2027 Management Development Program - Wilmington Advisors (Buffalo, NY)

Job description

Program Overview:

Serves as a member of the Management Development Program (MDP) and participates in ten weeks of Core Training and one year of On-the-Job training (OJT). Core Training responsibilities include participation in classroom training, observations of departmental presentations, interaction with senior management, peer networking, and working in teams on group project assignments. OJT responsibilities vary by department and are assigned by the department manager. The position may be responsible for additional projects assigned by the department manager or Leadership Development Manager.

Department Descriptions:

Wilmington Advisors provides investment, advisory, insurance, and financial planning support to help clients make informed financial decisions and plan for what matters most. This one-year, non-rotational development assignment is designed to build a pipeline of future Financial Advisors through structured onboarding, licensing support, practical experience, mentorship, leadership exposure, and readiness checkpoints. The trainee will work with Financial Advisors, program leaders, product partners, and operations teams while learning M&T, Wilmington Advisors, and LPL systems, policies, and client service expectations.

Department Responsibilities:

This MDP position will use the established Financial Advisor Development Program curriculum and readiness model while participating in the broader MDP experience.

• Participate in and complete the one-year Management Development Program while adding value within Wilmington Advisors and completing the Financial Advisor Development curriculum.
• Complete required FINRA and resident-state insurance licenses within the program timeframe, including Series 7, Series 66, and Life, Accident & Health licensing.
• Participate in classroom, web-based, and on-the-job training covering financial planning, investment and insurance solutions, relationship management, systems, risk, compliance, communication, and leadership.
• Develop proficiency in required bank, LPL, CRM, financial planning, and workflow systems; maintain accurate documentation and complete assigned responsibilities on time.
• Observe and support advisor-led client interactions in accordance with licensing, registration, role permissions, and supervision requirements.
• Prepare for advisor-led client meetings by developing materials, account summaries, agendas, and follow-up items; document meeting notes and track assigned follow-ups through completion.
• Support routine account servicing and operational activities, including account maintenance, transfers, money movement, beneficiary updates, RMD tracking, client documentation, and scheduling, as permitted by licensing, registration, role permissions, and supervision requirements.
• Participate in regular coaching, mentoring, product-partner education, branch or virtual-advisor shadowing, leadership sessions, and peer networking.
• Complete assigned follow-up activities, including readings, self-paced modules, and group-based learning sessions.
• Collaborate with the development-program cohort on a capstone or special project and present recommendations to program or business leaders.
• Demonstrate client-facing professionalism, sound judgment, coachability, time management, and adherence to M&T and LPL risk, regulatory, privacy, and escalation standards.
• Participate in periodic readiness reviews focused on licensing progress, training completion, systems proficiency, client readiness, compliance, and professional ownership.
• Complete other related duties as assigned.

HOW YOU CAN GROW YOUR CAREER:

This role is designed to help you build a strong foundation for a long-term career in financial advice. During the one-year program, you’ll partner with experienced advisors, receive structured coaching and feedback, gain exposure to Wealth leadership and business partners, and develop practical skills through licensing, training, client-support work, and cohort-based learning. Upon successful completion, participants may be considered for an Associate Financial Advisor, Financial Consultant, or comparable next-step role based on demonstrated readiness, role requirements, and business need.

Basic Department Qualifications:

• Ability to work collaboratively, manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and respond constructively to feedback.
• Ability and willingness to complete required securities and insurance licensing within the program timeframe.
• Demonstrated analytical, presentation, teamwork, relationship-building, and problem-solving skills.
• Curiosity, coachability, sound judgment, attention to detail, and a clear interest in building a long-term Financial Advisor career.
• Comfort learning new technology and applying policies, procedures, and controls in a regulated environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree or coursework in financial planning, finance, business, economics, or a related discipline; candidates from other disciplines will also be considered.
• FINRA Securities Industry Essentials (SIE)
• Internship, campus leadership, customer service, banking, sales, financial services, or other client relationship experience.

Primary Program Responsibilities:

• Participate in and complete a one-year long, non-rotational training program while creating and adding value to assigned department. Receive job specific training, general training in banking, communication and leadership, and personalized coaching and feedback. Performance measures may include several objective test scores, peer and sponsor feedback from group projects, facilitator feedback, Leadership Development Manager-MDP feedback, Department Manager feedback, final assessment score, and year-end performance appraisal from Department Manager.
• Core Training - Participate in training throughout the one-year assignment to learn banking, basic financial skills, technical skills, and leadership/interpersonal skills. Develop a solid understanding of banking functions, processes, and operations.
• Group Projects - Participate in group project assignments, working with a team of their peers to build relationships within their teams as well as with project sponsors, internal and external contacts, and senior management. Teams make a presentation to senior management at the conclusion of each project providing recommendations and potential project solutions.
• On-the-Job Training - The fundamental skills taught in core training are combined with On-the-Job training based on the incumbent's assignment. Job specific training teaches departmental policies, procedures, systems, and products. Upon completion of MDP, all incumbents attain basic skills necessary to contribute as individual contributors and/or managers in their assigned department.
• Complete tasks in a manner that are compliant with applicable laws and regulations and/or that serve to help the Company be in compliance with laws and regulations that apply to the business line the position supports.
• Understand and adhere to the Company's risk and regulatory standards, policies and controls in accordance with the Company's Risk Appetite.
• Identify risk-related issues needing escalation to management.
• Promote an environment that supports belonging and reflects the M&T Bank brand.
• Maintain M&T internal control standards, including timely implementation of internal and external audit points together with any issues raised by external regulators as applicable.
• Complete other related duties as assigned.

Scope of Program Responsibilities:

The Management Development Program is a non-rotational, one-year training program for recent college graduates where participants learn about sales, accounting, project management and leadership skills depending upon their career track.  Various methods of training include classroom study, divisional orientations, and teamwork on group projects.  These fundamentals are coupled with on-the-job training to allow for immediate application in the area for which the participant has been hired.

Supervisory/ Managerial Responsibilities:

Not Applicable.

Education and Experience Required:

• Bachelor's Degree candidate at a school where M&T Bank recruits MDPs (or an MBA student with no work experience).
• Outstanding academic credentials (GPA of 3.0 or better).
• Up to 1 years' work experience.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated analytical skills.
• Demonstrated computer skills.
• Demonstrated presentation skills.
• Demonstrated leadership abilities.
• Work/internship experience.
• Work Visa Sponsorship not offered for this role

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