Relationship Manager – Job Description

Relationship managers might sound like marriage guidance counsellors, but they’re actually the ultimate in customer service that a bank can offer.

Banks are always looking to promote their human side, and that’s what relationship managers are. They meet potential new clients and help existing ones manage their accounts and their money effectively. The job involves keeping up to speed with the latest regulations and the newest products and being always on the look-out for ways to land a new sale.

Great listening and communication skills (especially when explaining complex issues simply), good negotiation and sales ability, maths, IT, research and analysis skills and honesty and attention to detail are all key requirements.

Entry-level requirements only stretch to a minimum of five good GCSEs (grades A to C), IT proficiency and some financial sector experience.

Keeping up to date with changes to financial services is a given, as is a sound knowledge of banking regulations and procedures.

Having a degree in a relevant subject such as business or accountancy will give you a leg up, but anyone providing financial advice to a client will need to have a Certificate in Financial Planning and/or a Certificate for Financial Advisers.

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Banking, Real Estate and Mortgage

Other recommended resources:

Institute of Customer Service
The portal for customer service in the UK, the ICS performs research, offers continuing professional development and allows you to become accredited to ensure your career stays exactly on the track you want. They also keep you updated on the latest news and events within the industry and offer case studies for those wishing to learn more about customer service.

Institute of Leadership and Management
The ILM brings together managers from across the spectrum to exchange knowledge and best practice, train under the latest leadership thought and keep updated with opinion and protocol. Membership can offer the information and understanding to help secure a management position and support you in that role once you’ve got it.

Customer Service Network
An organisation dedicated to promoting excellence in the customer service world. Their theory revolves around research that states: customers who consider a company excellent are far more loyal in custom and advocacy. Improving customer service so as to offer an ‘excellent’ quality can help relationship managers to secure more and better clients so membership could be a real investment.

Association for Financial Professionals
Based in the US but serving professionals globally, this resource is useful for the research guides and publications it offers, helping financial professionals to stay on top of their game.

Financial Skills Partnership
Licensed by the government, the FSP is a portal for all finance-related training and qualifications, offering appropriate courses, experiences and apprenticeship schemes to help get you the job you want in the finance world.

Global Finance
An online magazine great for keeping financial professionals in touch with the money markets and the trends and systems affecting them.