Graduate Careers

Relationship manager

Main tasks
Relationship managers work in corporate banking to build relationships with new clients and manage existing clients. They may perform the following tasks:

• manage portfolios of existing corporate banking clients
• develop relationships with new clients
• lend sums often into the millions of dollars
• manage credit and operational risk in accordance with company/bank policy.

Key skills

• great sales and negotiation skills
• strong financial sector knowledge
• influencing and networking skills
• strong customer service skills
• excellent communication skills.

Salary
According to leading recruitment specialists, relationship managers start on around $50,000. With one to five years experience, relationship managers can earn $70,000–$100,000. Senior relationship managers can earn up to and in excess of $140,000.

Employment prospects
According to the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations’ (DEEWR) Australian jobs 2008, job prospects for finance, banking and insurance professionals are currently good, and unemployment is below average. Future jobs growth to 2012–13 is expected to be moderate.

Main employers
Relationship managers are employed by large corporate banking and business banking firms.

Find out more
Financial Services Institute of Australasia, (finsia), www.finsia.com

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Risk manager (financial)

Main tasks
Risk managers assess and manage potential risks that might impact the profitability or viability of an organisation. They may perform the following tasks:

• investigate and assess potential risks
• monitor risks and devise strategies to minimise risk
• design contingency plans
• make decisions as to the treatment of risk — whether to avoid, reduce, retain or transfer risk.

Key skills

• strong analytical and critical thinking skills
• ability to work under pressure
• strengths in forward thinking and planning
• numeracy
• strong interest in and understanding of financial markets.

Salary
According to leading recruitment specialists, risk managers typically start on around $45,000. The average salary across this occupation is around $90,000. Progression to more senior and managerial roles can result in salaries up to around $200,000.

Employment prospects
According to DEEWR's Australian jobs 2008, job prospects for the category to which this occupation belongs (finance advisers) are currently good, and unemployment is average. Employment growth to 2012–13 is expected to be slight.

Main employers
Risk managers are employed in banks and other financial institutions, as well as medium and large private companies and government departments.

Find out more
Risk Management Institution of Australasia (RMIA), www.rmia.org.au
Financial Services Institute of Australasia, (finsia), www.finsia.com

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Credit and loans officer

Main tasks
Credit and loans officers analyse, evaluate and process credit and loan applications, and control and process accounts. They may perform the following tasks:

• assess loan requests and credit applications
• interview applicants and check application forms, credit ratings, references etc.
• approve or decline loan and credit applications
• complete forms detailing loan specifications
• prepare reports and maintain records
• manage customer enquiries.

Key skills

• strong verbal and written communications skills
• customer service and interpersonal skills
• numeracy
• ability to be firm and tactful.

Salary
According to leading recruitment specialists, credit and loans officers typically start on around $40,000. The average salary across this occupation is around $55,000. Progression to more senior and managerial roles in banks can result in salaries up to around $110,000.

Employment prospects
According to DEEWR's Australian jobs 2008, job prospects for credit and loans officers are currently good, and unemployment is low. Employment growth to 2012–13 is expected to be strong.

Main employers
Credit and loans officers are commonly employed in banks, insurance companies, finance companies, large retail stores, credit unions, and a range of commercial enterprises.

Find out more
Australian Institute of Credit Management (AICM), www.aicm.com.au
Financial Services Institute of Australasia (finsia), www.finsia.com

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