Investment Advisor

Join us as an Investment Advisor (IA) focusing on markets within Middle East, Africa and Asia. You will work in close partnership with Relationship Managers in Private Banking, serving as a specialist with a deep understanding of our investment offerings. In this role, you'll focus on direct interactions with affluent clients, building and nurturing both internal and external relationships to grow a portfolio of investment and discretionary clients. The IA is expected to stay informed on the latest regulatory requirements and compliance policies, ensuring strict adherence to all standards. Maintaining compliance and managing risk are essential aspects of this role, as we aim to protect the business from undue exposure.

To succeed as an Investment Advisor, you should possess the following essential skills and qualifications:

• Industry qualifications at FCA Level 6 and/or CFA, with the potential to pursue additional qualifications as required by business needs.
• A deep, comprehensive understanding of our investment philosophy, including asset classes such as equities, bonds, alternatives, derivatives, and foreign exchange.
• Excellent knowledge of macroeconomics, portfolio construction, and the range of solutions needed for effective implementation. Familiarity with behavioral economics is also a plus.

Some other highly valued skills include:

• Experience within Middle East, African and Asian market.
• Self-motivation and the ability to strategically plan and execute client acquisition and relationship-building efforts.
• Relevant experience in the affluent investment industry at a level consistent with this role.
• Excellent presentation skills to effectively communicate and showcase our investment offerings.
• A collaborative mindset, able to work with colleagues worldwide to deliver comprehensive banking and financial services for clients.

You may be assessed on the key critical skills relevant for success in role, such as risk and controls, change and transformation, business acumen strategic thinking and digital and technology, as well as job-specific technical skills.

This role is based in London.

This role is deemed as a Certified role under the PRA & UK Financial Conduct Authority - Individual Accountabilities Regulations and may require the role holder to hold mandatory regulatory qualifications or the minimum qualifications to meet internal company benchmarks.

Purpose of the role

To develop and manage the success of specific financial products and services, providing in-depth expertise on a particular product line, bridging the gap between product development, marketing, sales, and customer service. 

Accountabilities

• Provision of SME expertise on specific products and services to customers and colleagues, including features, functionalities, benefits, limitations, risks and compliance.
• Understanding of market trends, new features, regulatory requirements and potential risks, and analysis of data obtained from sales figures and, customer feedback, to support the product development process, and communicate key findings to relevant stakeholders to improve product offerings.
• Response to customer inquiries, attend client meetings and obtain a detailed understanding of complex personal / corporate financial circumstances in order to provide options for suitable product solutions. Support with resolution of issues, and provision of guidance on product usage.  .
• Presentation of the advantages and features of the product to potential customers, building trust and encouraging adoption.
• Assistance with the development and execution of marketing materials for the product, such as pitch materials and client presentations.
• Participation in training sessions and workshops to share product knowledge and expertise with colleagues and other stakeholders.
• Participation in events, conferences, and other networking opportunities to showcase the product and generate interest.

Vice President Expectations

• To contribute or set strategy, drive requirements and make recommendations for change. Plan resources, budgets, and policies; manage and maintain policies/ processes; deliver continuous improvements and escalate breaches of policies/procedures..
• If managing a team, they define jobs and responsibilities, planning for the department’s future needs and operations, counselling employees on performance and contributing to employee pay decisions/changes. They may also lead a number of specialists to influence the operations of a department, in alignment with strategic as well as tactical priorities, while balancing short and long term goals and ensuring that budgets and schedules meet corporate requirements..
• If the position has leadership responsibilities, People Leaders are expected to demonstrate a clear set of leadership behaviours to create an environment for colleagues to thrive and deliver to a consistently excellent standard. The four LEAD behaviours are: L – Listen and be authentic, E – Energise and inspire, A – Align across the enterprise, D – Develop others..
• OR for an individual contributor, they will be a subject matter expert within own discipline and will guide technical direction. They will lead collaborative, multi-year assignments and guide team members through structured assignments, identify the need for the inclusion of other areas of specialisation to complete assignments. They will train, guide and coach less experienced specialists and provide information affecting long term profits, organisational risks and strategic decisions..
• Advise key stakeholders, including functional leadership teams and senior management on functional and cross functional areas of impact and alignment.
• Manage and mitigate risks through assessment, in support of the control and governance agenda.
• Demonstrate leadership and accountability for managing risk and strengthening controls in relation to the work your team does.
• Demonstrate comprehensive understanding of the organisation functions to contribute to achieving the goals of the business.
• Collaborate with other areas of work, for business aligned support areas to keep up to speed with business activity and the business strategies.
• Create solutions based on sophisticated analytical thought comparing and selecting complex alternatives. In-depth analysis with interpretative thinking will be required to define problems and develop innovative solutions.
• Adopt and include the outcomes of extensive research in problem solving processes.
• Seek out, build and maintain trusting relationships and partnerships with internal and external stakeholders in order to accomplish key business objectives, using influencing and negotiating skills to achieve outcomes.

All colleagues will be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Values of Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence and Stewardship – our moral compass, helping us do what we believe is right. They will also be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Mindset – to Empower, Challenge and Drive – the operating manual for how we behave.