Career change as a bank clerk

Career change paths

• Auditor in the internal audit department of a bank

  Also: Staff member in risk controlling

  With on-the-job trainingPromotion

  In internal audit, you check whether the lending business and other areas work in compliance with the rules; in risk controlling, you monitor credit risks and prepare reports for the board and the supervisory authority.

  What you bring:

  You know lending processes, collateral, credit checks and the regulatory minimum requirements for risk management from daily work.

  How to get there:

  Banks like to fill positions in audit and risk controlling with experienced lending specialists, often after an upgrading course to become a bank specialist (Bankfachwirt). You learn the job through audits in the team. Bank academies and associations offer courses on auditing and banking supervision, and for management positions, a degree is often expected.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office

  €7,072gross per monthMedian salary

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• Underwriter in credit insurance

  Also: Risk analyst at a credit insurer

  With on-the-job training

  At a credit insurer, you decide to what extent deliveries to a buyer are covered, monitor risks continuously and talk to customers and brokers.

  What you bring:

  You assess the creditworthiness of companies based on annual statements, information and industry situation and make well-founded lending decisions.

  How to get there:

  Credit insurers hire credit analysts from banks and train them for a few months in their assessment models. English is often expected because of international customers. The number of providers is small, and the positions are concentrated in a few large cities.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with peopleIn an office

  €5,261gross per monthMedian salary

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• Construction financing adviser at a credit broker

  Also: Real estate loan broker

  With on-the-job training

  At a credit broker, you compare offers from many banks, advise customers on their financing and accompany the application through to payout.

  What you bring:

  You know construction financing, mortgage lending, household calculation and the lending guidelines of the banks from processing.

  How to get there:

  For brokerage, you need expertise under § 34i GewO. Training as a bank clerk (Bankkaufmann/Bankkauffrau) is treated as equivalent to the proof of expertise under the Real Estate Loan Brokerage Ordinance (Immobiliardarlehensvermittlungsverordnung). Without it, you take the expertise exam at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK). Brokers hire lending specialists on a permanent basis or work with self-employed advisers whose income mostly consists of commission.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with peopleIn an officeHome office possible
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• Specialist consultant for banking applications at an IT service provider

  Also: IT business analyst for lending processes

  With on-the-job training

  At an IT service provider for banks or a software vendor, you describe business requirements for lending software, test new versions, train banks and support them with rollouts.

  What you bring:

  You know lending processes, banking applications and the requirements of the supervisory authority from the user's point of view.

  How to get there:

  The IT service providers of the savings banks and cooperative banks as well as software companies hire experienced banking specialists and train them in methods and systems over a few months. You add basics in project management and agile methods through courses of a few days.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with peopleIn an office

  €5,568gross per monthMedian salary

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• Real estate agent

  Also: Real estate adviser at a bank

  With on-the-job training

  In real estate brokerage you appraise properties, prepare property brochures, hold viewings and support buyers and sellers up to the notary appointment.

  What you bring:

  In your training you learned the basics of mortgage finance, and you know what buyers can afford and which documents banks require.

  How to get there:

  Some banks and savings banks have their own real estate brokerage, which you can move into internally with on-the-job training (Einarbeitung). Courses on valuation and broker law take a few weeks. If you broker deals on a self-employed basis, you need a permit under § 34c of the Trade Regulation Act (GewO). You can earn a recognized qualification alongside your job with the further training course for certified senior real estate specialist (Immobilienfachwirt).*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Fixed daytime hoursLots of contact with people

  €3,940gross per monthMedian salary

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• Customer adviser at a health insurance fund

  Also: Social insurance specialist (Sozialversicherungsfachangestellte)

  With on-the-job training

  At a health insurance fund or pension insurance provider you advise insured people, check entitlements to benefits and process applications and contributions.

  What you bring:

  You advise people on contracts and forms every day, work precisely according to regulations and explain complicated rules clearly.

  How to get there:

  Health insurance funds also hire bank and insurance clerks for customer advice and train them in-house in social insurance law. The recognized qualification for this work is social insurance specialist (Sozialversicherungsfachangestellte), a three-year vocational training (Ausbildung).*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with peopleIn an office

  €3,964gross per monthMedian salary

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• Team leader customer service center

  Also: Customer service manager

  With on-the-job trainingPromotion

  As team leader in a bank's customer service center you lead the advisers on the phone and in chat, plan assignments, evaluate key figures and improve processes.

  What you bring:

  You know the most common customer concerns, complaints and processes in bank service from hands-on experience.

  How to get there:

  Some banks and savings banks bundle their service in central customer service centers. There, you can be promoted internally to team leader, with management training, after a few years. The further training course for certified senior banking specialist (Bankfachwirt) or the trainer aptitude certificate (Ausbildereignung) strengthens your application.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Shift workPhysically lightIn an office

  €4,604gross per monthMedian salary

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• Management consultant for financing

  Also: Funding consultant

  With on-the-job training

  As a consultant, you support medium-sized companies with financing, funding, succession and crises.

  What you bring:

  You can read balance sheets, structure financing and know banks and funding programs from the inside.

  How to get there:

  Consultancies for medium-sized companies hire experienced bank advisors, and after some years, going self-employed is also possible. Courses on funding or business succession take a few days to a few weeks.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with peopleIn an officeHome office possible

  €6,768gross per monthMedian salary

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• Treasury manager

  Also: Head of financing in a medium-sized company

  With on-the-job training

  In a company, you steer liquidity, loans and bank relationships as a treasury manager or in the finance department, and you hedge interest rate and currency risks.

  What you bring:

  You know financing, liquidity and banks from the other side of the table.

  How to get there:

  Medium-sized companies hire experienced corporate client advisors for treasury and financing. For overall management of finance, you also need bookkeeping and controlling skills, for example through further training as a certified balance sheet accountant (Bilanzbuchhalter).*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office

  €6,570gross per monthMedian salary

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• Lecturer at a bank academy

  Also: Trainer for financial advice

  With on-the-job training

  At the academies of banks and savings banks or at training providers, you teach apprentices and employees in banking and finance topics.

  What you bring:

  You know investment products, lending business and advisory rules from practice and can explain them clearly.

  How to get there:

  Academies and training providers look for lecturers from practice, often first part-time. A course in teaching methods or trainer aptitude under the AEVO (Ausbildereignung) helps. Permanent positions exist mainly at the academies of the banking groups.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contact

  €5,075gross per monthMedian salary

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• Product manager at a bank

  Also: Sales manager for investment products

  With on-the-job training

  In the product or sales management of a bank, fund company or insurer, you develop products and sales concepts and train advisor teams.

  What you bring:

  You know what customers ask, which products can be explained and where advisors need support in conversation.

  How to get there:

  Banks and fund companies often fill these positions with experienced advisors, internally or through job advertisements. You work mostly at the head office instead of with customers of your own.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office

  €7,950gross per monthMedian salary

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• Branch manager of a bank

  Also: Branch office manager of a savings bank

  With further trainingPromotion

  As branch manager, you lead the team of a branch office, are responsible for sales targets and customer care on site and decide on loans within your authority.

  What you bring:

  You know lending decisions, risks and customer advice and have an overview of your bank's products and internal rules.

  How to get there:

  You usually get there after years in advice or lending, through internal leadership programs and an upgrading course such as bank specialist (Bankfachwirt) or savings bank specialist (Sparkassenfachwirt). For larger branches, the bank business manager (Bankbetriebswirt) qualification is often added. Branch closures mean fewer such positions, but larger units with more staff.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €8,030gross per monthMedian salary

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• Real estate valuer

  Also: Expert for real estate valuation

  With further trainingPromotion

  As a real estate valuer, you inspect houses, apartments and commercial properties, determine market and mortgage lending values and write expert reports for banks, courts or private customers.

  What you bring:

  From construction financing, you know mortgage lending values, land registers, purchase contracts and the valuation of real estate as loan collateral.

  How to get there:

  Certification courses in real estate valuation at academies, chambers or certification bodies usually take several months to two years alongside work, and for the certification you also need experience in valuation. Banks often first use experienced lending specialists internally to determine mortgage lending values. The title expert is only protected with public appointment.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people
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• Certified balance sheet accountant (Geprüfter Bilanzbuchhalter)

  Also: Financial accountant

  With further training

  In the accounting department of a company, you prepare monthly and annual financial statements, handle taxes and liquidity planning and work together with tax advisers and auditors.

  What you bring:

  You read and analyze balance sheets, profit and loss statements and business evaluations and quickly spot irregularities.

  How to get there:

  You take the upgrading course for certified balance sheet accountant (Geprüfter Bilanzbuchhalter, IHK), usually 1.5 to 2 years alongside work and eligible for funding through Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications). With a three-year commercial training occupation such as bank clerk (Bankkaufmann/Bankkauffrau), you are admitted, otherwise after 5 years of work practice mainly in accounting. Because you lack bookkeeping practice at first, you can start in a position in financial accounting.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office

  €4,333gross per monthMedian salary

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• Tax officer (Finanzwirt)

  Also: Clerk at the tax office

  With vocational training

  At the tax office you process tax returns, check information and supporting documents, and assess taxes.

  What you bring:

  You work precisely with figures and documents, follow regulations and can explain decisions to citizens.

  How to get there:

  You do the preparatory service for the mid-level civil service of the tax administration, usually for two years, with pay during training. You usually need an intermediate school-leaving certificate (mittlerer Schulabschluss), or a lower secondary school certificate (Hauptschulabschluss) together with vocational training (Berufsausbildung). Age limits and hiring dates differ by state, and some tax offices also hire employees with commercial training under collective pay agreements (Tarif).*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightIn an office

  €3,615gross per monthMedian salary

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• Financial analyst

  Also: Portfolio analyst

  With further training

  As an analyst at asset managers, fund companies or insurers, you value companies, bonds and funds and prepare investment decisions.

  What you bring:

  You know securities, markets and investment products and can put opportunities and risks in context.

  How to get there:

  For analyst positions, a degree in economics is usually expected. You complete recognized further training such as CFA or CEFA alongside work; the duration depends on the program and your pace. Good English and confident spreadsheet skills are required.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an officeHome office possible

  €6,570gross per monthMedian salary

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Salary: median of all full-time employees in the job, gross per month excluding special payments, as of April 2025. Half earn more, half earn less. Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), table 62361-0030, license dl-de/by-2-0. Assigned to the jobs by quereinsteiger.de. No guarantee of accuracy.