At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and shape the Retail Banking strategy, driving impactful initiatives and stakeholder engagement.
- Company: Join a leading bank committed to innovation and customer-centric solutions.
- Benefits: Hybrid working model, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with a focus on advanced analytics and AI integration.
- Why this job: Make a significant impact on the future of Retail Banking with your strategic vision.
- Qualifications: Extensive experience in Retail Banking strategy and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
Join us in this high-profile role, accountable for shaping and delivering the Retail franchise strategy aligned to overall bank strategy and purpose. This role requires deep expertise in Retail Banking, combined with a strong passion for the sector and its future evolution.
You will define and evolve the business area strategy with the Executive Committee (ExCo), supporting the Retail franchise's goals and stated outcomes and measures. You will provide thought leadership, strategic analysis, and leadership to enable delivery of stated outcomes and measures. This is a hybrid role, with a minimum of two days a week in the office.
What you'll do:
- Define, evolve, and articulate the long-term strategic agenda, developing and sponsoring a deep understanding of relevant issues informed by internal and external insights, customer insights, and market dynamics.
- Drive and manage the strategy on behalf of Retail leadership and its ExCo members, including leading the business area on the annual bank-wide strategy cycle and relevant strategy reviews.
- Monitor and analyse organisational and customer-facing performance, competitor activity, emerging trends, new opportunities, and regulatory shifts, translating these into clear forward-facing, high impact strategic implications and priorities for NatWest's Retail business.
- Lead the oversight, management, delivery, and completion of strategy-related programmes and projects, framing, incepting, and driving initiatives that advance the strategy while securing stakeholder buy-in.
- Lead, develop, and line manage a professional, capable, and cross-enterprise engaged team, building strong relationships across the bank and with relevant support and control functions.
- Partner effectively with bank strategy and corporate development to optimise success.
- Use advanced analytics, data, and AI tools to deliver high-quality strategic insights, at pace.
In addition, you'll be:
- Working with Retail, other businesses, and support and control functions to develop robust strategies, plans, and projects, ensuring effective process and resource management to optimise success.
- Preparing and delivering outputs and materials to key stakeholders, including executive committees, shaping clear strategic messages and supporting informed decision-making.
- Using data, tools, and digital platforms to strengthen strategic analysis and insights, including leveraging automation and emerging AI to improve the quality and speed of outputs.
- Planning and allocating team resources to meet project needs and delivery, managing a resource pool where applicable and drawing in additional resources from other teams and functions as needed.
- Leading a purposeful approach by linking initiatives to strategy, and embedding purpose-led mindsets and behaviours where relevant to the business area.
- Identifying and executing inorganic growth opportunities, originating and evaluating acquisitions and partnerships, and managing due diligence, structuring, and negotiation.
- Overseeing post-deal integration and value realisation, including integration planning, performance tracking, and governance and risk management in delivery.
The skills you'll need:
- Comprehensive awareness of the Retail banking sector, including a deep understanding of market dynamics and the competitive landscape, and strong knowledge of customers, products, and services.
- Substantial experience in strategy, either within a financial services environment or from a strategy consulting background, with a proven track record of delivering well-substantiated analysis, solutions, and actionable recommendations to senior stakeholders.
- Excellent people leadership skills, engaging with senior colleagues across the franchise and broader bank, with experience leading, developing, and line managing professional teams.
- Strong analytical capability and the ability to use data to drive customer and competitor insights, supporting decision-making and strategy formulation.
- Excellent stakeholder management, influencing, and communication skills, including experience in building relationships across the bank and engaging internal and external stakeholders effectively.
- Experience of relevant legal policies, regulatory and statutory obligations, risk management, and working effectively with support and control functions.
- Broad technology knowledge, with an understanding of how the bank and peers use technology, including applying digital tools and emerging AI capabilities appropriately in strategic work.
- Extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions delivery and inorganic growth, including due diligence, deal structuring, negotiation, integration, and performance tracking.
Hours: 35
Job Posting Closing Date: 18/06/2026
Ways of Working: Hybrid
Head of Strategy (Retail Banking) in London employer: NatWest Group
At NatWest, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration. As the Head of Strategy in Retail Banking, you'll have the opportunity to lead a talented team while shaping the future of banking through strategic insights and advanced analytics. Our hybrid working model ensures flexibility, and our commitment to employee growth means you'll have access to continuous development opportunities, making NatWest a rewarding place to advance your career.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Strategy (Retail Banking) in London
✨Tap into Campus Networks
If you're still in uni, don’t forget to engage with your campus's career services and attend finance-related events. Banks often do presentations and recruitment drives on campus, so put yourself out there and make use of these opportunities to show off your passion for the field.
✨Get Certified
Consider pursuing relevant certifications like the CFA or ACCA while you’re job hunting. They not only beef up your CV but also connect you with professional bodies which can lead to networking opportunities and even job openings in banking and financial services.
✨Connect on Professional Platforms
Join finance-focused groups on platforms like LinkedIn and engage in discussions. This can really help you stand out from the crowd, allowing potential employers to see your knowledge and interest in industry trends. Plus, you might stumble upon job postings shared exclusively within the group.
✨Apply Directly and Be Proactive
Don’t shy away from reaching out directly to firms like NatWest Group. Use their websites and apply through them, but also consider following up with a polite email to express your enthusiasm. Being proactive can make a huge difference in getting noticed in the competitive financial services sector.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Strategy (Retail Banking) in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Numbers!:In the banking and financial services world, quantifiable achievements are key. Make sure your CV highlights your grades in relevant subjects, any financial certifications you hold, and specific projects where you've delivered measurable results. Employers love to see how your skills translate into real-world success.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Role:When applying for a full-time position, your cover letter should make a direct connection between your experience and the job description. Don't just state your enthusiasm for finance—dive into how your background in banking or financial analysis sets you apart. Let your passion shine through while being specific about what you can bring to NatWest Group.
Include Relevant Financial Software Experience:If you've worked with financial modelling tools or software like Excel, SAP, or specific analytical tools during your studies or internships, bring that up! Highlighting your proficiency can really make your application pop and show you're ready to hit the ground running in a full-time role.
Research and Reflect:Before hitting that 'apply' button on NatWest Group's website, do a little digging. Look up their recent projects, values, and culture. Reflecting their ethos in your application can make a huge difference and show you’re genuinely interested in being part of the team!
How to prepare for a job interview at NatWest Group
✨Brush Up on Financial Analysis Skills
Make sure you're well-versed in financial concepts and analytical techniques relevant to banking and financial services. Get comfortable with tools like Excel for modelling or financial forecasting, as technical questions in this area are common during interviews with NatWest Group.
✨Prepare for Case Studies
Expect to tackle case studies that demonstrate your problem-solving skills in real-world banking scenarios. Familiarise yourself with the types of problems you might face—think risk assessments or investment evaluations—and be ready to articulate your thought process clearly.
✨Show Your Passion for Finance
Since this is a full-time position, employers at NatWest Group will be keen to see your genuine interest in finance. Be prepared to discuss recent industry trends or news articles that excite you, showcasing your enthusiasm and engagement with the field.
✨Network with Industry Professionals
Before your interview, reach out to current or former NatWest Group employees on platforms like LinkedIn. They'll offer unique insights into the company's culture and the interview process, which can give us a delightful edge in showcasing a good fit for the team.
