Director of Financial Planning Products, AU/NZ

The Group:Morningstar is committed to empowering investor success. One way we accomplish this is by offering independent data, research and great products to the financial community. We believe that when the investor wins, we all win.

At Morningstar, your contributions have meaning and can drive change. We offer a place where talented, driven people can grow. Our differences are our strength; the fact that we don't all think the same way and encourage unique perspectives helps create great products and services for our clients.

The product organisation is the home of manufacturing and innovation at Morningstar. The individuals in this group transform our high-quality data, independent research, and technological expertise into well-designed software products that delight our clients. The group's product management, product development, and Client Success service teams collaborate with our Sales, Client Solutions group to help provide clients with relevant products and bundled solutions.

The Opportunity:

We're seeking a Director of Financial Planning Products to lead our financial planning software team, focused on the development and evolution of our existing financial planning solutions in Australia. This role will also contribute to the broader global financial planning capabilities that exist in other primary markets.

The most successful candidates will possess a deep understanding of financial advice and the trends impacting advice businesses. A background and experience in advice and technology, along with an extensive professional network would allow you to translate these external insights into product strategies that solve problems for advisers and their clients and drive efficiencies for advice businesses.

In your role you'll represent Morningstar externally as the 'face' of our financial planning solutions and deliver client insights into the product development process. Your vision and leadership will enable us to support advisers by accelerating the delivery of unique and valuable solutions to our clients.

This role reports to the Head of Product & Client Solutions - Australia.

What you'll do

• Lead and develop a team of product managers, product owners that are responsible for the product development of our financial planning solutions, leveraging a scaled agile framework. Many of these development and delivery teams are dispersed globally, with key geographies including Australia, India, the US and Canada.
• Own the product strategy and vision for Morningstar's Australian financial planning solutions, partnering with senior leadership, product managers, key clients and other stakeholders, while also ensuring alignment to the broader global financial planning strategy & roadmap.
• Lead market problem definition, refinement and sizing to drive product build priorities.
• Analyse and understand our clients' needs, the competitive landscape and how we can match those needs to our current and future financial planning capabilities, as well as other capabilities developed and delivered by Morningstar.
• Lead the go-to-market approach including partnering with product marketing, sales and other stakeholders to clearly articulate our solution, why we developed it and how Morningstar is differentiated in serving advisers & licensees.
• Identify & drive opportunities to grow the financial planning business lines in line with client needs, market shifts, industry trends and other factors.
• Partner with peers to embed Morningstar's research and data into our financial planning platforms, supporting a coherent and superior experience for advisers and clients.
• Drive a solutions mindset internally and externally, actively partnering with colleagues across the business to deliver holistic solutions to clients.
• As a senior member of the business, operate in accordance with Morningstar's expectations of leaders with regard to people, budgets, deadlines, and compliance obligations.
• Model a solid working relationship with peers within Australia and across the global business including Sales, Marketing, Products, Technology, and other segment areas.
• Partner with appropriate teams to ensure product, operational and customer service excellence.
• Lead annual budgeting and periodic forecasting activities, including setting revenue targets for Morningstar's financial planning product lines in Australia.
• Represent Morningstar externally at events and industry leadership forums.
• Perform other duties as necessary.

Qualifications & experience required:

• A bachelor's degree or other advanced degree/accreditation is preferred.
• At least 10 years' experience in financial advice within product, research or sales.
• Subject matter and deep client expertise in the Australian adviser market.
• Experience as a business & people leader with an entrepreneurial mindset.
• Strong organisational skills, the ability to prioritise and execute to achieve KPIs.
• A passion for the value of financial advice.

Human skills:

• Strong communication skills, both written and oral.
• A sense of humour.
• A team player's attitude with a high threshold for quality.
• Empathy and the maturity to own and learn from challenges.
• The ability to change the thinking of, or gain acceptance from, others in sensitive situations, without damage to the relationship.

What you need to enjoy and be good at for this role:

• A self-starter with a passion for "doing the impossible;" committed to testing, learning, and iterating.

Other things that would be useful to have, but not necessary:

• Experience working in an Agile environment.
• Experience using Tableau, Salesforce, or similar.
• Ability to operate in a matrixed organisational structure.
• Other relevant formal qualifications.

Morningstar is an equal opportunity employer.

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