Retail Banking Analyst Graduate Programme 2026 Manchester

Barclays UK; Manchester; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial institution in Manchester is seeking recent graduates for their Retail Banking Graduate Programme. This 2-year program offers tailored training and three rotations, providing insights into retail banking while enhancing skills. Ideal candidates are motivated with a strong degree and possess a solutions-focused mindset. This role allows you to develop expertise in a vibrant office environment.

Qualifications

• Motivated with a strong degree or expected degree.
• Enthusiasm and drive in spotting opportunities.
• Solutions-focused mindset.

Responsibilities

• Participate in daily activities of the retail banking division.
• Support strategic decision-making and develop new products.
• Manage client relationships and provide customer service support.

Skills

Problem-solving mindset

Client-focused

Team collaboration

Research skills

Education

Strong degree or expected degree in any area

Job description

Overview

If you're a recent graduate or soon-to-be graduate, join us and unlock a world of carefully curated experiences, knowledge, and connections to shape your career. Along the way, you can expect all the training and support you need to make your mark on the world. Put simply, we’ll empower you to help determine how we do things and where we go next. Our graduates are a vital part of our success, and we welcome applications from people from all walks of life. Whoever you are and wherever you want to join us, if you’re curious, creative, and ambitious, this is a world in which you can truly belong.

Our Explorer Programme

You\'ll join our explorer programme, a 2-year programme designed to give you depth and breadth of experience. Participating in job-based bespoke training from the start enabling you to go fully-equipped into your role as you embark on the first of three eight-month long rotations.

Why the Retail Banking Graduate programme?

Retail Banking at Barclays delivers tailored financial experiences across savings, investments, mortgages, credit cards, insurance, and digital banking. We support customers through key life moments with Specialist Customer Care—offering expert help with fraud, bereavement, and complex financial needs.

We also empower over a million small and medium businesses through Business Banking, providing more than just funding—offering tools, guidance, and lasting partnerships.

Our focus is on deeply understanding customer needs to design seamless, connected journeys. With teams spanning customer care, product development, and technology, we’re shaping the future of banking by delivering outstanding service, innovative solutions, and meaningful financial support.

At Barclays, you’ll be empowered to grow, connect, and make an impact. Our supportive culture helps you build strong relationships with peers and leaders while gaining real-world experience. You’ll take part in tailored training, connect with mentors, expand your network, receive valuable feedback, and give back through volunteering. Make your mark—and this could be the start of an exceptional career.

To be considered for this opportunity

To be considered for this opportunity, you\'ll be motivated with a strong degree or expected degree – in any area. You\'ll also bring enthusiasm, drive, and a sharp eye for spotting opportunities and solving problems—an ambitious, solutions-focused mindset that puts clients first.

For the graduate programme sponsorship and eligibility

Please note the following:

• The 2026 Retail Banking Graduate Programme is not one which we can offer sponsorship for at this time. Accordingly, applicants for this position will need to have the legal right to work in the UK on a full time basis from August 2026 to August 2028.
• The Retail Banking business area is currently deemed out of scope for sponsorship. As it stands, you would not be eligible to receive a Skilled Worker Visa from Barclays at the end of the Graduate Programme if you obtain a role in this area.

Working In Manchester

Our Manchester office is a vibrant hub with flexible spaces for collaboration and client events. Just a short walk from major transport links and surrounded by top-tier amenities, it offers a modern, professional environment designed for impact and growth. Manchester is a place to grow your career and make a difference.

It is the policy of Barclays to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or domestic/civil partnership status, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by law.

Purpose of the role

To participate in the day-to-day activities of the retail banking division providing insights and expertise that help senior colleagues make informed decisions, develop new products and services, and identify new market opportunities.

Accountabilities

• Execution of small research projects, research to support strategic decision making, preparation of presentations and reports to communicate research findings, collaboration with senior management to implement research findings for retail banking.
• Collaboration with cross-functional teams to support business initiatives.
• Participation in training and development programs to enhance skills and knowledge.
• Identification of opportunities, development of business cases, management of the deployment and launch of new products and services for retail banking.
• Management of client relationships and provision of customer service support to clients and customers, under steadily decreasing supervision, responding to questions about products and services, processing of transactions, and resolution of customer complaints.
• Management of the development and implementation of financial models and strategies that support in decision making for retail banking.
• Training and mentoring of junior colleagues.

Analyst Expectations

• To perform prescribed activities in a timely manner and to a high standard consistently driving continuous improvement.
• Requires in-depth technical knowledge and experience in their assigned area of expertise
• Thorough understanding of the underlying principles and concepts within the area of expertise
• They lead and supervise a team, guiding and supporting professional development, allocating work requirements and coordinating team resources.
• If the position has leadership responsibilities, People Leaders are expected to demonstrate a clear set of leadership behaviours to create an environment for colleagues to thrive and deliver to a consistently excellent standard. The four LEAD behaviours are: L – Listen and be authentic, E – Energise and inspire, A – Align across the enterprise, D – Develop others.
• OR for an individual contributor, they develop technical expertise in work area, acting as an advisor where appropriate.
• Will have an impact on the work of related teams within the area.
• Partner with other functions and business areas.
• Takes responsibility for end results of a team’s operational processing and activities.
• Escalate breaches of policies / procedure appropriately.
• Take responsibility for embedding new policies/ procedures adopted due to risk mitigation.
• Advise and influence decision making within own area of expertise.
• Take ownership for managing risk and strengthening controls in relation to the work you own or contribute to. Deliver your workand areas of responsibility in line with relevant rules, regulation and codes of conduct.
• Maintain and continually build an understanding of how own sub-function integrates with function, alongside knowledge of the organisations products, services and processes within the function.
• Demonstrate understanding of how areas coordinate and contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the organisation sub-function.
• Make evaluative judgements based on the analysis of factual information, paying attention to detail.
• Resolve problems by identifying and selecting solutions through the application of acquired technical experience and will be guided by precedents.
• Guide and persuade team members and communicate complex / sensitive information.
• Act as contact point for stakeholders outside of the immediate function, while building a network of contacts outside team and external to the organisation.

All colleagues

All colleagues will be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Values of Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence and Stewardship – our moral compass, helping us do what we believe is right. They will also be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Mindset – to Empower, Challenge and Drive – the operating manual for how we behave.