SME Relationship Director, Trading Sectors - Exeter

Lloyds Banking Group; Exeter; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension up to 15%

Annual bonus

Share schemes

Discounted shopping

30 days holiday

Wellbeing initiatives

Parental leave

Job summary

Lloyds Banking Group’s SME Devon and Cornwall team is seeking an experienced Relationship Director to manage a diverse portfolio of SME clients and drive growth through tailored banking solutions.

The role is hybrid, based in Exeter, with a focus on high-value client outcomes, risk management and community engagement across Devon.

Qualifications

• Proven track record of winning new business in a corporate/commercial banking environment.
• Demonstrable credit experience with evaluating propositions and making commercial recommendations.
• Strong communication skills and ability to build and maintain client relationships.

Responsibilities

• Building trusted relationships as a strategic advisor to high-value clients.
• Delivering tailored Commercial Banking services including day-to-day banking, working capital, payments, deposits, cards and lending.
• Driving growth by attracting new clients and expanding revenue, balance sheet and market share.
• Maintaining a strong presence in Devon and engaging with business communities.
• Collaborating with internal teams and external partners to deliver comprehensive solutions.
• Championing ESG strategies and helping clients on their Net Zero journey.
• Managing lending risk through assessments and policy adherence.

Job description

SME Relationship Director, Trading Sectors - Exeter

Hybrid - Exeter, England, United Kingdom

JOB TITLE: SME Relationship Director, Trading Sectors - Exeter

LOCATIONS: Exeter

HOURS: Full-Time

WORKING PATTERN: Our work style is hybrid, which involves spending at least two days per week, or 40% of your time, at our offices in Exeter and Plymouth. Colleagues with disabilities can be supported with workplace adjustments including hybrid working expectations in line with our Flexibility Works policy.

What you’ll be doing

We have an excellent and exciting opportunity for a dynamic and driven Relationship Director to join the SME Devon and Cornwall team. This high-performing, client and colleague centric team is part of Commercial Banking Coverage. This role is tailor made for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment and is passionate about delivering exceptional client outcomes.

In this role you’ll play a key part in shaping our market presence and helping businesses achieve their financial goals and ambitions. You run a diverse portfolio of new and existing SME clients with turnovers between £10m–£25m, ensuring outstanding client experiences while driving growth in income, balance sheet, and market share. By delivering tailored financial solutions and building strong, trusted relationships, you’ll position Lloyds as the leading bank for businesses across Devon.

Your work will combine strategic growth, risk management, and community engagement, making a real impact on local businesses and the wider market.

Your key accountabilities will include:

Building Trusted Relationships: Acting as a strategic advisor to high-value clients, placing their needs at the centre of everything you do.

Delivering Tailored Solutions: Proactively identifying and providing Commercial Banking services, including day-to-day banking, working capital support, payments, deposits, cards, and lending.

Driving Growth: Leading initiatives to attract new clients through strategic outreach and relationship building, while expanding revenue, balance sheet, and client base.

Being a Local Leader: Maintaining a strong presence in Devon, engaging with business communities and influencers to position the Bank as the leading partner for clients.

Collaborating for Success: Forging strong partnerships with internal teams and external partners to unlock opportunities and deliver comprehensive solutions.

Championing Sustainability: Supporting clients on ESG strategies and their journey to Net Zero.

Managing Risk Effectively: Overseeing lending assessments and contingent liabilities, ensuring compliance with asset quality and policy guidelines.

If you think all banks are the same, you’re wrong. We’re a pioneering, fast-changing business that’s shaping finance as a force for good. If you’re after a role where you can have an impact and do the best work of your career, you’ve just found it.

What we’re looking for

A consistent track record of winning new business in a competitive environment within corporate or commercial banking.

Demonstrable credit experience, skilled at evaluating propositions and making confident and effective commercial recommendations to the Credit team.

Strong communication skills with experience in building, crafting, and maintaining relationships with clients and influential external partners.

A collaborative teammate with the drive and passion to succeed both individually and as part of the wider team.

An understanding and appreciation of the different types of Commercial Banking risk and how to minimise these effectively.

This is a place for you

Our ambition is to be the leading UK business for diversity, equity and inclusion supporting our customers, colleagues and communities and we’re committed to creating an environment in which everyone can thrive, learn and develop.

We were one of the first major organisations to set goals on diversity in senior roles, create a menopause health package, and a dedicated Working with Cancer Initiative.

We offer reasonable workplace adjustments for colleagues with disabilities, including flexibility in office attendance, location and working patterns. As a Disability Confident Leader, we guarantee interviews for a fair and proportionate number of applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role with a disability, long-term health or neurodivergent condition through the Disability Confident Scheme.

We provide reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process to reduce or remove barriers. Just let us know what you need.

We also offer a wide-ranging benefits package, which includes:

A generous pension contribution of up to 15%

An annual performance-related bonus

Share schemes including free shares

Benefits you can adapt to your lifestyle, such as discounted shopping

30 days’ holiday, with bank holidays on top

A range of wellbeing initiatives and generous parental leave policies

At Lloyds Banking Group, we're driven by a clear purpose; to help Britain prosper. Across the Group, our colleagues are focused on making a difference to customers, businesses and communities. With us you'll have a key role to play in shaping the financial services of the future, whilst the scale and reach of our Group means you'll have many opportunities to learn, grow and develop.

We keep your data safe. So, we'll only ever ask you to provide confidential or sensitive information once you have formally been invited along to an interview or accepted a verbal offer to join us which is when we run our background checks. We'll always explain what we need and why, with any request coming from a trusted Lloyds Banking Group person.

We're focused on creating a values-led culture and are committed to building a workforce which reflects the diversity of the customers and communities we serve. Together we’re building a truly inclusive workplace where all of our colleagues have the opportunity to make a real difference.

Lloyds Banking Group is committed to helping Britain prosper by fostering a sustainable, inclusive future and transforming financial services to meet evolving customer needs.