Senior Relationship Manager, SME Banking
Standard Chartered
Quick Take
Acquire and manage SME banking clients, grow lending and transactional revenue, and collaborate with wealth teams to deliver tailored financial solutions and advisory services.
Proven SME/commercial banking relationship management experience, ability to structure lending and trade finance solutions, and strong credit assessment skills.
Competitive salary at a global Tier-1 bank, exposure to wealth management and high-net-worth business owners, and clear scope to build a substantial client portfolio with measurable revenue impact.
Job Description
Standard Chartered Bank is seeking a driven and commercially astute Senior Relationship Manager to join its SME Banking team in Nairobi. In this pivotal role, you will be at the forefront of growing the bank's small and medium enterprise portfolio by acquiring new clients, deepening existing relationships, and delivering tailored financial solutions that meet the evolving needs of business owners and decision-makers across Kenya.
Beyond traditional banking, this role offers a unique opportunity to engage business owners on wealth management conversations — including succession planning, family business continuity, and intergenerational wealth transfer — working closely with the bank's Wealth team to unlock holistic value for clients and the bank alike.
- Acquire new SME clients and grow the active client base while deepening share of wallet across the existing portfolio.
- Drive growth in both funded and non-funded income through lending, transactional banking, trade finance, and wealth products.
- Increase product penetration per client by identifying and executing cross-sell opportunities across core SME banking solutions.
- Deliver revenue growth targets while maintaining portfolio quality, disciplined credit standards, and strong risk-adjusted returns.
- Build and manage a robust client pipeline — follow up leads, structure credit and transactional opportunities, complete call reports, and convert business efficiently.
- Develop deep, long-term relationships with business owners and key decision-makers by understanding their funding, transaction banking, expansion, and risk management needs.
- Provide outstanding client experience through responsive service, informed advisory, and proactive portfolio management.
- Partner closely with the Wealth team to originate and convert business-owner opportunities in wealth products, referrals, succession planning, and family business continuity.
- Adhere strictly to the bank's operational risk, compliance, credit governance, and regulatory standards at all times.
- Stay abreast of market trends, sector developments, and product capabilities to deliver relevant insights and timely solutions to SME clients.
- Demonstrated ability to acquire, retain, and grow SME, commercial, or business banking client portfolios with measurable revenue outcomes.
- Ability to structure and present lending, trade finance, cash management, and working capital solutions tailored to business owners' specific needs.
- Proven track record of building trusted relationships with business owners, company promoters, and senior decision-makers.
- Competence in assessing credit risk, interpreting financial statements, and recommending appropriate credit facilities within governance frameworks.
- Ability to identify cross-sell and upsell opportunities across banking and wealth products and collaborate with internal teams to close them.
- Strong commercial acumen with the ability to read market dynamics and translate them into actionable client conversations.
- Experience engaging clients on wealth planning themes such as business succession, family wealth continuity, and investment needs.
- Ability to manage a large, diverse client portfolio while maintaining high service standards and pipeline discipline.
The salary for this role is open and negotiable based on experience and qualifications. Based on Kenyan market benchmarks for senior banking relationship management roles at a tier-one international bank, the estimated monthly compensation ranges from KES 250,000 to KES 450,000, inclusive of base salary and applicable allowances. Standard Chartered is known for offering a competitive total rewards package.
Ideal candidates are seasoned banking professionals with at least five years of hands-on experience in SME, commercial, or business banking relationship management. You are target-driven, client-obsessed, and confident navigating complex financial conversations with business owners. You understand the Kenyan SME landscape and have a proven ability to grow a portfolio from acquisition through to deepening and retention. Experience collaborating with wealth or investment teams is a strong advantage.
Do not apply if you have no prior experience in business or commercial banking, if you are uncomfortable with sales targets and pipeline management, or if you lack a working knowledge of credit, trade finance, or transactional banking products.
To apply for this position, visit the Standard Chartered Bank careers portal at sc.com/careers and search for the Senior Relationship Manager, SME Banking role in Nairobi, Kenya. Submit your updated CV along with a cover letter outlining your SME banking experience and key achievements. Applications close on 30 June 2026. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Requirements Breakdown
Must Have
- Demonstrated track record acquiring and growing SME or commercial banking client portfolios with measurable revenue outcomes
- Ability to structure and present lending, trade finance, cash management, and working capital solutions
- Proven relationship-building capability with business owners, company promoters, and senior decision-makers
- Competence in credit risk assessment, financial statement interpretation, and credit facility recommendations
- Strong understanding of cross-sell and upsell opportunity identification across banking and wealth products
Nice to Have
- Experience in succession planning, family business continuity, or wealth management advisory conversations
- Familiarity with Kenyan SME sector dynamics, regional business trends, and market conditions
- Background in trade finance, cash management, or transactional banking solutions
- Experience managing client pipelines and CRM systems in a fast-paced banking environment
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Salary Context
Competitive salary for a Senior-level SME Banking role at a global bank in Nairobi.
The KES 250,000–450,000/mo range sits above-market for Senior Relationship Manager roles in Kenya, reflecting Standard Chartered's global scale and the seniority required. Actual pay within the band depends on prior banking experience, portfolio size managed, and revenue track record.
About Standard Chartered
Standard Chartered is a leading global bank with a strong presence across Africa and Asia, headquartered in London with deep roots in emerging markets. In Kenya, the bank serves corporates, SMEs, and high-net-worth individuals through a broad suite of lending, trade, and wealth solutions. Joining Standard Chartered offers access to world-class training, a global career network, and the stability of a Tier-1 financial institution with a reputation for client-centric innovation.
Likely Interview Questions
- 1
Walk us through your most successful SME client acquisition — how did you prospect, structure the relationship, and grow revenue?
- 2
Tell us about a time you identified a cross-sell or upsell opportunity with an existing client. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?
- 3
How do you assess credit risk when evaluating an SME lending opportunity? What financial metrics and qualitative factors do you prioritize?
- 4
Describe your experience with wealth management conversations or succession planning advisory — how would you position these to a business owner focused primarily on operational banking?
- 5
What regulatory and compliance frameworks are you familiar with in Kenya's banking sector, and how do you ensure adherence in your client interactions?
Application Tips
Quantify your SME banking wins: highlight the number of new clients acquired, revenue growth generated, and average portfolio size managed. Use concrete figures (e.g., 'grew SME portfolio by 35% YoY, KES X million in new lending advances').
Emphasize credit and structured finance experience: if you've structured trade finance, working capital, or term loans tailored to SME needs, detail the complexity and outcome — this is a core differentiator.
Showcase relationship depth, not just breadth: describe a 2–3 year relationship arc with a business owner where you deepened the banking relationship, expanded products, and added advisory value. This signals the 'long-term trusted advisor' mindset the role demands.
Career Path
Roles that lead here
Where this leads
Skills & Keywords
Honest Assessment
Green Flags
- Reputable global employer: Standard Chartered is a Tier-1 bank with global scale, training, and career mobility — strong employer brand and long-term stability.
- Competitive salary range: KES 250,000–450,000/mo is well above average for senior relationship manager roles in Kenya, reflecting the bank's investment in top talent.
- Holistic client strategy: the explicit focus on wealth management, succession planning, and family business continuity signals a sophisticated advisory approach beyond transactional banking — differentiating and high-impact work.
- Clear growth metrics: the role emphasizes measurable outcomes (revenue targets, portfolio growth, product penetration) — you'll have objective feedback and strong visibility for promotion.
Watch Out
- Job description cuts off mid-sentence ('commercial acumen with the ability to read market dyna...'), suggesting the posting may be incomplete or hastily prepared — clarify full role scope before applying.
- Heavy emphasis on revenue targets and cross-sell without explicit mention of work-life balance, remote flexibility, or support structures — typical of high-pressure banking roles; clarify expectations and team size.
- No mention of team size, reporting structure, or direct reports — unclear whether this is an individual contributor or team leader role, which affects responsibility and compensation expectations.
A Day in the Life
Your week balances client-facing and operational activities: you'll start Mondays with a pipeline review, identifying warm leads and structuring credit proposals for SMEs in growth or expansion phases. Mid-week, you're running lunch-and-learns or advisory calls with business owners on working capital optimization or trade finance solutions, while also pairing with the Wealth team to explore succession planning conversations with high-net-worth clients. You'll spend afternoons on credit assessment — interpreting financial statements, evaluating risk — and managing your CRM to track follow-ups, call reports, and cross-sell opportunities. Fridays typically include team syncs on portfolio quality and revenue tracking, plus planning your prospecting activities for the following week.
Frequently Asked Questions
What qualifications do I need to be a Senior Relationship Manager, SME Banking at Standard Chartered?
You'll need a degree in finance, business, or economics, plus 3–5+ years of SME, commercial, or business banking experience with a proven track record of client acquisition and revenue growth. Strong credit assessment, relationship-building, and product knowledge skills are essential.
Is the Senior Relationship Manager, SME Banking role at Standard Chartered remote?
The posting specifies Nairobi as the location; typical banking relationship manager roles require in-person client engagement and office presence. Clarify remote/hybrid flexibility during your interview.
How much does a Senior Relationship Manager, SME Banking earn at Standard Chartered?
Standard Chartered's posted range is KES 250,000–450,000 per month, depending on experience, prior portfolio size, and revenue track record. This is competitive for the role and market in Nairobi.
What are the career growth opportunities for this role?
You can progress into team leadership (Senior Manager, SME Banking), business line management, or pivot into Wealth Management — the role's exposure to succession planning and high-net-worth advisory creates a natural bridge. Standard Chartered's global network also enables international transfers.
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