Ombudsman – Investment and Advice
Job Description
A rare and much sought after opportunity to contribute in the financial services sector by determining I&A disputes and achieving fair dispute outcomes.
As a financial ombudsman, we are a for-purpose organisation that provides a free service for individuals and small businesses. We listen to and work with our customers and their financial firms to find solutions to complaints which have gone unheard or unresolved. This is your opportunity to make a difference.
About the opportunity
Joining AFCA means joining an organisation of passionate, intelligent people who are committed to fairness and driving positive change in the financial sector.
We are looking for an Ombudsman to join our busy and collegiate Investments and Advice (I&A) decision-making team to help resolve standard and complex I&A disputes.
The I&A decision-making team at AFCA is focused on complaint resolution and on engaging with both industry and consumer groups in tackling important issues affecting I&A customers. Investments and advice is a broad area and encompasses complaints against financial planners, stockbrokers, managed funds, timeshare, traditional trustee’s, cryptocurrency wallet providers and even horse-racing syndicates! While we do not expect the candidate to have knowledge in all areas, at least one is required, and more than one is highly desirable.
Your role will be to make decisions, individually or as part of a panel, on standard and complex disputes in accordance with the AFCA rules and fairness principles. The decisions are likely to make a real difference and influence the practices of financial planning and stockbroking companies, derivatives platforms and cryptocurrency wallet providers. These will include decisions for the recently introduced Compensation Scheme of Last Resort.
You will also have the opportunity to provide professional and technical leadership across AFCA and to coach and mentor case workers and others. There will be opportunities to develop AFCA approaches, and to present at external conferences as a subject matter expert. The role also involves supporting AFCA’s relationships with consumer groups, government bodies, regulators, AFCA members, member organisations, other Ombudsman networks and the media.
The role will would suit senior legally qualified professionals with a strong track record of significant achievement and a background in the I&A sector. You are likely to be at a stage of your career where you have an interest in using your well-developed skills and experience in a role which contributes to good community outcomes.
This is a 3-year Board appointed role, with scope for reappointment.
About you
To be successful in this role, you will need:
· Legal qualifications and a significant track record of achievement at senior executive level within the financial planning, stockbroking, managed fund, cryptocurrency or derivatives industries (ideally in more than one sector) or a tribunal, EDR scheme, regulatory agency or related business entity or in private practice
· Strong analytical skills, the ability to quickly get to the heart of complex issues and to efficiently and independently handle a busy caseload, with a clear outcomes focus
· A demonstrated high level of written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills in dealing with a wide cross-section of the insurance sector and the broader community
· The ability to convey complex concepts in simple terms
· The skills and desire to explain your decisions to financial firms and to complainants verbally
· The ability to coach and mentor junior staff
· Resilience, focus, determination and excellent engagement skills and the ability to effectively manage challenges, external criticism and public scrutiny.
What’s on offer
· BOSS Best Places to Work 2023 – placing at number five in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Category and credited for its culture, engagement and flexible working arrangements.
· Employer of Choice Public Sector and NFP – Australian HR Awards 2023
· Accredited as a Family Friendly Workplace
· Hybrid working from home and our state-of-the-art office and facilities designed for collaboration, and wellbeing. We work flexibly at AFCA and encourage you to talk to us about how this role can be flexible for you.
· Progressive and inclusive leave entitlements, including flexible public holiday leave, women’s health leave, 18 weeks paid parental leave, early and advanced pregnancy loss leave, paid gender affirmation leave, extra personal leave and paid time off over Christmas. Plus, study leave to support your professional development.
· Not For Profit salary packaging benefits.
Life at AFCA
Our people are at the centre of everything we do. We live and breathe our cultural qualities, which shape how we behave and how we engage with our customers. At AFCA, you will truly feel the difference of working at an organisation which supports people of all backgrounds, experiences, and identities to thrive. Our consistently high employee engagement results reflect that AFCA is a truly great place to work and a place where people can contribute, belong and flourish!
To apply
If you are passionate about how we drive fairness in the financial sector and are looking for an organisation that values the human in all of us, we encourage you to apply – even if you don’t meet every single criterion.
We encourage applications from people of all ages, cultures, abilities, sexual orientation and gender identities. We strive to provide a recruitment experience that’s fair, inclusive and accessible. If you have any specific accessibility requirements, please reach out to the recruiter who is managing this process, Maggie Pileggi or email us at [email protected].
AFCA is a 2023 Circle Back Initiative Employer – we are committed to responding to every applicant.
