Financial services customer adviser

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

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
• funding advice|https://www.gov.uk/further-education-courses/financial-help
• guide to T Levels|https://www.tlevels.gov.uk/
• search for courses|/find-a-course

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

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
• guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide

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.

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.

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.

Further Information

You can find out more about careers in financial services from Walbrook Institute London.

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

You could work in an office or in a contact centre.

You may need to wear a uniform.