Commercial Relationship Director

Our commitment to business customers goes back generations. Our dedicated Relationship Directors have local knowledge and experience in the SME market and provide financial insight and support to a wide range of different-sized businesses; whether they are looking to invest in their business, protect their business or reduce exposure to risks. We are looking for dynamic people, who are ready to make a real difference to a successful team focused on growth. 

Providing a truly complete ‘face-to-face’ relationship model, our Strategic Finance Relationship Directors seek to build their portfolios through providing new lending to, and deposit arrangements for, 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 Business Banking customers and are willing to do what it takes to ensure our customers are happy, please read on.

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 covering the Sheffield and South Yorkshire region so will need to be based locally as you will be expected to regularly travel to meet customers across this region. Additionally, there will be a need to regularly connect with colleagues for collaboration events in one of our office sites. This is anticipated to be monthly in Leeds, however the location may vary. If your application is successful, your hiring manager will provide further details on how this works. You can also find out more about our approach to hybrid working here.

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

Role holders are responsible for developing, managing, and expanding a portfolio of customer relationships through direct, face‑to‑face engagement. They oversee and deliver lending facilities typically ranging from £1m to £15m. The role involves applying strong financial expertise and a deep understanding of the South Yorkshire business 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 visits to customer premises 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.

Visibility in the South Yorkshire marketplace is essential, and role holders are expected to participate in local networking and events to maintain up‑to‑date market knowledge and create new business development opportunities. They also build and leverage strong relationships with professionals across the market, using their banking expertise to assess, progress, and convert viable opportunities.

About you

As a minimum you’ll have Business Banking experience, strong business acumen, commerciality, and a technical financial skillset to allow you to assess businesses, analyse financial statements and provide innovative financial solutions which enable us to attract new customers, retain existing customers, and compete effectively in the market.  This will include:

• A professional network across the Sheffield and South Yorkshire marketplace
• Relationship management experience gained within Business Banking
• The ability to understand financial accounts, cash drivers and other information to identify opportunities and issues in both new opportunities and in the existing customer base, including proposing actions and/or solutions
• Experience of presenting financial and other business information, including risks and mitigants, within a clear and well-structured credit paper
• Knowledge and understanding of the economic environment, and how these factors may influence business performance
• A professional network across the Sheffield and South Yorkshire marketplace
• A solid understanding of banking financial products and services, and an awareness of risk management practices
• Aptitude for verbally articulating our position or decision in often complex scenarios, including the delivery of difficult messages
• The ability and experience to cope with a complex and high work demand, and multiple and continually challenging situations

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

• Access to 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 Director.