Banking Financial Services jobs

The remit of jobs in banking and financial services varies from entry-level customer-facing roles through to boardroom positions and bank manager jobs. Across this spectrum, the discipline involves handling large sums of money on a daily basis, working with business customers and consumers alike, and making detailed calculations that must be correct every time. Candidates must have a mix of interpersonal skills and strong communication, as well as numeracy skills and attention to fine detail.

Expected job role tasks

Careers in financial services and banking span a broad range of different daily tasks and duties. In general, you may be required to advise clients about financial products and investments. You may be responsible for the handling of large amounts of money, as well as following strict security guidelines that protect its movement.

Customer-facing roles have a unique set of tasks and duties, ranging from handling complaints and queries, to understanding what your customers need from your organisation in order to protect their family finances or the prosperity of their business, both in the short term and for the future.

Primary function

The primary function of jobs in banking and financial services depends on the specific role. In a customer-facing position, you may be responsible for advising customers on various banking products and other financial services like savings, pensions and insurance. As a Bank Manager or Finance Manager, you may have a more administrative role with much more responsibility for the day-to-day running of the business, as well as budgeting and expenditure.

Different roles in financial services carry different professional requirements. For example, if you work in an advisory role, you may need to register with an industry regulator. You may also need to obtain appropriate insurance policies such as professional indemnity.

Necessary hard/soft skills

If you want to work in banking and financial services, you will need to have a good head for numbers. Many of the services you provide will relate to financial products with specific terms and conditions, interest rates and so on. Generally good organisational skills will also serve you well in financial services roles where you need to manage multiple products and customers at any one time.

For customer-facing roles in banking, good communication skills and interpersonal skills will help you to work well with customers you may not have met before. You might also face complaints and other problems from customers, so problem-solving skills and lateral thinking can allow you to resolve any such issues more quickly.

Qualifications required

Many careers in banking and financial services do not have any prerequisite qualifications, other than a basic level of mathematic ability. However, if you have A-levels or a degree in finance or a mathematics-related subject, these may help strengthen your application for more senior roles in banking. Any past experience in similar roles will also be of benefit when applying to work in banking and financial services.

Some larger organisations in the banking and financial services sector offer internships and fast-track recruitment programmes. If you have the required soft skills but need to build your career experience, these schemes can help you to qualify for more senior roles over a fixed period of time.

If you would like further guidance, or more information on a career with Michael Page, please submit your CV today.