Associate Relationship Manager - Midlands

allica-bank; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Allica Bank in the United Kingdom seeks an Associate Relationship Manager to support SME clients with lending, deposits and advisory services. You will manage a portfolio, deliver exceptional service, and help grow the bank's regional SME relationships.

You'll work closely with Senior Relationship Managers, use CRM tools to track activity, and participate in campaigns and events to create new opportunities. A proactive, hands-on approach and strong communication are essential.

Qualifications

• B2B sales or SME banking experience preferred.
• Experience in building client relationships and portfolio management.
• Curious, proactive and eager to learn new skills and tools.
• Confident engaging with customers, advisers and stakeholders.
• Strong communication and organizational abilities.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of SME customers delivering outstanding service.
• Deliver against commercial targets including lending and deposits.
• Develop new business opportunities through networks and events.
• Maintain CRM records and ensure timely follow-up actions.
• Identify risks early and support risk management on the portfolio.
• Collaborate with Senior Relationship Manager and wider team.

Skills

B2B sales

Relationship management

Portfolio management

Networking

Cold calling

CRM tools

Financial analysis

Communication

SME banking

Client engagement

Tools

CRM tools

Job description

About Allica Bank

Allica is the UK's fastest growing company - and the fastest-growing financial technology (Fintech) firm ever. Our purpose is to help established SMEs, one of the last major underserved opportunities in Fintech.

Established SMEs are the backbone of local communities - representing over a third of our economy - yet have been largely neglected both by traditional high street banks and modern fintech providers.

Department Description

Our vision is to reimagine Relationship Banking for established SMEs, through the very best people, products and digital tools. Allica's Relationship Management team was formed in 2022 and continues to grow at pace, providing established SME customers with expert human relationships alongside modern banking technology.

The team supports customers with lending, current accounts, savings, asset finance and working capital facilities, while building deep local relationships with SME customers, trusted professional advisers and business communities.

The Associate Relationship Manager role is a newly created position that is a key step in our ambition to build the best Relationship team to support our SME clients. The successful candidate will manage a portfolio of clients and be expected to deliver across a range of commercial, customer service and risk objectives whilst also providing support to the wider relationship team as part of their development.

This is a great opportunity for someone looking to develop their skills and progress a career as an SME Relationship Manager.

Principal Accountabilities

• Manage a portfolio of SME customers delivering outstanding customer service, building genuine and trusting relationships and develop a deep understanding of your clients' businesses and their ambitions.
• Deliver against a range of commercial targets including lending and new customer / deposit acquisition, as well as identifying and meeting a range of client needs through the provision of Allica products and services.
• Build a trusted external network with SME advisers and the wider business community. Leverage this network to generate new business opportunities for the bank, in addition to signposting your clients to external support and advice as appropriate.
• Ensure that Risk is managed effectively on your portfolio, with all required risk activities completed on time and to a high standard. Use customer data and internal Allica systems to identify signs of client stress and take proactive action to tackle early.
• Work closely with a Senior Relationship Manager, contributing to building a bespoke personal development plan which will include supporting them and the wider team as part of your learning.
• Take an active role in new business campaigns, including attending events, following up on leads, supporting prospect engagement and undertaking some cold calling where appropriate.
• Support event organisation and follow-up activity, helping the team build strong local relationships with SME customers, prospects, accountants, solicitors and other trusted professional advisers.
• Maintain accurate CRM records, strong follow-up discipline and good control over customer, prospect and portfolio activity.
• Build strong, collaborative and productive relationships with your team and wider internal stakeholders to ensure customer needs are meet efficiently and any issues resolved quickly.

Personal Attributes & Experience

• Some B2B sales, account management and/or SME banking experience, with a clear interest in building a career in SME relationship banking and a passion for supporting SMEs to be more successful.
• Some experience of commercial lending and understanding / analysing financial accounts would be of benefit.
• Curious, proactive and keen to learn, with the motivation to develop lending, sales, risk management and portfolio management capability through formal training and on-the-job coaching.
• Confident engaging with customers, prospects and SME business advisers (including in person, via video call and by phone) asking great questions, following up consistently and building professional relationships.
• Good organisation and attention to detail, with the ability to manage customer information and requests, portfolio tasks and follow-up actions accurately and at pace.
• Practical understanding of customer service, sales activity and account management disciplines, ideally gained in a B2B, financial services or relationship-led environment.
• Confident using systems, CRM tools and data to manage activity, track progress and support strong customer and risk outcomes.
• Experience using AI tools in a business environment would also be of benefit.
• An energetic, resilient, hands‑on approach, with the confidence to get into the detail, solve problems and take ownership of outcomes.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to build credibility with customers, prospects, advisers, colleagues and stakeholders.
• Strong alignment to Allica's values, with the judgement, int