Employee Benefits - Associate Consultant (FAIS Accredited) at Alexander Forbes

Job description

Introduction...

• To consult to the trustees/management committees of funds, assist in the daily managing and logistical control of the funds, to co-ordinate and facilitate between departments, with the ultimate objective of providing overall assistance and backup to the Senior Consultant.

Minimum Requirements...

• Formal Qualifications
• Bcom Degree/BA Law
• CFP/CFA advantageous
• FAIS accreditation advantageous
• Experience Required:
• Minimum 2 years employee benefits consulting, risk benefits and investments experience required
• Additional Requirements:
• Valid driver’s licence and own car
• FAIS accreditation (advantageous)
• Ability to handle pressure and tight deadlines
• Presentations skills

Job Specification...

Main Purpose

• To consult to the trustees/management committees of funds, assist in the daily managing and logistical control of the funds, to co-ordinate and facilitate between departments, with the ultimate objective of providing overall assistance and backup to the Senior Consultant.
• To act as the main contact person for the client in the absence of the Senior Consultant, and as the secondary contact if the senior consultant is present, in ensuring that the funds run effectively on a daily basis.
• Level Summary
• Position requires an individual with a minimum BCom degree and 2 years EB Consulting experience to report to a Senior Consultant

Scope

• This role entails consulting to the trustees/management committees of funds; assist in the daily managing of the funds with the ultimate objective of providing overall assistance and backup to the Senior Consultant.

Key Performance Area:

• Management Committee Meetings
• Administration
• Assist the consultant in managing funds
• Facilitating and co-ordinating internal departments
• Self development and People

Management Committee Meetings

Input:

• Ensuring agendas are drafted, and all annexures are given to Senior Consultant for approval 3 weeks prior to the meeting
• Ensure that agendas for meetings are collated, bound and distributed correctly 1 week before the meeting
• Attend management committee and ad-hoc meetings, take minutes, ensure minutes are typed and given to the Senior Consultant 1 week after meeting, and circulate minutes within 10 days of meeting
• Matters arising to be actioned within one month after meeting

Output:

• Provision of completed agendas in the agreed timeframe at a standard of quality and in a format that the associate consultant would be prepared to provide to his/her client.
• Provision of completed minutes in the agreed timeframe at a standard of quality and in a format that the associate consultant would be prepared to provide to his/her client.
• Completed action items and confirmation / communication of same to clients

Administration

Input:

• Distribution of information to management committee representatives, insurance companies and asset managers
• Processing payment of invoices (when applicable)
• Performing rebrokes – obtain quotes for new and existing business from insurers, prepare an analysis of the quotations and recommendation for discussion with the client
• Processing section 14’s – collating information, obtaining approval from financial services board, transferring members between funds
• Distributing rule amendments
• Obtaining signatures from clients when necessary
• Issuing standard documents, such as quarterlies, surveys, etc timeously to clients

Output:

• Efficient servicing of client needs and management of client expectations

Assist the consultant in managing funds

Input:

• Deal with external queries telephonically, by written correspondence or visits, as required or approved by the consultant.
• Taking queries from members
• Liaising with trustees and other internal departments
• Communication to members, - draft communications, distribute information booklets, liaising with couriers of companies

Output:

• Efficient servicing of client needs and management of client expectations

 Facilitating and co-ordinating internal departments

Input:

• Internal liaison between departments to ensure that funds run smoothly on a daily basis
• Ensure that all relevant departments are aware of management committee and ad-hoc meetings dates, and that they kept informed of subsequent changes, ensure that each department is aware of exactly what is required of them for these meetings, and ensure that the requirements are met timeously
• Communicate client instructions, problems or queries raised to all relevant departments, either by telephone, visit, memo or email, ensuring that a record is placed on file and that the matter is satisfactorily dealt with

Output:

• Ensuring cohesive and consolidated servicing effort from all departments for the client’s benefit

Self development and People

Input:

• Development knowledge of the employee benefits industry and investment matters
• Acquaint oneself with relevant legislation i.e. Pension funds Act, Taxation, FAIS Act etc
• Keep abreast of changes in employee benefits industry
• Inter-Department and Consultant Relationships
• Contribution to the team

Output

• Continued Education – self development
• Relationship with colleagues
• Team work
• Technical and Behavioural Competencies

Technical:

• Developing knowledge of Employee Benefit Industry
• Strong knowledge of Client Services
• Relationship building & networking skills at all levels
• Excellent oral & written communication skills

Behavioural (Interpersonal and Intrapersonal):

• Attention to Detail
• Organising and co-ordinating skills
• Deadline driven
• Assertive
• Personal Growth Orientation (continuous self improvement)
• Stress management
• Result and Solution Focused
• Resilient
• Responsible & accountable
• Customer Service Orientation
• Relationship Building
• Teamwork

Cognitive Competencies:

• Analytical Thinking
• Problem Solving