Senior Relationship Manager – Wealth Management

Zenith Bank (UK) Limited (ZBUK) is a subsidiary of Zenith Bank PLC, the most profitable bank in Nigeria with an established trajectory of superlative performance, as well a strong pedigree of innovation, resilience, and market dominance. On an annual basis, Zenith Bank PLC amasses a string of notable awards; one of the most recent being listed as the sole Nigerian brand on the World’s top 100 companies in 2023 by the World Finance Magazine.

Zenith Bank (UK) Limited (ZBUK) was set up with a clear strategy to leverage trade and investment flows between Nigeria and Europe, by providing intermediary banking services and facilities for trade-related working capital and capital expenditure.

Zenith Bank recognizes the importance of leveraging a highly skilled workforce to achieve its strategic and operational goals. The bank is committed to providing an environment that is conducive for effective performance by availing all staff the necessary learning opportunity. We value the well‑being of our staff and we encourage them to strike a balance between their work and personal lives, thereby creating a healthy atmosphere for personal development and career success.

With the introduction of new services here in the UK and our unparalleled knowledge of business with Africa, our 5 year strategy ensures “Controlled Growth” as we aim to become the Bank of choice for businesses wishing to transact in the African continent.

Role Overview

The Senior Relationship Manager (RM) role within this team is to build and acquire highly proactive, long‑term, internal and external business relationships to grow and develop a portfolio of clients that generate sustained revenue. A key element of this role is the RM engaging with our existing Zenith Group business. The Senior Relationship Manager will use their experience and knowledge to help clients manage their investments, and wider wealth management and banking needs.

Role Responsibilities

Principal Accountabilities

Management – Build, Retain and Manage a Portfolio of Clients:

New business origination via Referral Programme leveraging the operating business model: Identify, develop and secure new relationships with a range of Zenith UK and Zenith Group partners across the target jurisdictions or geographies to increase new client acquisitions. Understand Zenith UK “Value Proposition” to increase business flow.

The role holder will be responsible for maintaining regular proactive contact and rapid reaction to client approaches and where needed, provide support to existing clients in retaining revenue streams. The role holder will develop relationships with other parts of Zenith Group to ensure clients are managed in the most appropriate way. In doing this, they will have joint responsibility with internal colleagues for the end‑to‑end client experience, ensuring client satisfaction. The RM will also lead initiatives with external business introducers, trade associations, solicitors and accountants assuring that all commercial activity is coordinated and supervised by their line manager.

Key accountabilities – production

New business origination

• Identify, develop and win new relationships through personal and client referrals, and Zenith Group internal networks including Business Development and onshore (Africa) colleagues
• Achieve personal targets for new clients, assets and revenues
• Actively refer relevant business to other parts of Zenith UK and the wider Zenith Group

Financial Solutions

Provide innovative and world‑class financial solutions to meet client needs including:

• Banking: offer full range of banking and deposit services
• Balance sheet: offer banking, credit and FX products to support a wide range of clients’ needs
• Wealth Advisory: identify wealth and tax planning needs referring these clients to Zenith’s preferred partners so that experts in fiduciary solutions, wealth planning and structuring services plus trusts and estate planning can meet our clients’ needs and expectations
• Investment Management: offer a range of services depending on client demands, including modelled bespoke discretionary and advisory portfolios solutions outsourced by Zenith through preferred partners

Key accountabilities

Sales management and Financial Performance

• Achieve and exceed asset, revenue and margin targets with the balance of affordability, cost discipline and risk & control management
• Developing and executing the strategy and driving consistent, high‑quality delivery. The RM is the implementer of change through client needs analysis, business prioritization, and resource management
• Actively drive own Business Plan revenue and asset gathering through effective sales management.
• Actively support the acquisition, servicing, development and retention of clients to achieve the business plan
• Take ownership for the monitoring of own risk asset portfolio
• Lead by example meeting all governance standards
• Identify commercial opportunities and implement solutions that enhance the client experience
• Inform senior management of opportunities and threats within the business environment
• Ensure own book activity is managed to ensure time and focus is appropriately weighted in respect of own
• Communicate accurately with any internal department or colleagues while effectively coordinating efforts

Based on a “One Team” approach

Business Assurance

• Ensure effective governance; consistently meeting fiduciary and regulatory expectations
• Contribution to create an understanding of, and culture in the Wealth Management Team, of the right way to do business, driving performance excellence in Business practices and measure, and maintaining high standards of adherence to policies and procedures
• Display appropriate skills as well as the technical knowledge to act as a competent RM according to FCA Approved Persons
• Ensure conformance with applicable standards, and effective remediation, management and escalation of any issues through applying an appropriate risk‑based approach.

Areas of focus include:

• Client due diligence and on‑board
• Client relationship management
• Record keeping, through the adoption of CRM
• Client reviews
• Quality assessments
• Regulatory compliance (including but not limited to Treating Customers Fairly, Know Your Customer, suitability and appropriate documentation)
• Training & Competence, inclusive attending all mandatory training, FCA registration and adherence with internal and external policies

Client Experience

• Drive a client‑centric culture by ensuring that the Wealth Management Team delivers an exceptional client experience
• Promote Zenith products and services based upon an in‑depth understanding of client’s needs

Internal Relationship Management

Develop relationships & cross selling opportunities with other departments of Zenith Group to ensure clients are managed and new opportunities developed in the most appropriate way, enabling effective management of clients as required. In doing this, have joint responsibility with internal colleagues for the end‑to‑end client experience, ensuring client satisfaction. Proactively engage with the business when required to support any business and change management.

Clients (Internal and External)

In this role, the Senior Relationship Manager will build and manage portfolios of up to c.100 clients whose value held with Zenith UK are above £50k. Internal stakeholders included.

Regulatory Responsibilities

Compliance with the FCA/PRA’s Individual Conduct Rules as outlined below in this job description.

Skills/Knowledge Required

Professional/technical experience

• Broad experience of the financial services industry, particularly in the areas of retail regulated products and services to high network customers, and asset management
• Strong relationship skills with experience of managing and handling sophisticated needs of individuals and families
• Experience of building a client‑base using internal and external networks
• Effective in gaining an in‑depth understanding of client needs and advising on a diverse range of wealth management solutions
• Detailed regulatory knowledge of the UK regulatory requirements and an overall understanding of the business impact of the regulatory environment
• Full compliance with the FCA’s statements of Principle for Code of Practice for Approved Persons
• Evidence competence in performing the controlled function

Academic and professional qualifications

• Educated to a degree level
• Minimum of 5 years work experience in similar or related role
• Hold appropriate professional qualifications as an FCA Approved Person and to be compliant with requirements under RDR

Personal attributes

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• An excellent command of the English language with strong written and verbal communication skills and be able to communicate effectively across all levels. A numeric aptitude is desirable.
• Entrepreneurial spirit but also with a collegiate approach
• Embraces challenge and an evolving/changing environment
• Constructive approach with the ability to relate to and accommodate a diverse range of personalities
• Role model in the management and potential for leadership of people
• Client focused in all activities
• High levels of integrity and able to quickly form positive working relationships with others
• Organised and disciplined in approach

This is a permanent position paying up to £85,000 based on experience