About Almond Financial
What is Almond Financial?
Almond Financial is a Lincoln-based independent financial planning and mortgage advice firm, founded in 2016 by Principal Director Samuel Robinson (Chartered Status with the LIBF since 2022). The careers page positions the firm as "a dynamic, forward-thinking team to lead the industry into the future," with services covering pensions, investments, inheritance tax planning and mortgages for private clients and company directors. Senior Financial Advisor Lewis Chapman has over £65 million in assets under management (per his published bio) and the team holds Level 4 Diplomas in Regulated Financial Planning alongside mortgage and protection qualifications.
Where will I work?
The live careers page is explicit: "We're constantly looking for new faces with fresh ideas to join us in our modern, well equipped office in Lincoln." Almond is an office-based business with the existing DB record listing Weaver Road, Lincoln. The firm services clients across the UK; advisors are equipped with a company car for client meetings, and they "use the latest industry software so that staff can work effectively and progress in their career."
What is the Almond Financial team like?
The careers page profiles a 13-strong team across advisory, paraplanning, mortgages and marketing. Founder Samuel Robinson left school at 16, started in customer-services roles, joined RBS/NatWest in mortgage advice in 2012, then founded Almond in 2016. Operations Director Emma Ashby brings 18+ years of mortgage advising. The senior advisory bench includes Lewis Chapman (Senior Financial Advisor, £65M+ AUM), Joe Fleet-Chapman (Financial Advisor with 8+ years' experience), Lewis Colver (specialist in pensions and investments), and Daniel Bocking (L4 Diploma, first-class honours, 6+ years in financial planning). The paraplanning team — Ryan Sharpe (Head Paraplanner, PhD Chemistry from Cardiff), Jake Smith (Senior Paraplanner since 2020) and Joshua Davis (graduate of University of Lincoln Banking & Finance) — backs them up. Morgan Varlow leads Marketing.
The firm publicly highlights what it calls "an enviable retention rate," framing the team as "a tight-knit team that supports one another and enjoys spending time together both in the office and at regular social events."
Work-Life Balance
The culture statement on the careers page is direct: "Work-life balance is important to us, so we offer birthdays off, a generous holiday package, and a four-day working week." A separate "Social Events" benefit block confirms the structure verbatim: "We also operate a four-day working week, Monday to Thursday, with no extended hours or reduction in pay." Birthday-off is granted as an extra entitlement on top of standard holidays.
Perks and Benefits
The live careers page lists the following Almond-specific perks verbatim:
- Private medical insurance — "fully funded private medical insurance which includes free mental health support and counselling if needed."
- Fully-funded financial qualifications — DipFA and Quilter Financial Advisor School courses funded by the firm.
- Four-day week (Mon–Thu) at full pay — "no extended hours or reduction in pay."
- Personal Development — "access to industry leading conferences and training with dedicated personal development time."
- Pension — 5% employer pension contributions.
- Group income protection alongside an 8× salary death-in-service cover and £100,000 critical illness cover.
- Company car — "Our advisors enjoy access to a company car."
- Social events — meals out, regular access to the company's Lincoln City FC box, and birthday lunches.