The Personal Finance Society has announced details of what it believes is the most comprehensive accredited adviser directory of its kind in the UK.

Forming a key part of the society’s upcoming new consumer facing website, the financial adviser directory will give the public access to more than 22,000 professionally qualified Financial Advisers, representing over 80% of the UK’s regulated financial adviser community.

“Consumer demand for an ‘accredited’ professional financial adviser directory is growing as they become increasingly aware of the need and value of professional advice services,” said Personal Finance Society chief executive, Keith Richards.

He confirmed that “anyone accessing the new site can do so with the knowledge and assurance that financial adviser details, including qualifications and active statements of professional standing (SPS), have been validated by the professional body.”

All users need to do is input a town or postcode to obtain a list of financial advisers local to them. Searches can be refined according to a range of interests and the financial adviser profiles listed in the returns will clearly show SPS validation dates, professional qualifications and specialist accreditations.

Personal Finance Society members will automatically appear in search results and can tailor their profile to include areas of advice specialism as well as social media links. There is no commercial consideration or conflicts of interest.

Richards added: “The new directory is intended to complement other directories in the market rather than be competitive, as we seek to broaden the breadth of access to financial advice and support at the public’s fingertips.