Agricultural Relationship Manager

An exciting opportunity exists within our Agricultural Team. If you are passionate and ambitious about playing a key role in supporting our growth ambitions in this interesting sector where we play a significant role in supporting the farming industry, please read on.

Providing a key part in our relationship model via our virtual offering, our Relationship Managers seek to build their portfolios through providing new lending to both existing and new customer relationships and cater for each business’s every banking need.  And that is where you come in. If you're passionate about providing a tailored, relationship-based service to our agricultural customers and are willing to do what it takes to ensure our customers are happy, please read on.

The team of Agricultural Relationship Managers provide finance and support to farmers across the UK supporting food production and land management alongside the sectors' drive towards net zero and increased sustainability. 

At Nationwide we offer hybrid working wherever possible. More rewarding relationships are supported through our hybrid approach, bringing colleagues together across our UK wide estate, whilst also supporting generous access to home working. We value our time in the office to solve problems, to learn, and to feel connected.

For this job you'll be located at our nearest regional office or hub. There will be a need to regularly connect with colleagues for collaboration and in some locations, you’ll be expected to spend at least two days a week, or if part time you'll spend 40% of your working time, in the office. If your application is successful, your hiring manager will provide further details on how this works. 

Virgin Money is now part of Nationwide

Nationwide acquired Virgin Money in October 2024. Virgin Money continues to serve customers on the high street, and there will be a phased and considered integration over the coming years.

You’ll be employed by Nationwide from day one, delivering real impact and benefitting from a highly competitive range of benefits. We’re a workplace where you’re rewarded, recognised and celebrated.

If we receive a high volume of relevant applications, we may close the advert earlier than the advertised date, so please apply as soon as you can.

What you’ll be doing

As a key member of the Sector Agricultural Team, role holders are responsible for developing, managing, and expanding a portfolio of customer relationships through video and telephone conversations. They oversee and deliver lending facilities typically ranging from £500k to £2.5m. 

You’ll need to review opportunities for business growth whenever possible to develop our position in the sector, supported by your knowledge of the economic climate and trends within the farming sector. 

You’ll be working collaboratively with the wider agricultural sector team to evaluate and generate opportunities with new and existing customers to optimise income and return on equity whilst working to promote best practice and support our offering to the market. 

The role involves applying strong financial expertise and a deep understanding of the agricultural market to support strategic growth, securing new lending opportunities, and attracting deposits from both new and existing customers.

A key focus is placing customers’ interests at the centre of every interaction, maintaining the team’s reputation for excellent service, reducing attrition, and identifying appropriate cross‑selling opportunities that meet customer needs while maximising income for us. Role holders also support customers in the day‑to‑day running of their organisations by maintaining a detailed understanding of their operations and sharing relevant market insights, including regional intelligence.

The position requires ongoing monitoring and analysis of financial data, alongside regular meetings with customers to understand performance, processes, and risk. This includes identifying early signs of financial stress and taking timely action to protect both the customer and the organisation, while ensuring full compliance with internal policies, procedures, and FCA regulations.

Role holders are expected to regularly connect with their professional network to maintain up‑to‑date market knowledge and create new business development opportunities. 

About you

We need you to have:

• A passion for, and experience of, working in the UK agricultural market
• A solid understanding of the Banking Sector or Agricultural finance sector
• Exceptional communication skills with the ability to engage and build lasting relationships with our agriculture customers
• Relationship management experience gained within Business Banking
• Excellent qualitative and quantitative analytical skills (including Excel financial modelling skills) with an ability to understand and interpret financial statements and due diligence reports
• Experience of presenting financial and other business information, including risks and mitigants, within a clear and well-structured credit paper
• Excellent organisational and project management skills to deliver excellent levels of customer service, high standards of work and outstanding attention to detail
• Capacity to cope with complex situations, tight deadlines and to have a flexible approach to challenges and problem solving
• Good interpersonal skills and written and verbal communication skills
• Experience of engaging with the local professional community
• Understanding of risk and compliance requirements in line with the role

Our customer first behaviours put customers and members at the heart of how we work together. They are the set of behaviours that every colleague needs to display, in every role:

• Feel what customers feel - We step into our customers’ shoes, using their feedback and insights to empathise with them and to understand their needs, so that every decision we make starts and finishes with our customers in mind

• Say it straight - We are brave in speaking out and saying what we think – we’re honest and direct with good intent, openly sharing diverse perspectives to reach the best conclusions and using language everyone can understand

• Push for better - We don’t settle for mediocrity, we challenge the status quo, taking responsibility for continuous improvement and personal development

• Get it done - We prioritise what will have the greatest impact, we are decisive, and we take accountability for delivering brilliant customer outcomes

You can strengthen your application by showing how our customer first behaviours resonate with you, and where you may have already demonstrated these.

The extras you’ll get

There are all sorts of employee benefits available at Nationwide, including:

• 25 days holiday, pro rata

• Private medical insurance

• A highly competitive pension to help you build a strong foundation for retirement

• Access to an annual performance-related bonus

• Training and development to help you progress your career

• A great selection of additional benefits through our salary sacrifice scheme

• Life assurance to provide peace of mind for you and your loved ones in the event of your death

• Wellhub – access to a range of free and paid options for health and wellness

• Up to 2 days of paid volunteering a year

Banking – but fairer, more rewarding, and for the good of society

We forge our own path at Nationwide.

As a mutual, we’re owned by our members - those customers who bank, save or have a mortgage with us. We challenge the financial sector status quo. We don’t see customers as the engine of our own profit. We share our profits with them and put their needs first. Always there when they need us. Supporting them and their lives.

If you’re inspired by fairer finances, passionate about making a meaningful impact, and truly care about our customers, you’re one of us.

At Nationwide, you are challenged to grow and rewarded for doing so. Valued. Recognised. Inspired to be your best. As a community, we want our working lives to count. As a team, we celebrate what we achieve. As a standard-setter, we work for the good of customers, communities, and broader society.

We are purpose-driven. Uncompromisingly customer. Unstoppably Nationwide.

What to do next

If this role is for you, please click the ‘Apply Now’ button. You’ll need to attach your up-to-date CV and answer a few quick questions for us. 

We respond to everyone, so we will be in contact shortly after the closing date to let you know the outcome of your application.

Please note that should you be successful in securing this role, the job title on our internal systems will be Relationship Manager - Sectors