## Review: Product Manager, Cash & Cheque Services - An Opportunity for Strategic Impact This Product Manager role within Cash & Cheque Services presents a compelling opportunity for experienced professionals looking to drive tangible change within a leading financial institution. If you thrive on balancing customer needs with strategic business objectives and possess a strong analytical and operational skillset, this position warrants your close attention. ### Advantages for Candidates: * **Strategic Influence & Ownership:** You will be at the forefront of both tactical and strategic product enhancements, directly shaping the future of Cash & Cheque Services. The role emphasizes making key decisions throughout the product lifecycle and owning the associated outcomes, offering a significant degree of autonomy and impact. * **Cross-Functional Collaboration:** The position necessitates close collaboration with various teams and stakeholders across the bank. This provides an excellent platform to build a robust internal network and gain a comprehensive understanding of the organization's operations. * **Problem-Solving & Critical Thinking:** Managing customer complaints and escalations, coupled with the need to reassess priorities and address new issues, will hone your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. This is an ideal environment to develop resilience and agility. * **Comprehensive Product Lifecycle Management:** From initial strategy development and proposition design to market monitoring, launch planning, and performance evaluation, you will be involved in every stage of the product lifecycle. This offers a holistic experience that can significantly broaden your product management expertise. * **Leadership Potential:** Depending on the specific team structure, this role may offer leadership responsibilities, including guiding and coaching employees. This is a significant advantage for those aspiring to leadership roles in their career progression. * **Location Flexibility:** The role's availability in London, Manchester, or Northampton provides geographical flexibility, allowing candidates to choose a location that best suits their personal circumstances. ### Key Considerations for Candidates: * **Breadth of Experience Required:** The job description clearly outlines a comprehensive set of required skills, including existing product management, stakeholder management, risk & control management, and change management. Candidates should possess demonstrable experience in these core areas. * **Valued, but Not Always Essential, Skills:** While not always mandatory, a strong background in cash operations, data analysis, third-party stakeholder management, impact analysis, managing requirements and user stories, and proficiency with tools like Jira and NAPA will significantly strengthen your application. Identifying gaps in these areas and actively seeking to develop them can be a valuable career move. * **Strategic Acumen & Business Understanding:** Success in this role hinges on more than just technical product management skills. A deep understanding of financial drivers, commercial models, and the ability to develop customer-level strategies tailored to needs will be crucial. * **Risk Management & Control Focus:** Given the nature of financial services, a robust understanding and practical experience in risk and control management is paramount. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate their ability to identify, assess, and mitigate risks. * **Adaptability & Continuous Learning:** The financial landscape is constantly evolving. This role requires a proactive approach to monitoring market trends, embracing digital and technology advancements, and continuously learning to stay ahead. * **Barclays Values & Mindset:** Candidates will be expected to embody Barclays' core values of Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence, and Stewardship, as well as the Barclays Mindset of Empower, Challenge, and Drive. Aligning with these principles is essential for cultural fit. **In summary,** this Product Manager position offers a challenging yet rewarding environment for individuals eager to make a substantial impact on the Cash & Cheque Services domain. By understanding the advantages and carefully considering the key requirements, potential candidates can strategically position themselves for success in this exciting opportunity.