Financial services customer adviser
Financial services customer advisers work in contact centres for banks, insurance, investment and credit companies.
What you'll do
Day-to-day tasks
In your day-to-day duties you may:
- deal with other businesses, investors or members of the public
- use computer systems to access customer information and update account details
- answer customer questions
- process payments and withdrawals
- keep accurate records
- promote financial products and services
- work to targets
- handle complaints or refer them to a supervisor
- refer customers to staff to sell financial products
Working environment
You could work in an office.
Career path and progression
With more training and qualifications, you could specialise in mortgage advice, pensions or financial advice.
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
You'll need:
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- customer service skills
- the ability to work well with others
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
- ambition and a desire to succeed
- the ability to sell products and services
- maths knowledge
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
Restrictions and Requirements
You'll need to:
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 financial services.
How to become
You can get into this job through:
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
- applying directly
You could do a college course which would teach you some of the skills and knowledge you need in this job.
Relevant subjects include:
- Level 1 Award for Introduction to Customer Service
- Level 2 Certificate in Customer Service
- Level 2 Certificate in Contact Centre Operations
- T Level in Finance
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 2 or fewer GCSEs at grades 3 to 1 (D to G), or equivalent, for a level 1 course
- 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level
More Information
You can apply to a 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:
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
- some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
More Information
You could start as an admin assistant with a company and move into financial services by training on the job.
You could apply directly 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, cash handling or office work
Further information
You can find out more about becoming a financial services customer adviser from Walbrook Institute London.
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This page contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.