Associate Director - Hotel & Real Estate Finance Team

Our Business Banking function is growing, and we’ve got big plans for the future - you’d be joining us at an exciting point on our journey as we bring our brands together. It’s a fun and fast-paced place to be, and we’re on the lookout for great people to take us to the next level. 

Exciting opportunities exist within our Hotel & Real Estate Finance (H&REF) team right now. If you're passionate about playing a key role in helping shape and grow our business, maximising return / reward for risk across the hotel and real estate sectors and ultimately our business portfolio, then please read on.

Our team has a successful record of lending to mid corporates, funds, Private Equity (PE) houses and family offices in the H&REF sectors. We are looking for proactive people who are ready to make a real difference to a successful and expanding team. Providing a truly complete service, the Associate Director, H&REF will cater for our customers’ and prospects’ every banking need. In return, we’ll encourage and reward you, helping you deliver first-class customer service, whilst building a successful career. 

We are happy to consider flexible working approaches to help you perform at your best.

At Nationwide we offer hybrid working wherever possible. More rewarding relationships are supported through our hybrid approach, bringing colleagues together across our UK wide estate, whilst also supporting generous access to home working. We value our time in the office to solve problems, to learn, and to feel connected.

For this job, you'll spend at least two days per week, or if part-time, you'll spend 40% of your working time, based at our London office. If your application is successful, your hiring manager will provide further details on how this works. You can also find out more about our approach to hybrid working here.

Virgin Money is now part of Nationwide

Nationwide acquired Virgin Money in October 2024. Virgin Money continues to serve customers on the high street, and there will be a phased and considered integration over the coming years.

You’ll be employed by Nationwide from day one, delivering real impact and benefitting from a highly competitive range of benefits. We’re a workplace where you’re rewarded, recognised and celebrated.

If we receive a high volume of relevant applications, we may close the advert earlier than the advertised date, so please apply as soon as you can.

What you’ll be doing

The role will support the H&REF team managing existing client relationships and contributing to the origination of new business. The primary focus will be on the hotel sector, with opportunities to gain exposure to a broader range of real estate transactions, enabling the development of a transferable skillset across wider lending areas.

The successful candidate will play a key role in delivering exceptional service to existing borrowers, while ensuring that new-to-bank clients experience a smooth and efficient onboarding process. This will involve close collaboration with internal stakeholders across the business, as well as engagement with key external partners.

Exceptional organisational and analytical skills are essential, alongside the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively. The role also offers the opportunity to build and develop an external network, enhancing the Society’s brand presence in both local and national markets.

Overall, the position is aligned with the objective of generating sustainable, risk-adjusted returns in line with the Society’s broader business lending strategy.

About you

• Relevant Business Banking experience and/or a professional qualification (e.g. Chartered Accountant, Chartered Banker), with a strong understanding of corporate and commercial lending.
• Experience working with high-net-worth individuals, private equity-backed businesses, and fund-supported corporate clients.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to influence decision-making and deliver high-quality customer outcomes.
• Strong experience applying both financial and non-financial appraisal techniques, supported by high-quality report writing skills.
• Well-developed analytical capabilities, with experience assessing lending opportunities and interpreting complex financial information.
• A proven track record of maintaining high standards and contributing to a best-practice environment that delivers customer-focused solutions.
• Confidence in reviewing, developing, and challenging cash flow models using Excel.
• Strong relationship management skills, with the ability to work collaboratively across teams and build trusted customer relationships.

Our customer first behaviours put customers and members at the heart of how we work together. They are the set of behaviours that every colleague needs to display, in every role:

• Feel what customers feel - We step into our customers’ shoes, using their feedback and insights to empathise with them and to understand their needs, so that every decision we make starts and finishes with our customers in mind

• Say it straight - We are brave in speaking out and saying what we think – we’re honest and direct with good intent, openly sharing diverse perspectives to reach the best conclusions and using language everyone can understand

• Push for better - We don’t settle for mediocrity, we challenge the status quo, taking responsibility for continuous improvement and personal development

• Get it done - We prioritise what will have the greatest impact, we are decisive, and we take accountability for delivering brilliant customer outcomes

You can strengthen your application by showing how our customer first behaviours resonate with you, and where you may have already demonstrated these.

The extras you’ll get

There are all sorts of employee benefits available at Nationwide, including:

• 25 days holiday

• Private medical insurance

• A highly competitive pension to help you build a strong foundation for retirement

• Access to an annual performance-related bonus

• Training and development to help you progress your career

• A great selection of additional benefits through our salary sacrifice scheme

• Life assurance to provide peace of mind for you and your loved ones in the event of your death

• Wellhub – access to a range of free and paid options for health and wellness

• Up to 2 days of paid volunteering a year

Banking – but fairer, more rewarding, and for the good of society

We forge our own path at Nationwide.

As a mutual, we’re owned by our members - those customers who bank, save or have a mortgage with us. We challenge the financial sector status quo. We don’t see customers as the engine of our own profit. We share our profits with them and put their needs first. Always there when they need us. Supporting them and their lives.

If you’re inspired by fairer finances, passionate about making a meaningful impact, and truly care about our customers, you’re one of us.

At Nationwide, you are challenged to grow and rewarded for doing so. Valued. Recognised. Inspired to be your best. As a community, we want our working lives to count. As a team, we celebrate what we achieve. As a standard-setter, we work for the good of customers, communities, and broader society.

We are purpose-driven. Uncompromisingly customer. Unstoppably Nationwide.

What to do next

If this role is for you, please click the ‘Apply Now’ button. You’ll need to attach your up-to-date CV and answer a few quick questions for us. 

We respond to everyone, so we will be in contact shortly after the closing date to let you know the outcome of your application.

Keeping your data and personal information confidential is important to us. To find out more about how we use and process your data, please read our Privacy policy.

If you want to find out more about using AI in our recruitment process, please read more here.

Disability Confident 

We’re not just guided by data, we’re driven by the real experiences of our people. We’re a Disability Confident Level 3 Leader, the highest level. 

That’s why we’re constantly evolving our policies and practices to make sure everyone feels genuinely supported, valued, and empowered to champion inclusion. Whatever your needs, we’re here to support you. If you need any additional support throughout your application journey, email our team at Recruitment Support. 

Apply safely with Nationwide

Recruitment scams can look convincing, so take a moment to check the role is listed on our official careers site and read our guidance on Don’t be conned by a job scam.

Please note that should you be successful in securing this role, the job title on our internal systems will be Associate Director.