status).

The Investment Advisor also acts as a subject matter expert to customers/frontline staff on holistic view of the market, and support s CB wealth strategy in providing to higher value customers a higher level of customer service, and growing recurring income faster than the transaction-based income.

In addition, the Investment Advisor also provides:
(i) RM Briefing - Provide assigned RMs/branches/Hubs with market updates and guidance on investment strategies (in line with the house views) as well as updates on changes to investment advisory processes. The Investment Counsellor aims to ensure their assigned RMs/branches/Hubs are up to date at all times with market developments and changes to advisory processes
(ii) RM Coaching - Engage RMs proactively in discussions about advisory process, product and idea generation by interacting closely with the RMs, customers and product partners (Funds or CBMS teams). Conduct diagnostic activities with RMs. The Investment Counsellor aims to ensure RMs are fully skilled to provide product and portfolio advice to their customers.
(iii) Product and Service Briefing - Explain product and service features and propose book building ideas to RMs based on product characteristics and documents, the House View, accumulated feedback, market trends and news flow. Also provide market information such as new issue announcements and updates, new product presentation commentary to Priority RMs and TSOs. The Investment Counsellor aims to ensure RMs are fully up to date with all products.
(iv) Client Wealth Seminar Presentation - Prepare and present client wealth seminars, answer all QAs, with the purpose of generating new leads for RMs by giving customers new ideas from the seminars.

Note that whilst this role involves direct contact with customers, the relationship management responsibilities remain with the customer's designated Relationship Manager.

Key Roles Responsibilities

Portfolio/Investment Construction and Review for Assigned Customers
- Partner with 8-12 relationship managers RMs and act as an investment advisor to assigned customers of those RMs. [For IAs Priority Banking, we would seek to provide this portfolio review service to at least the top 25% of Priority customers - as a guideline customers with combined Deposits+WM AUM of $200k above.]

- Grow AUM of customers through investment advisory services, by proposing customer-specific portfolio solutions that will drive net growth in customer portfolios.

- Provide investment consultation in the customers' best interests using the SCB advisory process, rather than focussing on the sale of specific products.

- Help the customer to achieve his or her objectives, in the context of the customer's current needs/circumstances, in compliance with all regulatory and bank requirements and with the highest professional standards.

- Maintain frequent and timely communication with customers either with the involvement of the RM or (if agreed with the RM) individually to:
- actively and periodically review portfolios with customers
- assist customers to rebalance their portfolios to adapt to changes in valuations of asset classes, personal circumstances and the financial environment, and share tactical investment ideas with customers

- Provide expert advice to customers on
- asset allocation - ensuring that customer Portfolios follows an advisory approach and asset allocation is maintained; balance between asset allocation and thematic plays and risk management
- retirement planning - considering distribution options, investment alternatives and coordination with other investments;
- estate planning - implementing strategies for wealth transfer

- Ensure that customer portfolios follow an advisory approach and asset allocation is maintained; this will mean maintaining a balance between asset allocation and thematic plays and risk management.

- Align portfolios with house views, and continuously update oneself on market trends and SCB investment research,

Briefings
- Based on materials issued by Group and Country Investment Advisory and Strategy teams, provide market briefings for RMs/branches/Hubs
- Based on materials issued by Group and Country Wealth Management teams, provide updates on investment advisory process changes to RMs

Portfolio/Investment Diagnostics to Assigned RMs
- Conduct one-on-one diagnostic reviews with each assigned RM on his/her portfolio at least [once a month], to:
- Align customer portfolios with their investment objectives , and aligning portfolios with house views
- Balance asset allocation and thematic plays

Coaching of Assigned RMs
- Through one-on-one sessions with RMs and by attending customer meetings with RMs, provide coaching to RMs on:
- Market developments: How to communicate market developments to customers and identify how customer portfolios should be realigned
- Advisory process: How to assess customer goals, needs, risk profiling, asset allocation using the SCB advisory process and Finantix system
- Feature/new product/solutions: How to describe new products and services to customers and fit into their portfolio

Product and Service Briefing to Assigned RMs
- Brief the RMs in new product and service launches guided by the Product teams and Investment and Advisory Services (IAS) team.
- - Work with product teams to prepare new product launches to present to RMs including developing approaches for using new products within the SCB advisory process

Wealth Seminars
- Coordinate and deliver wealth seminars for customers in the role of investment expert
- Contribute to internal Investment Strategy forums

Compliance and Control
- Aware of all policies and procedures issued in relation to advisory services, money laundering prevention and treating customers fairly.
- Ensure ongoing compliance with policies and procedures

Qualifications Skills

Fundamental
- Investment Advisor: Bachelors Degree with 4 - 8 years in Investment Consulting either within a bank (G6 or G57or equivalent), insurance company or independent financial advisory firm
- Senior Investment Advisor: Bachelors Degree with minimum 10 years in Investment Consulting either within a bank (B4 or equivalent), insurance company or independent financial advisory firm

Functional
- Superior knowledge of investment products and financial markets
- Possess diverse investment and market experience in order to offer a concise and consolidated interpretation of market events so as to give the appropriate recommendation and guidance to customers

Personal
- Outstanding ability to provide leadership, guidance and inspiration to the customers, RMs and other partners
- Strong sense of self motivation and discipline in execution
- Excellent communication and negotiation skills with the ability to influence outcomes
- Ability to network with internal and external business stakeholders.

Diversity Inclusion

Standard Chartered is committed to diversity and inclusion. We believe that a work environment which embraces diversity will enable us to get the best out of the broadest spectrum of people to sustain strong business performance and competitive advantage. By building an inclusive culture, each employee can develop a sense of belonging, and have the opportunity to maximise their personal potential.