Business Relationship Managers: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of business relationship managers about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for business relationship managers to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of business relationship managers expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for business relationship managers.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Business Relationship Managers?
Do business relationship managers need a degree? What kind of experience do business relationship managers typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for business relationship managers to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Business Relationship Managers
Jobs Postings for Business Relationship Managers By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 8,639 (55%)
- No Education Listed: 2,907 (18%)
- High School or GED: 2,479 (16%)
- Master's degree: 1,497 (10%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 226 (1%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of business relationship managers. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 55% of positions. In 18% of job listings no education level was listed and in 16% of postings a High School diploma or GED was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Business Relationship Managers
Jobs Postings for Business Relationship Managers By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 1,213 (14%)
- 2-3 Years: 3,135 (37%)
- 4-6 Years: 2,623 (31%)
- 7-9 Years: 806 (10%)
- 10+ Years: 683 (8%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for business relationship managers. In 37% of job postings for Business Relationship Managers, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 31% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience, while 0-1 years of experience was sought in 14% of job postings for business relationship managers.
What Kind of Degree Do Business Relationship Managers Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for business relationship managers, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 8 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective business relationship managers, and in 2023 a total of 118,427 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective business relationship managers.
Top Degree Programs for Business Relationship Managers
Top 5 Degree Programs for Business Relationship Managers (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Accounting. | 61,109 |
| Finance, General. | 50,779 |
| Accounting and Finance. | 3,492 |
| Accounting and Business/Management. | 1,214 |
| Banking and Financial Support Services. | 1,034 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Accounting. | 61,109 |
| Finance, General. | 50,779 |
| Accounting and Finance. | 3,492 |
| Accounting and Business/Management. | 1,214 |
| Banking and Financial Support Services. | 1,034 |
| Accounting and Related Services, Other. | 795 |
| Credit Management. | 2 |
| Financial Risk Management. | 2 |
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for Business Relationship Managers
Develop the foundational financial skills needed to keep business running successfully, including financial reporting and analysis, managerial accounting, and federal taxes, so you can start your career as an accounting technician, tax preparer, payroll assistant and more.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Turn a head for numbers into a career as a financial associate or analyst, and help businesses turn financial data into actionable insights that can maximize investments, improve cash flow, and impact decisionmaking.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Enter into or advance within the rapidly growing accounting industry and prepare for professional certifications like the CPA.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Accreditation: IACBE
Build in-demand skills in programming, data management and cloud computing with Franklin’s online data science bachelor’s degree.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Master finance principles and develop all-inclusive corporate finance strategies for business firms and financial institutions.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Accreditation: IACBE
Distinguish yourself as a knowledgeable accounting professional with advanced technical, research, and communication skills.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 17
- Accreditation: IACBE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Skills Do Business Relationship Managers Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by business relationship managers to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for business relationship managers, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Business Relationship Managers
Based on 13,840 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Business Relationship Managers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Finance | 5,682 | 41% |
| Accounting | 5,462 | 39% |
| Loans | 4,833 | 35% |
| Financial Statements | 3,714 | 27% |
| Underwriting | 3,493 | 25% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Business Relationship Managers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 6,217 | 45% |
| Management | 5,807 | 42% |
| Customer Service | 4,372 | 32% |
| Sales | 4,362 | 32% |
| Collections | 4,082 | 29% |
Based on 13,840 job postings related to business relationship managers, finance was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 41% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for accounting, loans, financial statements, underwriting and credit risk were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for business relationship managers, followed by management, customer service, sales, collections and operations.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Finance | 5,682 | 41% |
| Accounting | 5,462 | 39% |
| Loans | 4,833 | 35% |
| Financial Statements | 3,714 | 27% |
| Underwriting | 3,493 | 25% |
| Credit Risk | 3,015 | 22% |
| Financial Analysis | 3,014 | 22% |
| Credit Management | 2,973 | 21% |
| Credit Analysis | 2,720 | 20% |
| Accounts Receivable | 1,974 | 14% |
| Commercial Lending | 1,939 | 14% |
| Auditing | 1,672 | 12% |
| Economics | 1,569 | 11% |
| Portfolio Management | 1,557 | 11% |
| Risk Management | 1,533 | 11% |
| Credit Reports | 1,447 | 10% |
| Risk Analysis | 1,255 | 9% |
| Merchandising | 1,238 | 9% |
| Financial Services | 1,144 | 8% |
| Commercial Banking | 1,115 | 8% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 6,217 | 45% |
| Management | 5,807 | 42% |
| Customer Service | 4,372 | 32% |
| Sales | 4,362 | 32% |
| Collections | 4,082 | 29% |
| Operations | 3,110 | 22% |
| Detail Oriented | 2,974 | 21% |
| Writing | 2,960 | 21% |
| Microsoft Excel | 2,910 | 21% |
| Problem Solving | 2,477 | 18% |
| Research | 2,310 | 17% |
| Microsoft Office | 2,241 | 16% |
| Leadership | 2,143 | 15% |
| Analytical Skills | 1,989 | 14% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 1,827 | 13% |
| Presentations | 1,812 | 13% |
| Time Management | 1,513 | 11% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 1,480 | 11% |
| Organizational Skills | 1,383 | 10% |
| Self-Motivation | 1,378 | 10% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about business relationship managers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for business relationship managers.
What do business relationship managers do?
How much do business relationship managers make?
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