Jobs and Careers Summer 2022 - 192

Take it to the bank
Money makes the world go round - and if
you want a career in finance, a role in a bank
or building society could be for you
W
hile the number of
people employed
in the UK's finance
sector has fallen over
the recent years, the
industry still accounts for 3.2% of all jobs,
with 1.1 million financial services jobs
in the UK in 2021 (2.13 million if you
include related professional services).
Branch closures and the rise of
online banking and phone apps mean
many services have moved online.
This is bringing new opportunities as
banks build their digital services, and
customers will always need personal
contact and advice, even if it's by phone.
The financial services sector remains
resilient and there are plenty of different
roles to consider. So if money management
appeals to you, there's a great chance
you'll bank yourself a job that suits you.
BANK CASHIER
As the first point of contact for most people
coming into a bank, a cashier needs to
have a good, friendly demeanour. The
role is very customer-focused, as well as
sales-focused - part of the job is to promote
products to customers and help sell them.
You'll also be required to perform day-today
transactions such as cashing cheques,
transferring money and updating account
details. Since lockdown and the closure
of branches, many of these services are
increasingly offered by phone or online.
What qualifications do I need? Four
GCSEs at grade 9 to 4 (A* to C), including
English and maths. Further training to
gain NVQs can be done on the job.
How much can I earn? A typical
starting salary is around £14,000, but
you can earn as much as £31,000.
BANK MANAGER
A key management role for those in
banking, this involves the running of
one or more branches, motivating staff
and making sure that sales targets are
met. As the figurehead of the branch,
the manager is required to help resolve
complaints, speak with customers,
monitor sales, report back to head office
and promote the branch and products.
What qualifications do I need? You could
start in a customer service role at the bank
and work your way up, adding management
qualifications along the way. A minimum
of A-level education is required. Otherwise,
you could apply for a graduate scheme
- you'll need a degree for this, usually
in business, accounting or commerce.
How much can I earn? The average bank
manager salary in the UK is around
£47,000. Entry-level positions start at
around £30,000, while very experienced
managers can make around £75,000.
MEMBER REPRESENTATIVE
Unlike banks, which are businesses listed
on the stock market and work to make
profits for their shareholders, building
societies are not commercial businesses.
They are " mutual institutions " owned by,
and working for, their customers, who
are also their members. As a member
representative, you'll support the building
society's members, including transactions
on the till, online banking demonstrations
and conversations about the products and
" Bank cashiers are
the first point of
contact for most people
coming into a bank
192 /// JOBS & CAREERS /// jobsandcareersmag.com
http://jobsandcareersmag.com
Jobs and Careers Summer 2022

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