Head of SME Trading Sectors, Commercial Banking Coverage

JOB TITLE: Head of SME Trading Sectors, Commercial Banking Coverage

LOCATION: London, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Leeds or Manchester

HOURS: Full time

WORKING PATTERN: Hybrid, 40% (or two days) in one of our office hubs mentioned above

About this opportunity

We’re looking for an exceptional leader to shape the future of our face-to-face SME Trading business. This is a unique chance to drive sustainable growth and deliver outstanding client outcomes for trading businesses with turnovers between £3m and £25m — a critical and fast-growing part of our Commercial Banking franchise.

In this high-profile role, you’ll lead a team of around 280 Commercial Regional Directors, Area Directors, and Relationship Managers/Directors, being responsible for a portfolio of approximately 25,000 trading business customers. Collectively, this portfolio generates c.£750m in income, holds £5bn in lending and £27bn in deposits, and represents one of the most important growth engines within our organisation.

Your leadership will extend beyond client delivery. You’ll lead the Growth & Structured Finance team to support the structuring of complex deals, enabling key elements of our Trading Business strategy - ensuring we meet ambitious business goals while championing the SME client proposition.

This is a rare opportunity to make a measurable impact across the UK economy, lead a high-performing national team, and set the standard for excellence in SME client engagement.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Growth

• Define and implement a five-year strategic plan to grow the face-to-face SME Trading business franchise, aligned with the bank’s broader commercial objectives.

• Champion the SME client proposition, ensuring it is brought to life through a performance-driven culture and a relentless focus on client needs.

• Drive origination and acquisition of high-value clients by bringing to bear the full suite of the bank’s capabilities, including lending, deposits, payments, trade, specialist solutions, and Group Partner products.

• Lead and support Commercial Banking Coverage Sector Heads across our priority sectors of Manufacturing, Legal & Professional, Technology, Wholesale & Retail.

Sales & Relationship Management

• Lead, coach, and inspire a high-performing team of Commercial Regional Directors, Area Directors and Relationship Managers/Directors dispersed across the UK.

• Embed a sales culture that is client-centric, insight-led, and focused on delivering measurable results.

• Act as a visible face to market and brand ambassador, representing the bank at industry events and with key stakeholders.

• Work closely with Commercial Banking Coverage leaders including Head of CBC Direct and Intermediaries to ensure optimal customer treatment strategies are adopted.

Risk, Compliance & Credit Oversight

• Use highly developed credit skills to anticipate, assess, and manage risk in a timely and balanced manner.

• Ensure all lending and contingent liabilities meet the bank’s asset quality and policy requirements.

• Maintain rigorous oversight of compliance with internal policies and external regulatory standards.

People & Culture

• Role model inclusive leadership and foster a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration, and accountability.

• Invest in colleague capability through coaching, mentoring, and structured development plans.

• Create capacity and succession within the team to support long-term growth and resilience.

• Be a future thinking leader who will help shape and lead thinking on skills of the future, whilst developing a diverse team in line with the Bank’s ambitions.

Key Skills & Experience

• Proven leadership experience in commercial or SME banking, ideally within a UK-regulated environment.

• Consistent track record of delivering sales growth and managing complex client portfolios.

• Scale leadership experience across a large, dispersed team.

• Deep understanding of credit risk, regulatory frameworks, and balance sheet management.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to influence at senior levels.

• Strategic problem solver with a growth mindset and the ability to lead transformational change.

Performance Measures

• Growth in income and client acquisition across the SME face to face Trading business segment.

• Deepening share of wallet and retention of existing customers.

• Improvement in client satisfaction and Net Promoter Scores (NPS).

• Asset quality and risk-adjusted return on capital (RAROC).

• Team engagement, retention, and capability development metrics.

About working for us

Our ambition is to be the leading UK business for diversity, equity and inclusion supporting our customers, colleagues and communities, and we’re committed to creating an environment in which everyone can thrive, learn and develop.

We were one of the first major organisations to set goals on diversity in senior roles, create a menopause health package, and a dedicated Working with Cancer Initiative.

We offer reasonable workplace adjustments for colleagues with disabilities, including flexibility in office attendance, location and working patterns. And, as a Disability Confident Leader, we guarantee interviews for a fair and proportionate number of applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role with a disability, long-term health or neurodivergent condition through the Disability Confident Scheme.

We provide reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process to reduce or remove barriers. Just let us know what you need.

We also offer a wide-ranging benefits package, which includes:

• A generous pension contribution of up to 15%

• An annual bonus award, subject to Group performance

• Share schemes including free shares

• Benefits you can adapt to your lifestyle, such as discounted shopping

• 30 days’ holiday, with bank holidays on top

Want to do amazing work, that’s interesting and makes a difference to millions of people? Join our journey!