Protect client interests

Protect the interests and needs of a client by taking necessary actions, and researching all possibilities, to ensure that the client obtains their favoured outcome.

look after consumer interests
safeguard consumer interests
defend consumer interests
preserve consumer interests
defend client interests
safeguard client interests
preserve client interests
look after client interests

skill/competence

cross-sector

Protect client interests is an essential skill of the following occupations:

Relocation officer: Relocation officers help businesses and organisations with the move of employees. They plan the whole move. Relocation officers advise on real estate. They plan moving services and look after the general well-being of the employees and their family.
Foreclosure specialist: Foreclosure specialists revise documentation related to properties that are under foreclosure. They assist clients whose property has been reclaimed by banks due to non-payment of their mortgage by assessing the owner’s possibilities for saving the property.
Social security inspector: Social security inspectors investigate fraudulent activities in social security that affect workers’ rights. They audit and examine applications for benefits and investigate company actions based on employee complaints. Inspections include labour-related activities such as non-payment of wages or expenses. Social security inspectors ensure that employees are treated fairly and in accordance to laws. They record and make reports on their findings to ensure validity of the claims they are investigating.
Legal consultant: Legal consultants advise a varied array of clients ranging from business, individuals, up to legal firms. They provide legal advisory outside courtrooms in relation to legal affairs which depend on the nature of the client. They advise in matters such as merging of multinationals, housing purchase, modification of contracts and its implications. They help clients in general to abide by the regulations and avoid committing illegal acts.
Social security officer: Social security officers advise clients on social security benefits and ensure they claim the benefits they are eligible for, as well as providing advice on promotions and other available support services such as employment benefits. They aid clients in applications for benefits such as sickness, maternity, pensions, invalidity, unemployment and family benefits. They investigate the client’s right to benefits by reviewing their case and researching legislation and the claim, and suggest an appropriate course of action. Social security advisers also determine the aspects of a specific benefit.
Advertising manager: Advertising managers perform the implementation of the advertising initiatives planned in the strategic marketing plan. They organise and prepare the resources needed to launch advertising campaigns and operations in advertising agencies. They prepare and align the communication channels, negotiate contracts, and ensure that operations adhere to budgets.
Intellectual property consultant: Intellectual property consultants provide advice on the usage of intellectual property assests such as patents, copyrights, and trademarks. They help clients to value, in monetary terms, intellectual property portfolios, to follow adequate legal procedures for protecting of such property, and to perform patent brokerage activities.
Public housing manager: Public housing managers develop strategies for the improvement of housing policy in a community, as well as providing social housing to those in need. They identify housing needs and issues, and supervise resource allocation. They also communicate with organisations involved in building public housing facilities, and social service organisations.
Bank account manager: Bank account managers advise prospective clients on the type of banking accounts suitable for their needs. They work with clients to set up the bank account and remain their primary point of contact in the bank, assisting with all necessary documentation. Bank account managers may recommend their clients to contact other departments in the bank for other specific needs.
Financial trader: Financial traders buy and sell financial products such as assets, shares and bonds for private clients, banks or companies. They monitor the financial markets closely and aim to maximise profit and to minimise risk through their transactions.
Pensions administrator: Pensions administrators perform administrative duties in the management of pension schemes, ensuring the correct calculation of client’s pension benefits, compliance with legal requirements, drafting reports and communicating relevant information to customers. They work either in the private or the public sector.
Public relations manager: Public relations managers strive to convey and maintain a desired image or reputation of a company, individual, governmental institution, or organisation in general to the public and stakeholders at large. They use all sorts of media and events to promote the positive image of products, humanitarian causes or organisations. They attempt to ensure that all public communications portray clients the way they want to be perceived.
Court jury coordinator: Court jury coordinators aid lawyers in the preparation of the trial by researching jury members. They aid in the development of trial strategies, analyse the jury’s behaviour during a trial, and advise lawyers on proceedings. They also assist in preparing witnesses and constructing arguments.
Securities underwriter: Securities underwriters administer the distribution activities of new securities from a business company. They work in close connection with the issuing body of the securities in order to establish the price and buys and sells them to other investors. They receive underwriting fees from their issuing clients.
Stock broker: Stock brokers act on behalf of their individual or institutional clients in order to buy and sell stocks and other securities. They are in close contact with their clients and ensure that what they buy or sell through the stock exchange market is according to their clients’ wishes. Stock brokers undertake analyst research to make recommendations to their clients and expand their client base through various methods.
Lawyer: Lawyers provide legal advice to clients and act on their behalf in legal proceedings and in compliance with the law. They research for, interpret and study cases to represent their clients in a variety of settings such as courts and administrative boards. They create arguments on behalf of their clients for lawsuits in different contexts with the aim of finding a legal remedy.
Public affairs consultant: Public affairs consultants function as representatives for a client’s goal. They attempt to persuade legislative bodies and policy makers to implement laws or regulation in accordance with the client’s wishes, and negotiate with parties with potentially conflicting interests. They perform analytical and research duties in order to ensure that the client’s cause is being addressed in an appropriate way to the appropriate parties. They also consult their clients on their causes and policies.
Insurance broker: Insurance brokers promote, sell and provide advice on various insurance policies such as life insurance, health insurance, accident insurance and fire insurance to individuals and organisations. They also work as intermediaries between individuals or organisations and insurance companies, and negotiate the best insurance policies for their clients, arranging insurance cover where needed. Insurance brokers engage with new prospective clients, provide them with quotes for their policy needs, assist them in the signing of new insurance contracts and propose specific solutions to their specific problems.
Spokesperson: Spokespeople speak on behalf of companies or organisations. They use communication strategies to represent clients through public announcements and conferences. They promote their clients in a positive light and work to increase an understanding of their activities and interests.
Financial broker: Financial brokers undertake financial market activities on behalf of their clients. They monitor securities, financial documentation of their clients, market trends and conditions and other legal requirements. They plan buying and selling activities and calculate transactions costs.
Securities broker: Securities brokers create the connection between the investors and the available investment opportunities. They purchase and sell securities on their clients’ behalf, based on their expertise in the financial markets. They monitor the performance of their clients’ securities, assessing their stability or speculative tendencies. Securities brokers calculate the securities’ price and place orders.
Public relations officer: Public relations officers represent a company or organisation to stakeholders and the public. They use communications strategies to promote an understanding of the activities and image of their clients in a favourable way.
Consumer rights advisor: Consumer rights advisors aid consumers with complaints and provide advice and information on rights as a consumer after purchase of products or services. They monitor organisations to ensure compliance to consumer rights standards, and aid consumers in handling disputes.
Communication manager:
Communication managers, as spokespersons, the communications issued by the company for both the internal and the external clients. For internal clients, meaning the employees, communication managers ensure that communications reach each one of the employees and further questions can be answered. For external parties, they coordinate coherence among the messages transmitted in mails, printed materials, press articles, and corporate promotional materials. They strive to maintain truthful communications.
Corporate lawyer: Corporate lawyers provide legal consulting services and representation to corporations and organisations. They give advice on matters relating to taxes, legal rights and patents, international trade, trademarks, and legal financial issues arising from operating a business.

Protect client interests is optional for these occupations. This means knowing this skill may be an asset for career advancement if you are in one of these occupations.

Diplomat: Diplomats represent their home nation and government in international organisations. They negotiate with the organisation’s officials to ensure the home nation’s interests are protected, as well as facilitate productive and friendly communication between the home nation and the international organisation.
Financial planner: Financial planners assist people dealing with various personal financial issues. They are specialised in financial planning, such as retirement planning, investment planning, risk management and insurance planning, and tax planning. They advise a strategy tailored to the client’s needs. They ensure the accuracy of bank and other financial records while maintaining a customer-orientated approach and following ethical standards.
Public speaking coach: Public speaking coaches provide, often private, instruction to clients in theory and techniques on how to improve their public speaking skills. They identify each client’s strengths and weaknesses and tailor their instruction to their specific needs, which may include improving the client’s vocal delivery, articulation, presentation abilities and body language. Depending on the background of the client, be it business, education or otherwise, public speaking coaches also instruct clients or students in persuasive arguing, rhetorical delivery and other debating techniques.
Commodity broker:
Commodity brokers act as intermediary between buyers and sellers of movable and immovable property such as raw materials, livestock or real estate. They negotiate prices and receive a commission from the transactions. They research market conditions for specific commodities in order to inform their clients. They make bid offers and calculate the cost of transactions.
Bank teller: Bank tellers deal most frequently with customers of the bank. They promote the banks products and services, and provide information about the customers personal accounts and related transfers, deposits, savings etc. They order bank cards and checks for the customers, receive and balance cash and checks and ensure compliance with internal policies. They work on client accounts, deal with payments and manage the use of vaults and safe deposit boxes
Financial manager: Financial managers handle all the matters in reference to the finance and investments of a company. They manage financial operations of companies such as the assets, liabilities, equity and cash flow aiming to maintain the financial health of the company and operative viability. Financial managers evaluate the strategic plans of the company in financial terms, maintain transparent financial operations for taxation and auditing bodies, and create the financial statements of the company at the end of the fiscal year.
Mortgage broker: Mortgage brokers handle mortgage loan applications from clients, collect loan documentation and search for new mortgage lending opportunities. They complete and close mortgage loan processes for their clients.
Mediator:
Mediators resolve disputes between two parties by examining the case, interviewing both parties, and advising on a solution which would be the most beneficial for them. They listen to both parties in order to facilitate communication and find a fair agreement and organise meetings. They aim at resolving disputes through dialogue and alternative solution without having to take the case to litigation and courts. Mediators ensure that the resolution is compliant with legal regulations and is also enforced.
Personal trust officer: Personal trust officers monitor and administer personal trusts. They interpret trust and testamentary documentation accordingly, interact with financial advisors to define the investment goal for the achievement of trust objectives, coordinate the purchase and sale of securities with account executives and review clients’ accounts regularly.
Loan officer: Loan officers assess and authorise the approval of loan applications for individuals and businesses. They ensure complete transactions between loan organisations, borrowers, and sellers. Loan officers are specialists in consumer, mortgage, or commercial lending.
Real estate agent: Real estate agents administer the sales or letting process of residential, commercial properties or land on behalf of their clients. They investigate the property’s condition and assess its value in order to offer the best price to their clients. They negotiate, compose a sales contract or a rental contract and liaise with third parties in order to realize the stated objectives during transactions. They undertake research to determine the legality of a property sale before it is sold and make sure the transaction is not subject to any disputes or restrictions.
Shipbroker: Shipbrokers act as intermediaries between buyers and sellers of ships, cargospace on ships and charter ships for the transfer of cargo. They inform clients on the shipping market mechanisms and movements, report on vessel and cargospace prices and sales, and negotiate not only the cost of the vessels, cargospace or cargo but also the logistical requirements for the transfer of the vessel or commodity cargo to the buyers.
Prosecutor: Prosecutors represent governmental bodies and the general public in court cases against parties accused of illegal activity. They investigate the court cases by examining evidence, interviewing involved parties, and interpreting the law. They use the results of their investigation in order to present the case during court hearings, and to construct persuasive arguments in order to ensure the outcome is the most favourable for the parties they represent.
Social services manager: Social services managers have the responsibility for strategic and operational leadership and management of staff teams and resources within and or across social services. They are responsible for the implementation of legislation and policies relating to, for example, decisions about vulnerable people. They promote social work and social care values and ethics, equality and diversity, and relevant codes guiding practice. They are responsible for liaising with other professionals in criminal justice, education and health. They can be responsible for contributing to local and national policy development.
Student financial support coordinator: Student financial support coordinators assist students and education administrators in the management of tuition fees and student loans. They advise on and determine the amounts and the eligibility of student loans, advise students on available, suitable loans and liaise with outside loans sources, such as banks, to facilitate the student loan process. They make professional judgement decisions concerning students’ eligibility for financial aid and may set up counsel meetings including the student’s parents to discuss financial support issues and solutions.
Bankruptcy trustee: Bankruptcy trustees administer a client’s bankruptcy case, investigate legal documentation for fraud possibilities and manage the money received from the sale of non-exempt property so as to distribute it to the owed creditors.
Weights and measures inspector: Weights and measures inspectors ensure adherance to regulations and agreements pertaining to the weights and measures of packaged goods. They investigate and document compliance issues and violations to promote best practice. Weights and measures inspectors confirm that packaged goods are in accordance to agreements such as quantity, content and packaging.
Immigration adviser: Immigration advisers aid people seeking to move from one nation to another by advising them on immigration legislation, and assisting them in obtaining the necessary documentation to ensure the immigration process occurs in accordance with immigration laws.
Foreign exchange broker: Foreign exchange brokers buy and sell foreign currencies on behalf of their clients in order to secure a profit on fluctuations in foreign exchange rates. They undertake technical analysis of economic information such as market liquidity and volatility, to predict the future rates of currencies on the foreign exchange market.

References

1. Protect client interests – ESCO