Principal- Financial Advisory Brokerage

Role Purpose

The Principal will be responsible for the overall leadership, governance, compliance and commercial performance of the financial advisory brokerage.

The role requires an experienced financial-services professional who can provide strategic direction to the brokerage while ensuring that all advisers and representatives operate within the requirements of the FAIS Act, FICA, FSCA regulations, Treating Customers Fairly (TCF) principles and the brokerage's internal compliance framework.

The Principal will play a key role in growing the advisory practice, supporting and managing financial advisers, maintaining relationships with product providers and ensuring that clients receive professional and compliant financial advice.

Key Responsibilities

1. Leadership & Brokerage Management

• Provide overall leadership and strategic direction to the brokerage.
• Oversee the day-to-day operations and performance of the advisory business.
• Establish and monitor business objectives, adviser targets and growth strategies.
• Build a professional, ethical and client-focused advisory culture.
• Work closely with Directors and management on the continued development of the business.

2. Regulatory & Compliance Oversight

• Ensure that the brokerage operates in accordance with FAIS, FICA, FSCA requirements and other applicable legislation.
• Work closely with the brokerage's compliance function/officer.
• Ensure advisers maintain the required Fit and Proper status, qualifications, regulatory examinations and CPD requirements.
• Monitor advice processes, record keeping and compliance documentation.
• Ensure appropriate implementation of TCF principles.
• Assist with regulatory reviews, audits and compliance monitoring.
• Identify compliance or operational risks and ensure corrective action is implemented.

3. Adviser Leadership & Development

• Lead, mentor and support Financial Advisers and Representatives.
• Monitor adviser performance, productivity and quality of advice.
• Assist advisers with complex client cases where required.
• Facilitate coaching, product knowledge and professional development.
• Support the recruitment and onboarding of new advisers.
• Promote appropriate sales practices while maintaining strong compliance standards.

4. Business Development

• Drive sustainable growth of the brokerage and its client base.
• Identify new markets, referral channels and business opportunities.
• Develop strategic relationships with businesses, professional practices and other referral partners.
• Support advisers in developing their individual books of business.
• Monitor new business, recurring income, retention and overall brokerage performance.
• Develop opportunities across individual and corporate financial-services markets.

5. Product Provider Relationships

• Maintain strong working relationships with insurers, investment houses, medical schemes and other financial-services providers.
• Engage with product-provider business development teams.
• Evaluate products and solutions available to the brokerage.
• Coordinate product training and adviser updates.
• Escalate and resolve service or operational issues with providers where necessary.

6. Client & Advice Oversight

• Ensure that financial advice is appropriate, properly documented and aligned with clients' needs and circumstances.
• Promote comprehensive financial planning rather than purely product-driven sales.
• Support the management of complex or high-value client relationships.
• Assist with escalated client queries and complaints.
• Maintain high standards of client service and professional conduct.

7. Operational & Financial Management

• Monitor the overall financial performance of the brokerage.
• Review adviser production, commission and recurring-income trends.
• Assist with budgeting, forecasting and business planning.
• Monitor operational processes and identify opportunities for greater efficiency.
• Work with administration teams to ensure effective processing and servicing of client business.

Minimum Requirements

• Minimum 5–8 years' experience within financial planning, insurance, wealth management or financial advisory services.
• Previous experience in a senior advisory, management, Key Individual, practice management or brokerage leadership role strongly preferred.
• Relevant recognised financial-services qualification.
• RE5 required.
• RE1 required where the individual will perform Key Individual functions.
• Appropriate FAIS Fit and Proper status for the relevant product categories.
• Up-to-date CPD requirements.
• Strong working knowledge of FAIS, FICA, TCF and FSCA regulatory requirements.
• Proven experience working with financial advisers and product providers.
• Strong understanding of life insurance, investments, retirement planning, risk benefits and related financial-planning solutions.
• Corporate or employee-benefit experience would be advantageous.

Key Competencies

• Strong leadership and people-management ability.
• High level of integrity and professional judgement.
• Commercial and entrepreneurial mindset.
• Strong understanding of financial-advice compliance.
• Ability to balance business growth with regulatory responsibility.
• Excellent relationship-building and stakeholder-management skills.
• Strong communication and presentation skills.
• Analytical and problem-solving ability.
• Ability to coach and develop advisers.
• Client-focused approach to financial planning.
• Strong organisational and operational management skills.

Key Performance Areas

Performance will be assessed across:

• Brokerage revenue and sustainable growth.
• Adviser productivity and development.
• New business generation.
• Client retention and recurring income.
• Regulatory and compliance standards.
• Quality of advice and documentation.
• Adviser recruitment and retention.
• Product-provider relationships.
• Client satisfaction and complaint management.
• Operational efficiency.
• Development of new referral and distribution channels.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is an established financial-services professional who combines strong regulatory knowledge with commercial leadership ability. They should be comfortable leading advisers, dealing with compliance and governance requirements, engaging with product providers and actively contributing to the growth of the brokerage.

This is not purely a compliance or administrative position. The Principal will be expected to take ownership of the brokerage's performance, professional standards and long-term development while ensuring that client interests remain central to the business.

Work Location: In person