Universal Banker Home Loans

Liberty is seeking a driven and client-centric individual to join their team as a Universal Banker in Paarl, Western Cape. This role is ideal for a seasoned banking professional with a demonstrable history of success in sales and a passion for delivering exceptional customer service. If you thrive in a fast-paced branch environment and possess the skills to engage clients, identify their financial needs, and offer tailored solutions, this opportunity could be a significant step in your career.

About the Role

The Universal Banker will be a key player on the frontline, responsible for building strong relationships with clients and contributing to the overall growth and success of the branch. This position requires a proactive approach to understanding client requirements across various banking channels, from in-branch interactions to digital platforms. The successful candidate will be instrumental in identifying opportunities to offer relevant banking products and services, thereby fostering sustainable sales growth while adhering to all regulatory and compliance frameworks.

A significant part of the role involves ensuring that clients are well-informed about banking processes, digital tools, and product features, empowering them to make the most of their banking experience. Maintaining accurate records and contributing to a collaborative, high-performance team environment are also crucial aspects of this position.

Your daily responsibilities as a Universal Banker will encompass a wide range of client-facing and administrative duties, including:

• **Client Engagement and Needs Analysis:** Actively engaging with clients across all accessible banking channels to understand their unique financial needs, resolve queries efficiently, and provide suitable banking solutions. This includes assessing their financial situation through account conduct, income, expenditure, and relevant supporting documentation to make informed recommendations.
• **Sales and Opportunity Generation:** Identifying potential sales leads and demand generation opportunities through insightful client conversations. This involves promoting a range of relevant banking products and channels to meet client needs and contribute to branch sales targets.
• **Account Management:** Accurately opening, amending, transferring, and closing client accounts in strict accordance with established procedures, risk controls, and regulatory requirements such as KYC, POPIA, and FAIS.
• **Client Education:** Educating clients on banking processes, the functionality of digital and self-service channels, product features, and their rights and obligations as per the Code of Banking Practice.
• **Compliance and Record Keeping:** Maintaining meticulous records, updating management information systems, adhering to team workflows, and ensuring full compliance with all risk, compliance, KYC, POPIA, and FAIS requirements.

What They're Looking For

To be considered for this role, candidates will need to possess a combination of experience, qualifications, and strong interpersonal skills.

**Qualifications and Experience:**

• A National Certificate or equivalent NQF 5 qualification aligned with FAIS regulations, preferably in banking, financial services, commerce, sales, or client service.
• Must meet the FAIS "Fit and Proper" requirements.
• A minimum of three to four years' experience in a branch banking, financial services, contact centre sales, or a client-facing sales environment.
• A proven track record of sales success, including experience in identifying client needs, cross-selling, promoting solutions, and consistently achieving sales or growth targets.
• A solid understanding of banking products, client servicing principles, account opening procedures, application processing, and customer acceptance criteria.
• Experience working within a regulated environment where strict adherence to risk, compliance, KYC, POPIA, and FAIS requirements is paramount.

**Essential Skills and Competencies:**

• **Client Engagement:** The ability to confidently engage with clients, build rapport, ask pertinent questions, manage pressure effectively, and provide practical and appropriate solutions.
• **Analytical Skills:** Proficiency in examining information, checking details, and developing strategies.
• **Problem-Solving:** Aptitude for exploring possibilities and generating innovative solutions.
• **Adaptability:** Embracing change and seizing opportunities to drive progress.
• **Teamwork:** Establishing rapport, interacting effectively with colleagues, and working collaboratively within a team.
• **Goal Orientation:** Taking decisive action, pursuing objectives with determination, and meeting established timescales.
• **Technical Proficiency:** Competence in application and submission verification (consumer banking), understanding banking processes and procedures, client acceptance and review protocols, customer understanding (consumer banking), and product knowledge (consumer banking).

This role offers a great opportunity to contribute to a leading financial services group. In South Africa, a Universal Banker role often involves a competitive salary, typically ranging from R15,000 to R30,000 per month, depending on experience and the specific institution. Career progression within banking can lead to roles in team leadership, specialised product advisory, or management positions. Employers often include the major South African banks, as well as smaller financial institutions and credit providers.

• National Certificate or equivalent NQF 5 FAIS-aligned qualification in a field related to banking, financial services, commerce, sales, client service or a related discipline.
• The candidate must meet FAIS Fit and Proper requirements.

Minimum Experience:

• 3 to 4 years’ experience in a branch banking, financial services, contact centre sales or client-facing sales environment.
• Proven sales track record with experience identifying client needs, promoting solutions, cross-selling and achieving sales or growth targets.
• Strong understanding of banking products, client servicing, account opening, application processing and customer acceptance requirements.
• Experience working in a regulated environment where adherence to risk, compliance, KYC, POPIA and FAIS requirements is critical.
• Confident client engagement capability with the ability to build rapport, ask the right questions, handle pressure and provide practical solutions.

Behavioural Competencies:

• Examining Information and Checking Things
• Developing Expertise and Developing Strategies
• Exploring Possibilities and Generating Ideas
• Embracing Change and Seizing Opportunities
• Establishing Rapport, Interacting with People and Team Working
• Taking Action, Pursuing Goals and Meeting Timescales

Technical Competencies:

• Application & Submission Verification (Consumer Banking)
• Banking Process & Procedures
• Client Acceptance & Review
• Customer Understanding ( Consumer Banking)
• Processing
• Product Knowledge (Consumer Banking)