Graduate Asset Finance Trainee

Location: Leicester

Salary: £25,500

Duration: 2 Years

Start Date: July 2025

Company Information

Cambridge & Counties Bank, main office in Leicester, UK, specialises in property finance, asset finance, classic, vintage, and sports car finance, and savings accounts for small to medium enterprises and credit unions. Since its launch in June 2012, the bank has provided nationwide coverage through satellite offices. With a unique ownership structure, split evenly between Trinity Hall, a Cambridge University college, and the Cambridgeshire Local Government Pension Scheme, Cambridge & Counties Bank aims to blend the best aspects of traditional banking with the speed, efficiency, and innovation of a modern lender. This approach offers a fast, flexible, and secure way for clients to invest, grow, and save with them.

Cambridge & Counties Bank is a forward-thinking, B-Corp Certified, financial institution dedicated to innovation, customer-centric services, and robust risk management. They pride themselves on fostering a dynamic and inclusive work environment where employees are encouraged to develop their skills and grow their careers; as evidenced by the companies Women in Finance initiative. By investing in the latest technologies and best practices, they ensure that their services are top-notch, and their employees are well-equipped to meet the challenges of the banking sector.

Job Purpose

This training programme will expose you to a variety of duties and experiences by way of rotating through a number of separate functions/departments of the Bank. The programme covers a period of 24 months, where the Graduate Trainee will spend time in the following business areas:

• Sales – Asset Finance (12 months): To provide customers and introducers with a point of contact for all lending enquiries and to provide administrative support to the Sales, Asset Finance Team. To ensure submissions are written to appropriate standards and sales performance records are accurate and updated in a timely manner.
• Asset Finance Underwriting (6 months): To provide the Asset Finance Underwriting Team with support with credit applications and ensure all applications comply with our Lending Policy. Also, ensure that all post sanction administration procedures are timely and compliant with Bank's policies and procedures. You will also have the opportunity to complete reviews and recommendations during your time in the Underwriting Team.
• AF Lending Operations (6 months): To work within the Asset Finance Operations team to deliver high-quality service, to an excellent standard, in a fast paced, dynamic environment. You will ensure post sanction administrative procedures are completed in a timely and compliant manner, in line with the Bank's policies, procedures and guidelines together with all appropriate regulatory and statutory requirements.

Responsibilities

• The role will change and develop as your scheme progresses, depending on your areas of expertise and upon the projects requiring support at the time.
• Complete the programme and the required time in each area.
• Ensure all tasks are completed with professionalism and to the highest standards.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders.
• Be flexible with your approach and open to moving between departments and projects as needs arise.
• Ensure all accountabilities are undertaken in accordance with the Bank's policies and procedures.
• Building an understanding of the bank's products and services.
• Display a clear, proactive approach to each task in each selected area.
• Adhere to the Bank's brand and culture values.
• Ensure good customer outcomes form the basis of the work completed in each area.
• Accurately record all data within the relevant systems and maintain required MI records.
• Interact with other teams as necessary to ensure that quality and service levels are achieved.
• Operating various software applications to update, track and amend information and documents.
• Ensure full compliance with relevant legal and regulatory requirements, and appropriate CCB policies.
• Report any risk events, and appropriate errors and issues, in accordance with the agreed CCB process.
• Provide wider support across the Bank with administrative tasks, as work volumes require.

Excellence Indicators

• Successful completion of work in each area.
• Fully engaged in the programme.
• Collects feedback where required and acts with a positive attitude to this.

Core Competencies

• An honest, clear and respectful communicator.
• Innovative and open-minded to change.
• Self-motivated, accountable and results oriented.
• A team player who actively seeks opportunities to collaborate across multiple disciplines.
• Able to quickly build relationships with customers or stakeholders.
• Clear ability to plan and prioritise to ensure targets are achieved or exceeded.
• Non-judgemental and considerate of the impact of your behaviour and decisions on others.

Job Specific Competencies

• Qualification to a degree level in a relevant subject e.g., Business, Finance, Accounting, etc.
• Excellent attention to detail and able to deliver work to a consistently high level of accuracy.
• Commercial awareness.
• Computer literate.
• Good numerical skills.
• Organised and efficient approach.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Able to work effectively as part of a team.

Why Should You Apply?

• 10% employer pension contributions.
• 10% Profit Share Bonus Scheme.
• 30 days’ holiday plus Bank Holidays.
• Sell Holiday scheme.
• 50% of time Work from Home Policy as standard and other flexible working options welcomed.
• Private Medical Insurance including optical and dental cover from day one.
• Life Cover at 4x salary from day one.
• Income Protection cover.
• Salary Sacrifice Cycle to Work Scheme.
• Salary Sacrifice Electric Car Scheme.
• Interest-free personal loans for various purposes.
• Perkbox membership (discounts on shopping, restaurants, cinema, and lots more).
• Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Pay policies.
• Various learning and development opportunities available.
• Free tea, coffee, and milk.
• Christmas and summer parties.
• A Colleague Forum, a Green Environmental Action Team, Charities Committee, and numerous opportunities to give back to the community, and more...