Head of Wealth Advisory

Position Summary

The Head of Wealth Advisory is a senior executive leadership position responsible for overseeing the FPA wealth advisory function. This role has accountability to deliver revenue targets and growth ambitions for the business. It will drive the strategic direction, growth, and excellence of personalised wealth advisory services to high-net-worth (HNW)) and ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) clients and their families.

The Head of Wealth Advisory leads an end-to-end team of wealth advisors, paraplanners, client service and operations professionals while ensuring fiduciary standards, regulatory compliance, exceptional client outcomes, and sustainable business growth. This individual serves as a key member of the senior leadership team, championing client-centric advice, innovation in financial planning & investment solutions, and the overall performance of the advisory platform.

This role can be located in Syndey, New South Wales, Australia; Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

Primary Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Business Development

• Define and execute the long-term vision and strategy for the FPA Wealth Advisory team, aligning with overall business objectives and prioritising both organic and inorganic growth pathways.
• Drive organic growth in Net New Assets (NNA), revenue, and market share through new client acquisition, deepening existing relationships, expanding service offerings, and cultivating a robust referral ecosystem.
• Build and nurture high-value referral partnerships with external centers of influence (e.g., CPAs, Wills & Estates Lawyers, Consultants, and other professionals) to generate consistent, high-quality leads and enhance t
• he firm's reputation in target markets.
• Partnering with the President of Focus Partners Australia to identify, evaluate, and pursue strategic expansion opportunities through mergers and acquisitions (M&A), including assessing potential acquisition targets (e.g., complementary advisory practices or teams) and joint ventures.

Performance & Reporting

• Own P&L responsibility for the Wealth Advisory division.
• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) including NNA growth (organic and inorganic), revenue per advisor, referral-sourced new business, client acquisition/retention, fee realisation, profitability, and M&A pipeline/progress, process efficiency metrics (eg time saved through automation or AI adoption)
• Provide regular executive reporting and presentations to senior leadership on growth strategies, partnership outcomes, digital initiatives, M&A opportunities and operational efficiencies.

Team Leadership & Talent Development

• Lead, motivate, and mentor a high-performing team of private wealth advisors, associate advisors, paraplanners, client service and operations professionals.
• Collaborate with People & Culture (P&C) to foster a culture of growth, excellence, collaboration, continuous learning, and client-first mindset.
• With P&C establish clear performance metrics, compensation structures (including incentives tied to referrals and growth initiatives), and development programs aligned with business goals.

Client Experience & Advisory Excellence

• Ensure delivery of highly personalised, comprehensive wealth advisory services including financial planning, investment portfolio construction, retirement & legacy planning, tax-efficient strategies, risk management, philanthropy, and intergenerational wealth transfer.
• Maintain ultimate accountability for the overall client experience with a focus on client satisfaction and retention.
• Champion the business’s regulatory obligations, best-in-class advice standards and seamless integration of digital experiences (e.g client portals, automated insights) with human led advice.
• Partner with Risk & Compliance, Service Design & CX and technology teams to proactively address regulatory changes, emerging risks, service challenges and opportunities for process automation.

• 10+ years of progressive experience in wealth management or financial advisory services in Australia, with at least 6–8 years in senior leadership roles (e.g., Head of Advice, Head of Sales etc)
• Proven track record of building and scaling high-performing advisory teams, driving consistent FUM & revenue growth through organic channels, referral networks, and inorganic initiatives (M&A, acquisitions, or integrations).
• Demonstrated success in leveraging technology (e.g., CRM systems, AI/analytics tools, portfolio platforms, automation workflows) to drive efficiency, adviser productivity, and client outcomes.
• Experience driving teams to deliver repeatable, scalable processes to automate routine tasks, streamline operations, and support business growth.
• Expertise in comprehensive wealth planning, portfolio construction, capital markets, alternative investments, tax/estate strategies, client relationship management, and business development via professional alliances.
• Full compliance with ASIC professional standards for relevant providers (including meeting the legislated education/qualifications standard as of 1 January 2026 or via experienced provider pathway, registration on the Financial Advisers Register (FAR), and ongoing CPD obligations).
• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Commerce, Economics, Business Administration, or related field (Master’s degree, MBA, or equivalent strongly preferred).
• Strategic thinker with strong business acumen, commercial orientation, and experience in evaluating M&A opportunities, partnership structures, and digital transformation roadmaps.
• Exceptional leadership, coaching, and people-development capabilities, with a focus on building growth oriented, client focused advisory teams
• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills; able to build trust with sophisticated clients, advisers, external referral sources, technology partners, and C-suite executives.
• Deep understanding of the current Australian regulatory environment (ASIC, Corporations Act, best interests duty, FAR), fiduciary best practices, integration considerations in M&A, and technology-enabled compliance/risk management.
• Analytical mindset with ability to interpret performance data, market trends, deal valuation/diligence, and efficiency metrics from automated systems.
• High degree of integrity, professionalism, and commitment to ethical standards.

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