Bank Manager

Bank managers work for retail (high street), commercial and corporate banks. They are responsible for managing all the operational aspects of the branch or branches under their control.

Bank managers oversee the day-to-day running of their branch or branches, lead a team of staff and manage work and resources. Typical duties include:

• implementing business, marketing and sales initiatives
• dealing with sales and budget reports
• recruiting and managing branch staff, including training and appraisals
• communicating with and motivating staff
• authorising customer lending arrangements
• setting up partnerships within the business community.

Bank managers usually work normal office hours, typically Monday to Friday. Some out-of-hours work can be involved. They may also cover weekend opening hours and security callouts on a rota. They may work in one or more branches, or sometimes at a call centre.

Salaries range from around €50,000 to €60,000 and more.

A bank manager should:

• have excellent people skills
• be focused on customer service
• have strong verbal and written communication skills
• have leadership ability and be able to motivate and encourage others
• understand financial regulations and the legal aspects of banking
• have an understanding of the products and services offered
• like working with people
• enjoy delivering high-quality service to customers.

The largest employers of bank managers in Ireland are the high street banks. Other employers include international banks, finance houses, and corporate or commercial banking divisions.

The main routes into bank management are through a graduate management training scheme or by progression from customer adviser. Graduates normally need at least an honours degree. Banks may consider any degree subject, but subjects such as accounting, business studies, economics, finance and management are most relevant.

Bank customer advisers who demonstrate competence and enthusiasm may be considered for management training. Banks accept applicants with a range of qualifications for customer adviser entry.

Training programmes for bank managers usually include leadership, people management and technical and operational skills. Bank managers may work towards professional qualifications.

Branch managers may be able to progress to area and regional management. Some move into fields such as marketing, human resources, training, risk analysis or compliance. They may be able to transfer to other areas of finance, such as pensions, insurance and investment. They may also become financial advisers.