Career Paths
When you join the RBS group as a graduate, one of our main aims, whichever area of the business you join, is to give you the broadest possible understanding of our organisation. We think this is the best way of preparing you for your future career and of helping you to develop your skills into the areas that are best suited to you.
Some of our senior managers who are ex-graduates have outlined their career paths to give you a flavour of how you might progress.
- Jonathan Shawcross
Director of Group Security and Fraud
Year joined: 1995
University and degree: University of Wales, Bangor, BA (Hons) Banking, Insurance & Finance Joining the RBS group as a graduate gave my career a real flying start. It has encouraged me to consider a variety of roles and gain the broad business knowledge that has prepared me for my whole career. The scheme gives you good direction and support as well as investing in your development from an early stage of your career. It also gives you the opportunity to work along other like-minded, inspirational graduates, which I think pushes you on to drive your career and be successful.
Since joining, I’ve had a number of roles, including:
- Director of Financial Crime
- Head of Operations (Group Security & Fraud)
- Head of Communications
- Corporate Customer Manager for Cash Business & 3rd Party ATM site hosts
- Operations Strategy role, working with London & Warwick Business Schools
- PA to Exec
- Call Centre Project Management
- Lynne Burns
Head of HR, Group Central Functions
Year joined: 1993
University and degree: University of Strathclyde, 1st Class Honours in Industrial Relations The RBS graduate scheme has been a great way of giving me access to, and insight into, the wider organisation. Rather than stepping straight into a permanent job I’ve been able to explore a range of different options across the business. It’s also a great way of establishing a personal network across the whole company – something that I still find invaluable today.
The roles I have experienced since joining are:
- Head of HR, Group Central Functions (2006 – now)
- Group Head of Diversity (2005 – 2006)
- Head of Sales Delivery, Direct Sales (2004 – 2005)
- HR Business Partner (2000 – 2004)
- Training & Development Manager (1997 – 1999)
- Manager, Professional Qualifications, HR (1996 – 1997)
- Project Columbus, Business Analyst (1994 – 1996)
- Retail Graduate Scheme (1993 – 1994)
- David Arden
Finance and Risk Director, Tesco Personal Finance
Year joined: 1990
University and Degree: University of Leicester, Economics (BSc) The RBS graduate scheme has really helped me develop a broad understanding of how the bank is structured and operates. This, in turn, has helped me to develop my career in the areas of the business that interest me most.
The roles I have taken on since joining are:
- Finance & Risk Director, Tesco Personal Finance (2006 – now)
- Managing Director, RBS/NW Credit Cards (2004 – 2006)
- Director, International Development, TPF (2002 – 2004)
- Director, Business Analysis, TPF (1999 – 2002)
- Financial Controller, Credit Cards (1998 – 1999)
- Financial Controller, RBS Advanta (1996 – 1998)
- EA to Finance Director, Branch Banking (1994 – 1996)
- MIS Development, Branch Banking (1992 – 1994)
- Craig Donaldson
Managing Director, mortgages & Retail Telephony - RBS UK
Year joined: 2005
University and degree: University of Bradford, 1st Class Honours in Technology & Management I started on the Barclays graduate scheme in 1995 and found the breadth of opportunities and insight into how diverse banking was to be invaluable. The experience to move between roles and develop my skills and competence created the foundation on which I have built my career. It is this same foundation offered by the RBS UK graduate schemes that make them such a great opportunity.
The roles I have experienced since joining the RBS group are:
- Managing Director, Mortgages & Retail Telephony, RBS UK (2008 - now)
- Managing Director, Mortgages, Consumer Banking (2007 - 2008)
- Commercial Director, Consumer Banking (2006)
- NatWest Product Director, Retail Bank (2005 – 2006)
Previous roles:
Halifax Bank of Scotland:
- Head of Products & Marketing, Mortgages & Secured Lending (2003 – 2005)
- Head of Sales & Operations, North West, Wales & Northern Ireland (2002 – 2003)
Barclays:
- Commercial Director, Mortgages & Insurance (2001 – 2002)
- Head of Products & Marketing, Savings & Investments (2000 – 2001)
- Contact Centre Manager, Retail Banking (1999 – 2000)
- Senior Change Manager, Retail Change Programme (1997 - 1999)
- Retail Sales & Service Manager, Barclays Bank of Kenya (1996 – 1997)
- Small Business Manager, Newcastle City Group (1996)
- Branch Manager, Newcastle City Group (1995 – 1996)
- Personal Banker, Newcastle City Group (1995)
