Financial services professional
- Level
- 6
- Typical duration
- 42 months (about 3.5 years)
- Max funding band
- £18,000
- Route
- Legal, finance and accounting
Working with companies or individuals to plan for their financial futures.
About the role
The Financial Services industry encompasses a broad range of businesses that manage, or consult around managing money. These include retail and corporate banking, investment management, investment consulting, investment banking, mortgages, and life and pensions. The completion of this apprenticeship will enable individuals to become highly competent professionals for the industry. This will be delivered by a base of core knowledge, skills and behaviours required of all individuals entering or progressing to this level in the sector, and a set of specialist options that then provide the occupationally specific competence, depending on the part of the sector and type of business the individual works for.
How it compares
At 42 months (about 3.5 years), it is about average length for a degree-level apprenticeship (the average across all 172 Level 6+ standards is 39 months).
The funding band — the maximum an employer's levy can contribute to training costs — is £18,000, below the £21,500 average for degree-level standards. Apprentices never pay tuition either way.
It has 6 specialist options, so two apprentices on this standard can follow noticeably different paths.
Typical job titles
- Retail Banking Manager
- Retail Branch Manager
- Head Office management
- Individual Banking Manager
- Relationship Manager (Retail)
Specialist options
- Commercial/Business Banking
- Investment Banking
- Investment Management
- Operations
- Retail Banking
- Workplace Pensions
What you'll learn
The official standard defines 23 knowledge areas, 25 skills, 5 behaviours. This is the actual assessed content of the apprenticeship — worth reading before an interview, because competency questions are usually written straight from these lists.
Knowledge 23
- Deep understanding of the structure of the Financial Services industry and in particular the role their part of the sector and organisation plays; the purpose of the function in which they work; how their function relates to the wider business. Good understanding of the impact the external environment has on Financial Services as appropriate to their role, together with relevant best practice. Sound understanding of the organisation’s ‘Values’ and professional standards and how these are evidenced through their role. Clearly understands the purpose of the different areas of the organisation they need to work with in their role, and how they support them.
- Deep understanding of the relevant Financial Services legal and regulatory framework and ethics, and the purpose behind them. Sound understanding of the risk and governance frameworks of their organisation / sector, and how these manifest themselves in the role. Sound understanding of relevant rules and principles for their own role / team. Understands and can clearly articulate the implications of non-compliance for their organisation.
- Deep understanding of the relevant Financial Service products and services offered to clients/customers by their organisation, together with sound knowledge of the products and services, and their features and benefits, relevant to their role.
- Sound understanding of the client/customer segments that the organisation delivers to and the channels that they use. Understands the approach to delivering fair client/customer outcomes across the business in a financial services setting, including best practice. Deep understanding of their client’s/customer’s relevant financial service requirements relevant to their role (internal and external as appropriate)
- Sound understanding of the organisation’s policies and procedures. Sound understanding of the systems, tools and processes used in the role, together with the standards to be met. Proficient in the relevant IT skills, this may include the generic (e.g. excel), and organisation and Financial Service specific software/systems, as required to deliver the role outcomes
- Sound understanding of the local business market
- Good understanding of resource and cost management principles.
- Good understanding of business dynamics (how businesses work and develop)
- Understands the range of financial service products and services available to the customer portfolio, including pricing and margins
- Understands the local market in which the role operates including financial, economic and market awareness as well as demographics, and nature of the competition
- Understand the sector/s in which their business client’/customers operate, together with the tools of excellent customer service and relationship management.
- Sound understanding of reporting and accounting principles
- Good understanding of primary and secondary markets and market structures.
- Detailed knowledge and understanding of equity, alternative and fixed income markets
- Good knowledge of quantitative methods, accountancy, financial maths, statistics and economics
- Good knowledge of Investment/Operational risk and minimising strategies
- Good knowledge of market trends and long-term structural trends that may impact valuations.
- Good understanding of processes and project management principles and how they are utilised within their area
- Deep knowledge of controls that relate to their own area of work
- Knowledge of Operational Risk and how to control it
- Knowledge of sector relevant market practises and their impact on the area under ownership.
- Sound understanding of the structure of workplace pensions schemes, key rules, roles and responsibilities. This may include Trustees, trust structures, automatic enrolment, scheme rules/details, pension sharing / divorce, relevant taxation and investments
- Detailed understanding of all relevant aspects of the schemes for which they have responsibility.
Skills 25
- Builds ethically sound and trusted relationships with internal and/or external clients/customers to form the basis of a long-term partnership. Works with client/customers to identify their relevant financial services requirements. Provides flexible and innovative solutions, integrating products and excellent service as appropriate to their role, in order to support client/customers and meet their best interests
- Carries out all required activities, using agreed systems and processes, to ensure that the relevant policies of the organisation for their area of specialisation are met. Takes the initiative to meet challenging individual and team performance measures in line with organisation policy, Values, standards and sector relevant regulatory requirements. Can identify and communicate risks to the relevant management or compliance personnel within the organisation, understanding and following the appropriate company process to address. Delivers projects as required.
- Contributes to the development of strategic and operational plans for their area. Manages and reports on progress of specific elements of this in their area of responsibility. Proactively plans and organises their work and time, clearly identifying priorities to meet commitments / KPIs/ deadlines.
- Evaluates information quickly and draws accurate conclusions. Assesses a problem from multiple angles to ensure all relevant issues are considered. Gathers the appropriate facts and evidence in order to make decisions effectively, using a structured approach. Responds appropriately to unexpected events.
- Deals effectively with Client/customers/colleagues at every level of the organisation required by the role. Using strong interpersonal skills and communicating well through a range of media, using language that is meaningful to the recipient e.g. written reports, presentations, phone, face to face, email. Communicates complex information clearly. Listens actively to understand needs and adapts their style to the recipient. Engages and networks proactively with Client/customers and colleagues, including senior management, as required, to deliver business outcomes.
- Builds/maintains strong positive working relationships with Clients/colleagues/suppliers as appropriate. Consistently supports colleagues and collaborates to achieve results. Aware of their role within team, how their team fits within the business, and how the team’s decisions impact on others. Takes a leadership role in the team when appropriate.
- Identifies opportunities to drive higher performance and improve service/processes delivered, including sharing, and looking outside of their team for best practice. Leads and/or contributes to development of specific changes through to implementation – this may include projects wider than their role.
- Keeps up to date with sector relevant legal/regulatory changes, and alerts others to the implications where necessary. Seeks feedback and acts on it to improve their performance. Builds their capability through ownership of their own development. Acts as a role model, and supports others in their development as appropriate.
- Effectively manages or influences team(s) to deliver excellent customer service. This will include team coaching, performance management and resourcing.
- Can effectively develop and implement business development and customer contact strategies.
- Effectively manages resources, staffing and cost/income within their area of responsibility.
- Effectively applies financial analysis techniques relevant to the area of the bank e.g. provide guidance on credit appetite, develop practical and appropriate credit solutions/lending structures; maximise portfolio return
- Supports client account planning and growth activities
- Able to undertake data/financial analysis, planning and use modeling tools that are required for the role.
- Effectively undertakes complex financial modelling and research and analysis using appropriate tools
- Able to use trading and risk management tools, under supervision.
- Can deliver technical advice to clients/customer and implement product solutions.
- Strong analytic skills, including excellent data analysis, research and reporting
- Able to deliver complex financial/asset modelling and valuation/pricing techniques using appropriate tools to form solutions and recommendations, as relevant to the role.
- Effectively generates qualitative and quantitative insights
- Effectively supports development, and on-going management of client/customer solutions, investment strategies and portfolios.
- Effectively manages or influences small teams to deliver excellent customer service in a financial service regulated environment. This will include team coaching, performance management, resourcing and budgetary planning
- Demonstrates effective project management skills, and execution of control framework within the sphere of influence of their team.
- Performs / reviews complex workplace pensions tasks such as scheme analysis and pensions calculations for clients/customers as appropriate
- Identifies opportunities for new business, which may include promoting services, preparing documents, taking part in presentations, as appropriate.
Behaviours 5
- Truthful, sincere and trustworthy in their actions. Shows integrity by doing the right thing, demonstrating the organisation’s Values. Maintains appropriate confidentiality at all times. Visible role model, and coaches others where appropriate. Follows and promotes appropriate organisational procedures and policies.
- Adapts positively to changing work priorities and patterns, and is flexible to the needs of the organisation. Demonstrates willingness to adapt approach to assist organisation and individuals to manage priorities as circumstances change, new tasks need to be done, or when business requirements change. Responds well to change.
- Displays energy, determination and enthusiasm in the way they go about their role, dealing positively and with determination when setbacks occur, or when managing difficult situations. Stays positive under pressure, and shows tenacity to follow jobs through to completion.
- Demonstrates a curious and questioning approach in their work. Is creative, innovative and enterprising when seeking solutions to business needs, whilst understanding relevant boundaries e.g. financial services regulations.
- Handles tasks with thoroughness and accuracy. Takes ownership for the quality of work, and recognises and resolves errors.
Live vacancies
No live vacancies for this course as of 2026-07-24 — new adverts appear on Find an apprenticeship daily, and many degree apprenticeship employers recruit on their own careers sites instead.
Universities registered to deliver it
2 universities are on the government provider register for this standard. Registration means they can deliver it — live vacancies depend on employer partnerships each recruitment cycle.
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Official sources
- Official standard page (Skills England)
- Registered training providers (Find apprenticeship training)
Occupational summary, duties, knowledge, skills and behaviours reproduced from the ST0472 apprenticeship standard (last updated 2026-06-24) — contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Always check the official page before applying: standards get revised.