“When you like finance and working with clients, wealth management is the best place to be.” For Estelle, that combination has kept her motivated throughout nine years at Julius Baer. Based in Monaco, she joined the firm in 2017 as an Assistant Relationship Manager (RM) before moving into her current Account Manager role in 2023. 

Working with an international client base in one of Europe’s leading wealth management centres, she enjoys bringing together her passions for finance, communication, and languages. “My role allows me to combine what I love most. Every day is different, but every day revolves around interacting with clients, building relationships based on trust, and understanding what clients really need. That continues to fascinate me,” she says.

Estelle is part of a group of front office professionals who play a vital role behind the scenes of Julius Baer’s client relationships, working alongside RMs and specialists to deliver the exceptional service for which the bank is known. Diego in Berne, Switzerland, and Poppy in Guernsey are part of the same community of Assistant RMs and Account Managers – or A(R)Ms – which today represents around one in eight Julius Baer employees.

As part of their professional development, all three have completed the A(R)M Programme, one of Julius Baer’s largest in-house training and certification programmes, and part of the bank's commitment to investing in its people. It offers Assistant RMs like Diego and Poppy, and Account Managers like Estelle a tailored learning journey to build the skills needed to succeed in their roles.

A shared passion for client service

Diego completed the programme in March this year. It marked another milestone in a journey that, in many ways, started in childhood. Growing up in Switzerland, he developed an early fascination with numbers and financial markets, inspired in part by family members working in the industry. After completing a commercial apprenticeship, he started his career as a client advisor at a local bank in Berne. In 2024, he joined Julius Baer as an Assistant RM while also taking up business administration studies with a focus on banking and finance.

“I’ve wanted to work in banking since I was a child,” he says. “Joining Julius Baer has given me the opportunity to work for an internationally established bank alongside some of the best financial experts in the industry and learn how wealth management excellence is delivered.”

Diego supports two RMs and is involved in the day-to-day activities of client servicing. “I enjoy the combination of financial know-how and client relationships. One moment I might be working on documentation, and the next I have the chance to discuss market developments or attend a meeting with clients,” he explains. And away from work and studies? “After many years on the football pitch, these days you’ll often find me at the gym. That’s how I recharge.” 

Poppy arrived in banking by a different route, but with a similar appetite for learning and new challenges. After several years at a payroll and HR services company, she joined Julius Baer as an Assistant RM in 2023, and, soon after, entered the A(R)M Programme as part of her onboarding. In the Intermediaries business, which serves external asset managers and other professional financial intermediary clients, she quickly discovered a role that was both fast-paced and surprisingly varied. 

“I was drawn to the ARM role as a natural next step – the client focus and problem-solving skills I’d developed in my previous roles felt like a strong fit. What really sold me on Julius Baer was the culture. Everyone was welcoming and supportive, giving me the confidence to learn, ask questions, and try new things,” she notes, adding: “I’ve never come into work thinking it’s going to be a boring day. There’s always something different happening.” Born in Oxford and raised in Guernsey, she enjoys playing the trumpet in local bands and spending time by the sea.

Estelle credits a professor with sparking her interest in a career in banking while at university. “That’s when I discovered my passion for finance and its many facets, from policy and economics to history, culture, and human behaviour.” After completing her studies and an internship, she started at Julius Baer in Monaco, bringing a distinctly international perspective to her work, shaped by her Italian and Greek roots, and fluency in six languages. Music remains her other great passion, and she continues to perform on the flute with Monaco’s music academy.

Now an Account Manager, Estelle works closely with RMs, while taking on greater responsibility in client interactions than she did in her previous Assistant RM role. “As an Account Manager, you are closer to the clients and work more independently,” she explains. “You’re not only taking care of account administration and helping to prepare meetings and investment proposals, but you also contribute your own views. It’s very rewarding when clients trust your judgement.” 

Developing expertise in key markets

From Julius Baer’s home market of Switzerland to Monaco’s renowned wealth management hub, and Guernsey’s long-established international finance centre, Diego, Estelle, and Poppy support sophisticated clients in key markets.

For all three, the learning curve has been steep at times. Poppy joined the industry without a banking background and had to quickly build her knowledge in a new field. Diego highlights the challenge of balancing a multitude of priorities and managing expectations in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. They found that the A(R)M Programme provided a strong foundation for their development, helping them build valuable connections across the organisation and exchange ideas with peers facing similar challenges. The A(R)M Community further strengthened these relationships and created ongoing opportunities for members to learn from one another. “You feel supported and equipped with the expertise and skills you need to perform at your best,” Diego says.

Estelle points to the responsibility that comes with serving demanding international clients in a highly regulated industry, where attention to detail and sound judgement matter every day. “My role is about much more than administration. Clients come from different backgrounds and cultures, so you need to adapt constantly,” she observes. “At the same time, we are part of the first line of defence, so risk awareness and compliance are essential. You have to balance excellent service with strong professional discipline every day.”

Building on strong foundations

Looking ahead, all three would like to continue developing in front office and, over time, move closer to an RM role. With her experience, Estelle sees the Associate RM Programme, a multi-year structured pathway to an RM role, as a future milestone. For Diego, who shares this ambition, the immediate focus is on completing his bachelor’s degree and broadening his experience.

Poppy says: “The A(R)M Programme encouraged me to be proactive about my own development and made me think about how I can continue learning.” That mindset has already led her to pursue the CFA Investment Foundation Certificate.

While each of them prepares for the next stage of their careers, they also know there is no single blueprint for success – or as Estelle puts it: “What matters most is to keep an open mind, embrace new opportunities, and most of all deliver value to our clients.”