Grade 4 Security Clerk

This was the final stage in Bank Clerical grade jobs, including 1 to 4. A grade 4 was the highest position you can get to before taking on accounts manager, loans manager, assistant manager and then manager positions. These where to become some more great life skills that I would pick up during my career in banking. Here I learnt about accounting, investments and property, skills that I am proud to have which have helped me move into life as a mature adult.

Barclays Bank PLC Year 10

After being employed for 10 years it was time to move onwards and upwards again. My new position was to become another favourite, Security Clerk. There were lots of things to learn, which was so exciting! These included, Accounting, Investments, Buying and Selling Shares, Loans, Savings Accounts, Safe Deposit Boxes, Dictating letters and so much more. For this role I was given a desk and telephone in the banking hall. It was my job to help customers with any financial queries on a 1 to 1 level in a private room. Any phone calls would be answered by me or transfered from other members of staff. It was an icredible privalege to be on this new journey!

Barclays Bank PLC - Year 6 to 9

This year was to become another great year as I had successfully learnt and practised all the clerical grade 3 jobs that were possible. These would include 1st Cashier, Machine Room Supervisor, DDR and STO clerk and Foreign Till Cashier. At this point I was very fersatile as I could take on any of these roles depending on the requirements. If someone was in holiday or off sick I was quite capable of taking their place for a few days or a week. This meant that on Monday mornings I never new until I arrived at the bank which role it would be.

Barclays Bank PLC - 5th Year

After successfully mastering the position of DDR and STO clerk for 6 months it was time for me to move on and up in the banking world. My new job title was Foreign Till Cashier, a job that was to become one of my favourite positions. This role would involve buying and selling foreign currency, issuing and cashing in travellers cheques and transfering funds to and from worldwide Banks in many different countries. This of course does not exist today because of the use of Euros.

Barclays Bank PLC - The 4th Year

After becoming independent in the role as "unauthorised and unpaid clerk" for 6 months it was time to learn, move on and up and begin a new role. This was to be managing all the Direct Debits and Standing Orders for my current branch in Churchill Square Brighton. An exciting position that would also promote me to a clerical grade 3. To begin this next step I spent a week watching and learning from the person currently doing the job. Then for a further week the roles were reversed, so I completed all the work myself while the person training me watched over me to make sure I was competent. I mastered all the challenges that were needed in order to become an excellent skilled direct debit and standing order clerk. The Bank manager at the time was totally happy with my performance. A position in the Banking world that I would become very proud of. Being a very tidy person, I remember sorting out every customer file to an expert level. It was a wonderful experience to be able to be in control and manage this demanding and important job title. Something to this day I never regret!

Barclays Bank PLC - The Third Year

After becoming a well established and trained Bank Cashier for 6 months it was time to move on and up in the career path. My new job title would be called "unauthorised and unpaid clerk". This meant it was my job to return unpaid Direct Debits, unpaid Standing Orders and unpaid Cheques due to lack of funds. The customer would also be charged a fee for not having enough funds in their Bank Account. Forms would need to be filled in and phone calls would need to be made to the Bank and branch where the persons Bank Account originated from. There were other tasks I had to do. I needed to collect all the credits and debits from each cashier and get them ready to be processed throughout each day. In between it was my job to also answer the telephone for my branch,every time a customer called. "Good morning or good afternoon, Barclays Bank PLC, Churchill Square Brighton, how may I help you"? In time I would memorize the internal extention numbers to which calls were re-directed to oher members of staff and departments. This job was rewarding and exciting because I did the work everyday on my own.

Barclays Bank PLC - The Second Year

This was the start of a wonderful career. It was so much fun learning how to be a cashier in a Bank. Having always enjoyed mathematics this was right up my street. Such an amazing experience working with lots and lots of money. It of course was not mine, but that did not matter. I can remember counting all the notes and coins,a skill that I would become very good at. Speed was the essence, to cash up everyday and get the till right to the penny. Processing credits and cheques was a big part of each day. Something that of course has changed masively over the years. Each member of staff would need to go on a cashier course for 2 weeks as there was so much to learn. Being a cashier and meeting the puplic daily would become rewarding and a great experience. I was to work in what was then 'my branch'as well as local branches too. When staff where off sick in my area I would be sent there to cover. This I was more than happy to do because I had my own car. I remember working in Brighton, Hove, Lewes, Portslade, Shoreham and Southwick. It was great to meet new people and make friendships with the teams and managers.