The Career Clusters in a bank

The Career Clusters in a bank
This Workplace Spotlight will take you through what a bank does, and the different Career Clusters and roles you can find in one.

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Banks exist to help people and businesses with money. They keep our money safe, provide loans when we need money, help us pay for things, and offer advice on managing our finances. They also work closely with governments and other countries to ensure our economy stays stable.

Here are some common things you might find when working at a bank:

  1. High customer interaction – you’ll interact with clients regularly, assisting them with transactions, answering their questions, and providing necessary advice.
  2. Technology is everywhere – banks rely a lot on technology for various tasks, such as processing transactions, managing customer data, and providing online banking services.
  3. Security is key – you’ll need to ensure that money, documentation, and customer information are handled carefully and safely.

Key Outcome

Provide financial services

The primary purpose of a bank is to provide financial services and facilitate the flow of funds in the economy.

Key Tasks

  • Assist customers with account transactions and inquiries
  • Evaluate loan applications
  • Provide financial advice and guidance
  • Develop and maintain customer relationships
  • Conduct market research and analysis
  • Implement and manage digital banking solutions

Industry

You can find banks in the financial and insurance services industry

Banks are generally found in the financial and insurance services industry. There are a few different kinds of banks, including retail banks, commercial banks, investment banks, and central banks.

Work Environment

You can expect regular hours and flexible work

Regular hours  |  Work on-site and from home  |  Jobs more common in metro areas  |  Moderate job growth

Bank opening hours generally align with regular business hours, typically Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. However, some positions may require longer hours, especially in investment banking or specific customer service roles that need to offer 24/7 service.

With advances in technology, some of the work at a bank can be done remotely, particularly customer service, digital banking support, and certain administrative tasks. However, certain positions that require a physical presence, such as cash handling, in-person customer interactions, or specific operational tasks, may still require on-site work. In some roles, you might even find yourself travelling to and from clients’ homes and businesses.

Banks are generally found in all locations, but metropolitan areas tend to have a much higher concentration of banks than regional and remote areas.

The Career Clusters you’ll find in a bank

People from all Clusters are needed for a bank to run effectively, but the most common Clusters you’ll find are Informers and Linkers. As in any role, you might find yourself performing tasks across multiple Clusters.

Makers

Makers aren’t as common in banks as other Clusters, but they are still needed for some important roles. This includes things like performing maintenance on vital systems and equipment (such as security systems and ATMs), helping with upkeep of a bank’s physical facilities, or maintaining huge IT systems and databases.

  • Maintenance Technicians
  • IT Support Specialists
Linkers

Linkers in banks are responsible for helping people find and use the bank’s various services and answering any questions and complaints they might have. They are also responsible for creating and maintaining strong relationships with customers and businesses. Other Linkers are in charge of promoting a bank’s services to the public and creating marketing materials to procure more clients.

  • Customer Service Officers
  • Customer Relationship Managers
  • Marketing Managers
Coordinators

Coordinators in a bank are responsible for planning and managing the day-to-day operations. They may manage workflow, monitor performance metrics, identify areas for improvement, and implement strategies to enhance operational effectiveness. Other Coordinators are responsible for handling administrative tasks, including scheduling meetings and events and maintaining records. Some Coordinators might assist with financial planning, budgeting, and reporting within the bank.

  • Operations Coordinators
  • Administration Officers
  • Finance Managers
Informers

Informers in banks provide financial advice to a wide variety of clients, from people looking for a home loan to clients interested in investing and shares. Some Informers might perform market analysis, identifying financial trends and patterns. Other Informers might find themselves running educational programs to teach customers and the public about money management and finances.

  • Financial Advisors
  • Investment Bankers
  • Market Analysts
  • Financial Education Specialists
Innovators

Innovators are the people who design and develop online banking processes and applications, making banking more accessible from anywhere in the world. Innovators can also be involved in designing and developing new banking products and services. They are also responsible for ensuring both physical and digital security is strong, and money and data are protected against attacks and fraud.

  • Software Developers
  • Product Developers
  • Cyber Security Specialists
Guardians

Guardians are needed in banks to keep the premises safe and secure, particularly in cases where large amounts of money are stored on-site. Other Guardians ensure that banks are complying with any important financial laws and regulations to protect customers. In larger banks or banking organisations, there may be roles focused on employee health and wellness.

  • Security Officers
  • Compliance Officers
  • Occupational Health and Wellness Coordinator

How do we expect working in a bank to change in the future?

The banking industry is increasingly relying on technology to improve efficiency, enhance customer experiences, and reduce costs. In the future, banks will likely invest more in digital transformation, automation, and artificial intelligence. In the past few decades, we have already seen a shift in the type of skills required in the industry, with a greater demand for employees with technology expertise – a trend that will likely continue.

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of remote work in the banking industry. Many banks are beginning to offer more flexible working arrangements and remote work options.

The banking industry is subject to regulatory requirements and standards that can change over time. Banks will need to adapt to new challenges and regulations related to data privacy, cybersecurity, and anti-money laundering. This could result in changes to bank processes, policies, and systems, with a need for employees to stay up to date with regulatory changes.