A head teller job description calls for an individual who is not only experienced with performing all of the duties of an exceptional bank teller, but also one who is able to manage and supervise an entire team of tellers. These individuals may also be assigned additional responsibilities depending on their employers.
Position Description
The head teller oversees all of the other tellers in a bank, ensures that they are doing their jobs properly, and schedules tellers to cover the bank’s needs.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities of a Head Teller
- Maintains a cash drawer; balances and audits the cash drawer according to policy and schedule.
- Supervises other bank tellers and their cash drawers.
- Searches for the cause of an overage or shortage when a teller’s drawer does not balance correctly.
- Motivates the other bank tellers to remain friendly and professional at all times.
- Trains new tellers in bank practice and procedure.
- Handles upset or irate customers.
- Provides access to the vault and safety deposit boxes.
- Replenishes and troubleshoots ATM machines.
- Carries money to the vault and audits the vault regularly with the help of a second employee.
- Relays information to bank officials; may create reports at the end of each shift for reference.
Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Demonstrates at least some supervisory skill and the ability to manage others fairly.
- Possesses the ability to motivate other tellers when they are not meeting goals.
- Shows the ability to remain professional at all times and put on a smiling face for customers.
- Demonstrates the ability to operate and handle ATM machines, cash and cash drawers.
- Shows responsibility and initiative by reporting for duty on time during each scheduled shift.
- Has the ability to communicate well with other tellers, bank associates, sales teams, customers and others.
Education and Experience
While there is no formal training required to become a head teller other than a high school diploma or a GED, some employers prefer to only hire head tellers—or promote tellers to this position—who have completed a certificate program and earned a certification. Most banks and institutions train their head tellers on the job. Other than this, individuals who have earned Bachelor’s degrees in fields such as finance or business will have the best job opportunities and coursework in banking or management are helpful, as well.
Work Environment
Head tellers work in climatecontrolled banks during traditional nine-to-five workweeks. In some cases, they may be required to work on weekends or holidays, but this varies depending upon the employer. Although there is very little in the way of physical demand with this position, head tellers must often handle some mental stress when dealing with upset customers. They often spend much of their workdays on computers, and minimal travel may be required for things such as conferences or meetings.
Salary
The average head teller salary in the United States is about $33,000 per year. However, it is important to consider that the size of the business for which the individual works will impact the amount of money he or she can earn. As an example, if he or she works in a small credit union, the salary will likely be lower than if he or she works in a large bank in a metropolitan area.
