Financial services customer adviser
Financial services customer advisers provide online, telephone and face-to-face services in banks, building societies and other financial companies.
Also known as: Sales adviser, contact centre agent
- Starter salary£25,000 a year
- Experienced£31,000 a year
- Typical hours36 to 40 a week
What you'll do
As a financial services customer adviser, you could:
- answer customer questions in person, over the phone and online
- explain financial products and services
- access customer information and update account records
- process payments, withdrawals and other transactions
- promote financial products and services
- work to targets
- handle feedback and complaints
- build good relationships with business clients and investors
- refer customers to specialist sales staff to sell financial products
Working environment
You could work in an office or in a contact centre.
You may need to wear a uniform.
Skills and knowledge you'll need
You'll need:
- customer service skills
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- the ability to work well with others
- active listening skills
- the ability to sell products and services
- maths knowledge
- excellent verbal communication skills
- administration skills
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
How to become a financial services customer adviser
You can get into this job through:
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
- applying directly
College
You could do a college course which would teach you some of the skills and knowledge you need in this job.
Course include:
- customer service
- contact centre operations
- T Level in Finance
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level
Apprenticeship
You can apply to a bank, building society or financial company to do a Customer Services Practitioner Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship, or a Senior Financial Services Customer Adviser Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship.
These take around 1 year to complete. They combine on-the-job training and time spent learning about financial products and services.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
Work
You could start as an admin assistant with an organisation and move into a customer service or financial services role through on-the-job training and promotion.
Direct application
You can apply directly for jobs to become a financial services customer adviser. It will help if you have:
- GCSEs or equivalent in English and maths
- computer and keyboard skills
- experience of customer service, office work or processing payments
Some employers will ask you to complete assessment tasks as part of the recruitment process.
Restrictions and requirements
You'll need to:
- pass enhanced background checks
Most employers will want to do a credit check. They do this to make sure you do not have any outstanding debts which could stop you working in the financial services industry.
Career path and progression
With more training and qualifications, you could specialise in particular services like:
- mortgage advice
- insurance
- pensions
- investments
You could also become a team supervisor, branch manager or train to be a financial adviser .
Career tips
Employers will be interested in your personal qualities and ability to learn.
Experience in sales, retail, hospitality or financial services will be helpful though is not essential for many jobs.
Guides for this industry
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