Rathbones Institute (Associate)

Role title: Associate – Rathbones Institute 

Start date: January 2027  

Employment model: Fully employed  

Salary: Competitive from day one 

Working pattern: Hybrid 

About the role & programme 

The programme provides a structured environment where you can learn, build confidence and develop at the right pace. It combines group learning, individual study, tutor and mentor support, and practical on-desk experience. Your development will reflect your existing qualifications, experience and career goals. 

 The programme begins with a one-week induction at Rathbones’ London office, followed by collaborative, supported study towards the CISI Investment Advice Diploma. From month six (June 2027), you will spend four days a week on desk and one day studying towards the CISI Chartered Wealth Manager qualification (Level 7), supported by Rathbones colleagues, Fitch Learning and AI-enabled learning tools. Alongside your technical development, you will begin building client relationships with appropriate support and supervision. Coaching, mentoring and professional development continue beyond the programme, with opportunities to progress in Investment Management, Financial Planning or another area of wealth management. 

Who we are 

At Rathbones, we help people invest their money well, so they can live well. That means more than financial returns – it’s about helping people feel confident in their decisions and supported in their future. We don’t just manage money, we guide people through life’s big moments, helping them stay on track and focus on what matters most. We’re proud to be one of the UK’s leading wealth managers, with £120.7bn in assets under management (as of June 2026) and 20+ offices across the UK and Channel Islands. We’re a FTSE 250 company with national reach and a local feel – and we’re growing. 

What you’ll be responsible for 

• Undertake the structured programme and successfully complete the required CISI qualifications, examinations, programme milestones and development activities. 

• Balance on-desk responsibilities with dedicated study time, taking ownership of learning commitments and seeking focused support where needed. 

• Build knowledge of financial markets, investments and the wider economic and geopolitical factors affecting clients and markets. 

• Apply course learning accurately to practical situations, assessing information from different sources, testing assumptions and identifying risks. 

• Develop an understanding of clients’ circumstances, needs, objectives and concerns by asking thoughtful questions, listening carefully and avoiding premature assumptions. 

• Explain information clearly, adapt communication to the audience and check understanding, including recognising when further information or support may be required. 

• Build trusted professional relationships with clients and colleagues through calm, clear and consistent communication. 

• From month six, begin developing client relationships and the foundations of a long-term client book, with appropriate support and supervision. 

• Identify and pursue suitable business development opportunities through client conversations, professional networks, consistent follow-up and a focus on suitability, transparency, value and good client outcomes. 

About you 

We’re looking for an experienced professional who is changing career or returning to work after time away. Your experience may come from any sector or setting, but you’ll bring a strong record of achievement, sound judgement and meaningful outcomes. You’ll be someone who: 

• Has a strong professional track record, typically built over 10 or more years.
• Shows genuine curiosity about clients, avoiding premature assumptions and staying interested in what matters to people. 
• Shows commercial initiative and persistence, identifying suitable opportunities, initiating conversations, building professional networks and following up consistently. You balance commercial ambition with suitability, transparency, value and good client outcomes. 
• Learns quickly and openly, absorbing new information, seeking feedback, reflecting on your approach and adapting when needed. You recognise when you need further information or support and take action to address it. 
• Assesses information carefully, tests assumptions, identifies risks and reaches balanced, proportionate conclusions. You work accurately and responsibly within agreed policies, controls and the level of competence appropriate to your stage of development. 
• Communicates clearly and builds trust, explaining complex information simply, adapting your style to the audience, checking understanding and responding constructively to questions or disagreement. You establish professional relationships through calm, consistent and respectful communication. 
• Maintains momentum through setbacks, uncertainty and competing priorities, changing course constructively when circumstances require it. 

No previous wealth management experience or finance qualification is required. You’ll also need to be ready to commit to a structured and accelerated learning programme, including professional study, examinations and development activities. 

Our offer to you 

We want everyone at Rathbones to fulfil their potential, in an environment where you are proud to work and feel like you belong. We offer a comprehensive remuneration package, which we review regularly and benefits include: 

• A company pension - 9% non-contributory or 10% if you contribute 5% 

• Private medical insurance – individual on joining, family after 1 year’s service 

• Life assurance - 8x salary 

• Income protection – 75% salary 

• Company share scheme 

• Discretionary bonus 

• Flexible holidays – purchase up to 5 additional days 

• Green Car Scheme 

• Family-friendly policies – enhanced family leave for parents & carers 

• Study support – study days and funding for courses and qualifications 

• Season travel ticket loans 

• Volunteering days 

• Gym discounts 

• Other voluntary benefits you can choose to suit you 

Our employees can choose to take part in various social groups and communities to support their wellbeing, growth, development and sense of community. These include: 

• Sports & Social Committees, such as cricket, football, netball, running, yoga, quiz nights, charity bake sales and much more. 

• Inclusion Networks that help us drive change within the organisation such as Gender Balance, Multicultural, Abilities Count, Pride, Social Mobility, Generations, Menopause Matters and Armed Forces.  

• The NextGen IM Network, which brings together a community of trainees from across the UK, who are all at the early stages of their careers and offers development opportunities, exposure across the business as well as peer support and connection. 

Life at Rathbones  

We aim to become an employer of choice for the wealth management sector. To achieve this, we are working hard to build a diverse, equal, and inclusive workplace that motivates, develops and embraces the strengths of all our colleagues. Being part of Rathbones means you will join a team of passionate professionals in a successful culture that cares for its people. At Rathbones, we provide meaningful work, opportunities, and a voice to all.   

We are committed to building a team that is made up of diverse skills, experiences and abilities and encourage applications from all backgrounds. We welcome individuals who share our values. We’re a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) under the UK Government scheme. This means we’ve signed up to a set of commitments around how we recruit, retain and develop people with disabilities. Find out more about the Government scheme online here. If you require adjustments to apply for the Rathbones Institute, please contact our recruitment partner, Ladder, via hello@laddergroup.com to let us know what adjustments you may need during the process. 

Mission 

We believe in playing the long game. That means building consistent results, earning trust and doing the right thing – for our clients, our colleagues and the communities we’re part of. 
 

Our values shape how we work: 
- We aim high 
- We get it done 
- We show we care 
- We do the right thing 
 
These aren’t just words on a wall. They guide how we treat each other, how we make decisions, and how we build relationships that last. 

This recruitment process is being managed on our behalf by our retained partner, Ladder. All applications will be received and reviewed by the Ladder team, who will manage the initial stages of the selection process in partnership with Rathbones. We will close applications once we have received enough for the next stage. Please submit your application as soon as possible to ensure you don’t miss out.