Senior Specialist

Our purpose is to give everyone real confidence to put their money to work. With a heritage dating back more than 175 years, we have a long history of innovation in savings and investments, combining asset management and insurance expertise to offer a wide range of solutions. 

Our two distinct operating segments, Asset Management and Life, work together to provide access to balanced, long-term investment and savings solutions.

Through telling it like it is, owning it now, and moving it forward together with care and integrity; we are creating an exceptional place to work for exceptional talent.

We will consider flexible working arrangements for any of our roles and also offer work place accommodations to ensure you have what you need to effectively deliver in your role.

The Role:

The Senior Specialist will lead the Specialist team and also provide specialist input into projects, sales initiatives and local adviser support strategies, and provide backing in achieving key strategic deliverables for the channel and to work in supporting the business strategy. The Senior Specialist should also make the Specialist team the ‘go to’ team for specialist proposition, advice process and regulatory impact and guidance supporting UK Distribution sales efforts across the UK.

The Senior Specialist will oversee the design, build and implementation of and support the delivery of sales training and accreditation (including CBT) to the UK Distribution sales force, and support provision of seminars, workshops and conferences to support advisers / paraplanners and other industry professionals/bodies.

They will lead and manage the Specialist team (which consists of up to 5 Specialists) providing proposition, regulatory, tax and trust support to the UK Distribution channel, ensuring that regulatory and industry developments are well understood and the impact on our propositions and the advice process are relayed both internally and to our adviser B2B customers.

Also, to provide support to the UK Distribution Sales Management team to ensure that the Intermediated channel has the appropriate capability, focus and activity to secure the required distribution of pensions/investment products and to promote and champion M&G’s UK Retail proposition within the Intermediated sales force and the intermediary market.

Key Responsibilities for this role:

• To support the Regional Sales Management team to enhance the sales force competency to effectively deliver the M&G UK retail proposition into the market
• To support the Partnerships team to secure and maintain product and fund panel positions
• To support Account Managers in the execution of their field activity
• To support Propositions, T&IO and Marketing to launch and maintain the relevance of products and funds in the intermediary market and to help to translate proposition features and benefits into tangible client outcomes  
• To operate collaboratively with colleagues and take personal accountability to maintain and enhance controls you are responsible for and to support improvement of the overall control environment, customers outcomes and a reduction in M&G  operational risk

Knowledge required:

Essential

• Level 4 qualification essential

• Detailed knowledge of M&G Retail products, funds & systems
• Able to present and coach/train to both small and large groups
• Understanding of the Statements of Principle and Code of Practice
• Able to work in a digitally enabled business, using appropriate mechanisms for communication
• Expert level knowledge of the intermediary financial services market, structure, commercial and operational drivers, the regulatory environment and its impact on advice firms and legislation frameworks
• Enhance pension or investment related knowledge i.e. tax & estate planning

Desirable

• Level 6 qualification
• In depth knowledge of products/legislation across the market and outside of specialist area
• In depth knowledge of competitors products
• Established and widescale networks/links with external bodies and individuals

Experience  required:

Essential

• Able to effectively manage, train and coach other expert level individuals
• Able to oversee and ensure accurate provision of CPD and training
• Able to assist and support Sales Management in strategic planning and execution
• Experience in a product and business development environment within Financial Services
• Experience of presenting/training to both small and large groups
• Experience of strategy development and implementation
• Experience of leading within a regulated sales environment

Desirable

• Experience of project management and new proposition delivery support

Personal attribute/skills:

Essential

• Able to work collaboratively within a team
• Able to influence others and work across functions
• Must be a self-starter
• Able to use different forms of media to communicate
• Has high attention to detail

Desirable

• Able to act as a team leader on different initiatives/projects, using interpersonal skills and relationships to drive outcomes

Qualifications:

Essential

• Level 4 Financial Services qualification (i.e., Diploma or equivalent)

Desirable

• Level 6 qualification (i.e., Chartered Financial Planner or equivalent or above)

Location: Home based - UK

Department and team: UK Retail

Management level: Manager or Expert

Recruiter: Phoebe Ewers

What we offer:

At M&G, we’re committed to helping you thrive and supporting your wellbeing, both at work and beyond. Our benefits are designed to help you balance your professional and personal life, while planning confidently for your future. Our UK benefits include:

• As a savings and Investments firm we are proud to offer a valuable pension scheme of 18%, with 13% made up of Employer Contributions and 5% Employee Contributions. We also offer Share Save and our Share Incentive Plan, together with access to financial wellbeing and support services - to help give you real confidence to put your money to work.

• Enjoy 38 days annual leave including bank holidays, with the opportunity to purchase up to 5 extra days and additional flexibility through our Time Off When You Need It policy – to balance your work and personal commitments.  

• Our market leading Inspiring Families policy includes comprehensive support and paid parental leave covering maternity, adoption, surrogacy, and paternity leave - as supporting families is a core aspect of our inclusive culture.

• Health & Protection cover including Private Healthcare, Critical Illness cover and Life Assurance for you, with family options - for peace of mind.

To explore more about life at M&G and our full benefits offering, visit Life at M&G

We have a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture at M&G, underpinned by our policies and our employee-led networks who provide networking opportunities, advice and support for the diverse communities our colleagues represent. Regardless of gender, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, nationality, disability or long term condition, we are looking to attract, promote and retain exceptional people. We also welcome those who take part in military service and those returning from career breaks.

M&G is also proud to be a Disability Confident Leader, and we welcome applications from candidates with long-term health conditions, disabilities, or neuro-divergent conditions. 

If you need assistance or an alternative means of applying for a role due to a disability or additional need, please let us know by contacting us at: careers@mandg.com