Branch Manager - Oxford South

Job Introduction

Handelsbanken offers a genuinely different approach to banking. We are a local relationship bank providing bespoke, customer-led banking and wealth management services for personal and corporate customers. 

Our branch teams build trusted, long-term relationships with customers in their local communities. With our decentralised ways of working, decisions are made in the branch, close to the customers. Teams decide who they work with and how best to support them, without short-term sales targets or bonus-driven incentives. Instead, we focus on doing what is right for the customer, even when that means prioritising long-term value over short-term profit.

This approach has underpinned our success for decades. Today, Handelsbanken holds the strongest credit rating among its peer banks, is independently recognised as Europe’s safest commercial bank, and is consistently ranked highly for customer satisfaction and relationship banking, 

Our culture is values-led, shaped by trust, respect, and long-term thinking. We empower our people to use their expertise, make confident decisions and build long-term careers. We look for people who share our long- term vision, want to grow and want to make a meaningful impact in their local community and with the Bank. 

We also recognise that flexibility can support people to perform at their best, and that it looks different for everyone. While arrangements will depend on the requirements of the role and the needs of the business, we are open to having a conversation around what flexibility could look like for you.

Check our Handelsbanken website for further informationThe opportunity 

We are looking for a Branch Manager who will lead our Oxford South Branch. This is a strategic leadership role with full accountability for the performance, growth, profitability, and culture of the branch.

You will facilitate and lead the execution of the local branch strategy, develop a high-performing team, and actively drive business development within the local market. You will act as a visible ambassador for Handelsbanken, building deep and trusted relationships with customers, residential and commercial brokers, professional introducers, and the wider community, while ensuring excellent customer outcomes, strong risk management, and full regulatory compliance.

This role is central to Handelsbanken’s decentralised model and requires a leader who thrives on autonomy, accountability, and long-term relationship banking.

Key responsibilities

 Strategic Leadership & Branch Performance

• Own and lead the branch with full accountability for strategy, growth, and sustainable profitability to deliver consistently high levels of customer service and satisfaction. 
• Facilitate the setting and delivery of  the branch business plan, aligning commercial objectives with Handelsbanken’s values, customer-centric approach, and risk appetite.
• Translate local market insight into clear priorities and measurable outcomes to support long-term growth.
• Ensure the branch operates effectively within its defined geographical area, respecting the integrity of Handelsbanken’s local banking model. 

Business Development & Market Presence 

• Actively lead business development, originating new Private and Corporate Banking relationships through referrals, introducers, residential and commercial mortgage brokers, and professional networks.
• Build and maintain a strong presence in the local business community, developing trusted relationships with individuals, professional firms, and business introducers.
• Identify and realise cross-selling opportunities across Handelsbanken’s product offering, including wealth management, savings, and mortgages, delivering tailored customer solutions.
• Partner closely with internal stakeholders and specialist teams to ensure customers benefit from the full breadth of Handelsbanken services.

People Leadership & Talent Development

• Provide hands-on leadership to a team of Corporate and Private Banking Managers and Assistant Banking Managers.
• Foster a high-performance culture through effective coaching, development, performance engagement, and wellbeing initiatives.
• Build capability and future readiness through effective succession planning, identifying and developing talent within the branch.
• Lead inclusively, promoting diversity, fairness, and strong employee engagement, and managing employee relations matters with professionalism and integrity.

Credit, Risk & Governance

• Maintain oversight of credit quality and lending decisions, ensuring adherence to credit policy, responsible lending standards, and fair customer outcomes.
• Operate within secured and unsecured lending discretion as awarded by the District Head and Head of Credit, with responsibility for delegating discretion appropriately.
• Actively promote and embed the Bank’s Risk Management Framework, compliance and financial control ensuring timely escalation of issues where required.
• Maintain oversight of customer complaints, ensuring they are handled in line with internal policies and that fair outcomes are achieved.

What we’re looking for

Research (by Harvard University) shows that women are particularly likely to second guess themselves and not apply - so if you are worried you don't meet all the criteria, get in touch anyhow and let us do the worrying…

• Proven senior leadership experience within Private and/or Corporate Banking, with full accountability for business performance.
• Demonstrated success in business development, including originating and growing new customer relationships.
• Strong strategic mindset with the ability to convert local market insight into actionable branch strategy.
• Excellent people leadership capability, with a track record of developing, engaging, and leading high-performing teams.
• Sound understanding of financial statements, cash flow analysis, credit processes, and risk assessment.
• Proven ability to identify and deliver cross-selling opportunities.
• Highly effective influencer with strong relationship-building skills and the ability to act as a credible ambassador for Handelsbanken.
• Strong judgement and decision-making skills, underpinned by robust analysis and risk awareness.
• Structured, methodical working style with strong attention to detail and administrative discipline.
• Resilient, adaptable, and comfortable operating with autonomy and accountability.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present complex matters clearly and persuasively.
• High levels of integrity, discretion, and professionalism.
• Professional banking qualifications or equivalent professional qualifications are welcomed but not mandatory. 

Why join Handelsbanken

We want everyone at Handelsbanken to feel supported, motivated, and able to do great work. That’s why, alongside brilliant colleagues, meaningful work and training and development opportunities, we provide a variety of benefits designed with your wellbeing in mind. 

In addition, there is a flexible benefits package with the key highlights detailed below.

Application next steps

Your journey with us begins once you have submitted your application. One of our Handelsbanken Talent Acquisition Partners will be reviewing your details and will later organise a phone conversation if you match the role requirements. If there is a mutual fit, we will extend an invitation for you to participate in an interview.  

This advert will be live for a minimum of two weeks. However, please note that after the two weeks, the closing date could change at any time depending on the number of responses received.

The Bank is deeply committed to embedding good equality and diversity practice into all of our activities. This is so that we are an inclusive, welcoming and inspiring place to work that encourages everyone to apply, regardless of socio-economic background, age, disability, pregnancy and/or parental status, race (including colour, nationality, and ethnic or national origin), veteran status, marital and civil partnership status, religion or belief, sex, gender reassignment or sexual orientation.

#LI-DNI