What is your day to day job?

Being a Branch Manager is a varied job that can be divided into two main functions. Firstly, the business aspect, which is very important. The Branch Manager personally looks after the accounts of around 250 clients, but is responsible for everyone who banks at his branch. As a consequence, the Branch Manager is in charge of Risk Management: he or she is the final word on whether or not credit is to be given, and he must adopt a relatively firm approach to those with debit accounts.

Being the team leader in the branch is the most complex, yet also the most interesting aspect of this career. I must shoulder responsibility for the branch as a whole and also manage the bank's organisational structure; monitoring efficiency and making sure that administrative problems do not arise when delegating and sharing out tasks.

"Priority Management" is vital. As my job is extremely varied, I have a number of different tasks and activities going on at the same time. I must decide which of the problems needs immediate attention and this is not always evident.

What are your responsibilities?

I lead and manage a team made up of seven or eight people. I decide whether to grant loans and the policy on managing overdrafts. I am in charge of the image our clients have of the Group as a whole - customer satisfaction. However, all in all, I am in charge of making sure that we remain profitable.

Why did you choose this career and what are the main attractions of your job?

I originally applied for a position in marketing and it was the interviewer who suggested this particular position. The amount of responsibility and the variety of tasks are rare for a first position. It is an enriching and complete career, which has allowed me to learn a great deal within a short time frame (in terms of management, client relations, organisation and financial risk). Indeed it is a people orientated position, which similarly affords me great autonomy.

What is your academic background and what are the essential qualities one requires for this position?

I graduated from a business school, but one can get this position through various routes. A financial background is necessary, but the eight-month training BNP Paribas provided, before I started this position, allowed me to thoroughly grasp the practical side of the job. Above all, I believe it necessary to have good interpersonal skills (be diplomatic, listen to fellow employees) and to possess good team spirit (be adaptable and dynamic).

What is the professional career path of a Branch Manager?

Due to the size of BNP Paribas, there are many opportunities open to the Branch Manager. I could envisage myself diversifying completely and going into Human Resources Management, amongst other possibilities.

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