Business Unit: National Sectors - Agriculture
Salary Range: £60,000 – £75,000 per annum DOE + benefits
Location: North West England
Contract Type: Permanent
Our Team
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 dynamic sector where the bank plays a significant role in supporting the farming industry, Please read on.
The team of Agricultural Directors 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. As a Senior Director you will support that vision.
What you’ll be doing
- Maintaining and being responsible for the Banks Agricultural presence in the North West of England maintaining a significant existing portfolio of business.
- Reviewing opportunities for business growth whenever possible and supporting and developing our position in the NW market.
- Being aligned to the Bank’s Risk Appetite and being accountable for risk and compliance with the aim of minimising the Bank’s exposure to bad and doubtful debt.
- To develop a presence within the agricultural sector and to build on sector awareness of our offering and demonstrate thought leadership.
- Working with the wider agricultural team to promote best practice and support excellence in our offering to the market.
- Holding and maintaining knowledge of the current economic climate and both short and long term trends in the farming sector.
- Displaying strong organisational skills and effective project management ability, working collaboratively with the Sector Agricultural Leadership Team in generating and optimising income and return on equity.
- Contributing to the Bank-wide strategy for Sectors & the wider Business Bank
The role holder will possess high levels of self-awareness and promote the Virgin Money brand and values in the market and through the demonstration of the enterprise and team behaviours
We need you to have
- A passion for – and good knowledge of supporting larger agricultural businesses and delivering outstanding customer service.
- Excellent qualitative and quantitative analytical skills (including Excel financial modelling skills) with an ability to understand and interpret financial statements and due diligence reports.
- Strong organisational, relationship 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.
- Be a strong team player.
- Understanding of risk and compliance requirements in line with the role.
It’s a bonus if you have but not essential
- A relevant vocational financial services qualification e.g. Chartered Banker, Chartered Accountant etc.
- Knowledge of systems and processes in a business banking/ financial services environment.
- A knowledge of lending and securities policy and procedures.
- A background or qualification within the agricultural sector.
Red Hot Rewards
- Generous holidays - 38.5 days annual leave (including bank holidays and prorated if part-time) plus the option to buy more.
- Up to five extra paid well-being days per year.
- 20 weeks paid, gender-neutral family leave (52 weeks in total) for expectant parents and those looking to adopt.
- Market-leading pension.
- Free private medical cover, income protection and life assurance.
- Flexible benefits include Cycle to Work, wellness and health assessments, and critical illness.
And there's no waiting around, you'll enjoy these benefits from day one.
If we’re lucky to receive a lot of interest, we may close the advert early. Please ensure to submit your applications as soon as possible.
Say hello to Virgin Money
Virgin Money is so much more than just a bank. As part of the Nationwide group, together we're the UK's first full-service mutual bank serving millions of retail and business customers and all driven by our purpose; Banking but fairer, more rewarding and for the good of society. With us, you’ll be part of an organisation uniquely positioned to make a difference to the lives of customers, communities and broader society and embark on a collaborative, customer obsessed, and fun-filled career journey. Embrace the weekdays, enjoy fantastic perks, and make a meaningful positive difference. Time to discover what it means to be part of the first mutual full-service banking provider.
Be yourself at Virgin Money
At Virgin Money, we celebrate everyone. We have fun, think big, and relentlessly include each other, all in pursuit of our purpose: Banking – but fairer, more rewarding, and for the good of society. We’re committed to creating an inclusive culture where colleagues feel safe and inspired to contribute, speak up and be heard.
As a Disability Confident Leader, we're committed to removing any obstacles to inclusion. If you need any reasonable adjustments or support making your application, contact our Talent Acquisition team careers@virginmoney.com
Please note: If we receive a high volume of eligible applications, we may need to prioritise candidates whose skills and experience most closely align with the role, while still ensuring fair and equitable consideration for all applicants.
Now the legal bit
Although some of our roles allow you to be based anywhere in the UK, we'll need you to confirm you have the right to work in the UK.
If you're successful in securing a role with us, there are some checks you need to complete before starting. These include credit and criminal record checks and three years' worth of satisfactory references. If the role is part of the Senior Manager Regime and Certification Regime, it requires enhanced pre-employment checks – we'll ask for six years of regulatory references, and once in the role, you'll be subject to periodic employment checks.
