Rathbones Institute (Associate)

Start date: January 2027

Employment model: Fully employed

Salary: Competitive from day one

Working pattern: Hybrid

Before you apply

This is an experienced-professional career transition programme for established professionals, not a graduate or entry-level scheme. Applicants should normally have at least 10 years of substantial professional experience, together with a strong record of achievement, meaningful responsibility and sound professional judgement.

For professionals who are:

• Changing sector or career;
• Returning to work after a career break; or
• Looking to apply their existing professional experience in wealth management.

Career breaks will not count against you. Previous wealth management experience or a finance qualification is not required, but substantial professional experience is essential.

About the role & programme

The Rathbones Institute offers experienced professionals a supported, fully funded 24-month route into a career in wealth management. You will bring an established record of achievement and transferable judgement. Rathbones will provide the technical knowledge, qualifications and supervised experience needed to apply it.

You will be employed and salaried from day one, with Rathbones funding the qualifications included in your agreed pathway. Your development will reflect your qualifications, career history and goals. The programme combines study, tutor and mentor support, development and on-desk experience. You will own your learning, contribute professionally from the outset and seek support when needed.

The programme begins with a one-week induction at Rathbones’ London office, followed by collaborative, supported study towards the CISI Investment Advice Diploma. From month six, in June 2027, you will spend four days a week on desk and one day studying towards the CISI Chartered Wealth Manager qualification, Level 7. Support will come from Rathbones colleagues, Fitch Learning and AI-enabled tools. Alongside technical development, you will begin building client relationships with support and supervision. Coaching, mentoring and development continue beyond the programme, with opportunities to progress in Investment Management, Financial Planning or another area of wealth management.

What you’ll be responsible for

• Undertake the structured programme and successfully complete the required CISI qualifications, examinations, programme milestones and development activities.
• Balance on-desk responsibilities with dedicated study time, taking ownership of learning commitments and seeking focused support where needed.
• Build knowledge of financial markets, investments and the wider economic and geopolitical factors affecting clients and markets.
• Apply course learning accurately to practical situations, assessing information from different sources, testing assumptions and identifying risks.
• Develop an understanding of clients’ circumstances, needs, objectives and concerns by asking thoughtful questions, listening carefully and avoiding premature assumptions.
• Explain information clearly, adapt communication to the audience and check understanding, including recognising when further information or support may be required.
• Build trusted professional relationships with clients and colleagues through calm, clear and consistent communication.
• From month six, begin developing client relationships and the foundations of a long-term client book, with appropriate support and supervision.
• Identify and pursue suitable business development opportunities through client conversations, professional networks, consistent follow-up and a focus on suitability, transparency, value and good client outcomes.

About you

We are looking for an established professional changing career or returning to work after a career break. You will normally have at least 10 years of substantial professional experience and a strong record of achievement in any sector.

You may be a senior client adviser, consultant, relationship manager, lawyer, accountant, business leader, commercial specialist, public-sector professional or someone from another background that has developed strong judgement, communication and relationship‑building skills.

You’ll be someone who:

• Brings evidence of sustained achievement, meaningful responsibility and professional outcomes.
• Shows genuine curiosity about clients, asks thoughtful questions and avoids premature assumptions.
• Shows commercial initiative and persistence by identifying suitable opportunities, initiating conversations, building networks and following up consistently.
• Balances commercial ambition with suitability, transparency, value and good client outcomes.
• Learns quickly and openly, seeks feedback, reflects on your approach and adapts when needed.
• Recognises when you need further information or support and takes action to address it.
• Assesses information carefully, tests assumptions, identifies risks and reaches balanced, proportionate conclusions.
• Works accurately and responsibly within agreed policies, controls and the level of competence appropriate to your stage of development.
• Communicates clearly and builds trust by explaining complex information simply, adapting your style, checking understanding and responding constructively to questions or disagreement.
• Establishes professional relationships through calm, consistent and respectful communication.
• Maintains momentum through setbacks, uncertainty and competing priorities, changing course constructively when circumstances require it.
• Is ready to commit to an accelerated programme of professional study, examinations and development activities.

No previous wealth management experience or finance qualification is required. This opportunity is specifically for professionals with substantial work experience who are ready to apply their existing skills in a new sector.

Is this the right opportunity for you?

This opportunity may be right for you if you:

• Have 10 or more years of substantial professional experience;
• Are changing sector, changing career or returning after a career break;
• Have a strong record of achievement and meaningful professional responsibility;
• Want to build a long-term career in wealth management;
• Are comfortable combining professional study with client and on-desk responsibilities; and
• Are prepared to complete professional examinations and participate fully in a structured 24-month programme.

This is unlikely to be the right opportunity if you:

• Are a current student or recent graduate without substantial professional experience;
• Are looking for a general graduate training scheme; or
• Cannot commit to professional examinations and a structured 24-month programme.

Our offer to you

We want everyone at Rathbones to fulfil their potential in an environment where they are proud to work and feel they belong. Our benefits include:

• Company pension: 9% non-contributory, or 10% if you contribute 5%.
• Private medical insurance: individual cover on joining, with family cover after one year’s service.
• Life assurance at eight times salary.
• Income protection at 75% of salary.
• Company share scheme and discretionary bonus.
• Flexible holidays, including the option to purchase up to five additional days.
• Green Car Scheme.
• Family-friendly policies, including enhanced family leave for parents and carers.
• Study support, including study days and funding for courses and qualifications.
• Season travel ticket loans, volunteering days and gym discounts.
• Other voluntary benefits to suit your needs.

Employees can also take part in social groups and communities supporting wellbeing, growth, development and connection, including:

• Sports and Social Committees, with activities such as cricket, football, netball, running, yoga, quiz nights and charity bake sales.
• Inclusion Networks, including Gender Balance, Multicultural, Abilities Count, Pride, Social Mobility, Generations, Menopause Matters and Armed Forces.
• The NextGen IM Network, bringing together colleagues undertaking professional development across the UK and providing peer support, networking, development and exposure across the business.

Life at Rathbones

We aim to become an employer of choice for the wealth management sector. We are working to build a diverse, equal and inclusive workplace that motivates, develops and embraces the strengths of all colleagues. Being part of Rathbones means joining passionate professionals in a successful culture that cares for its people. We provide meaningful work, opportunities and a voice to all.

We encourage applications from people with diverse skills, experiences and abilities. We welcome individuals who share our values and are a Disability Confident Employer, Level 2, under the UK Government scheme. If you require adjustments to apply, please contact our Institute recruitment partner, Ladder, at hello@laddergroup.com and let us know what support you need during the process.

Our mission and values

We believe in playing the long game: building consistent results, earning trust and doing the right thing for our clients, colleagues and communities.

Our values are:

• We show we care.
• We do the right thing.

These values guide how we treat each other, make decisions and build relationships that last.

This recruitment process is being managed on our behalf by our retained partner, Ladder. All applications will be received and reviewed by the Ladder team, who will manage the initial stages of the selection process in partnership with Rathbones. We will close this advert once we have received enough applications for the next stage. Please submit your application as soon as possible to ensure you don’t miss out.