TARGETjobs City and Finance 2014

City & Finance
targetjobsfinance.co.uk
2014
Edition 19
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City & Finance 2014 | 1
TARGETjobs City & Finance has been helping graduates find their first jobs in
finance since 1995. Despite the economic turbulence of recent years, this fast-
moving and dynamic sector is still a great place for graduates to start their
careers in banking and investment, accountancy and financial management,
and financial services. The competition is tough, however, which is why were
here to help you show recruiters youve got what it takes.
How can you make sure your application stands out from the crowd?
Learn how on pages 1328.
What are the five top skills finance recruiters are looking for in candidates?
Find out on page 14.
What are the three basic themes of job interviews? Discover these on page 24.
What happens at an assessment centre? On pages 2628 we outline what
you can expect.
Reading about the working lives of graduates in finance and how they got
hired is invaluable when it comes to your own job search youll find
graduate profiles throughout this publication.
Showing recruiters that you understand the sector in which youre applying for
a job is also essential in getting hired. TARGETjobs City & Finance offers you
overviews of different finance sectors and the skills required to be successful
in them. And theres plenty more to help you start your career including what
salary you can expect to earn both in this publication and online at
targetjobsfinance.co.uk.
Jacky, Editor
TARGETjobs City & Finance
@TjobsFinance
From the Editor how to get hired
@TjobsFinance
2014 edition
Sign up for specialist jobs and advice at 2 | City & Finance 2014
INTRODUCING
CITY & FINANCE
Employers index ..........................................4
Contributors index........................................5
Welcome to the City ......................................6
Sector snapshots ..........................................8
Getting an internship and
making it work for your career ..............10
HOW TO GET HIRED
Find a job in three steps ............................13
The top five skills finance recruiters
are looking for ..........................................14
Savvy employer research pays off ..........17
First impressions count:
apply with style........................................20
Well crafted CVs and covering letters ......23
Interviews 101: master the basics ..........24
12 ways to ace assessment centres ......26
BANKING & INVESTMENT
Section contents ........................................29
In a nutshell ................................................30
Which banking employer
will suit you best? ..................................32
How to beat the competition ....................34
Which area of work?
Overview and graduate profiles ................37
Inter-dealer broking ................................39
Investment banking................................40
Investment management ......................42
Islamic finance ........................................44
Operations ................................................45
Private banking........................................46
Risk management....................................47
Sales, trading and research....................48
Technology ..............................................50
All about initial training
and development ....................................52
City & Finance from every angle...
in
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id
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tc
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As well as this top-rated publication we use a range of media to publish the latest jobs, student comments and application and interview tips on specific employers.
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more
ACCOUNTANCY & FINANCIAL
MANAGEMENT
In a nutshell ................................................57
Choosing your accountancy employer ....58
Lets talk about money ..............................60
Which area of work?
Overviews and graduate profiles ..............63
Assurance ................................................64
Commercial finance ................................66
Corporate finance ....................................68
Corporate recovery..................................70
Corporate treasury ..................................71
Financial accounting ..............................73
Forensic accounting ................................74
Internal audit ............................................76
Management accounting ........................78
Risk assessment ....................................79
Tax..............................................................80
Qualify as a professional accountant ......82
Professional bodies: a snapshot ..............83
m
o
b
ile
FINANCIAL SERVICES
In a nutshell ................................................88
Which employer should you choose?......90
People skills: at the heart of
actuarial work............................................92
Which area of work?
Overviews and graduate profiles..............95
Actuarial work ..........................................96
Insurance ................................................98
Regulation and compliance..................101
Retail banking ........................................102
Risk management ................................104
Professional qualifications
and development ..................................106
Professional bodies: a snapshot ............108
CITY ALTERNATIVES
In a nutshell ..............................................111
Banking and finance law..........................112
Economic and finance consulting ..........113
Management consulting ..........................114
POSTGRADUATE STUDY
Further study in finance:
is it right for you? ..................................116
All about funding ......................................121
EMPLOYERS
AZ of employers
Banking and investment..........................125
Accountancy & financial management..143
Financial services ....................................156
City alternatives........................................170
Jobfinder tables
Banking and investment..........................172
Accountancy & financial management..172
Financial services ....................................174
City alternatives ........................................174
Graduate recruiters:
whos most popular? ............................176
Editor Jacky Barrett
Editorial assistant Harriet Allen
Designer Nick Winchester
Proofreader Kath Pilgrem
Advertising Jonathan Nicholl, sales
product champion; the TARGETjobs sales
team; the TARGETjobs campaign
management team
Circulation Patty Shufflebotham
Series editor Liz Adams
Series designer Jane Anderson
Commercial director Jon Mallott
Sales director Simon Rogers
Marketing director Chloe Burgess
Production director Jane Anderson
Publisher Matt Dacey
Group chief executive officer
Graham Storey
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GTI would like to thank everyone who has
taken the time to contribute to, or find
contributors for, TARGETjobs City &
Finance. We would also like to thank
all those who supplied advice and
photographs.
GTI Media works in
association with AGCAS
to provide top quality
careers advice to
university students.
GTI Media Ltd, September 2013
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INTRODUCING CITY & FINANCE
Banking and investment
Baillie Gifford............................................................................126
Bank of America Merrill Lynch ..............................................127
Barclays Investment Banking ......................................OBC, 128
Bloomberg................................................................................129
Fidelity Worldwide Investment..............................................130
Goldman Sachs International ................................................131
HSBC..........................................................................................132
ICAP ..........................................................................................133
Lazard ......................................................................................134
LCH.Clearnet ............................................................................134
M&G Investments ..................................................................135
Macquarie Group......................................................................136
Mitsubishi UFJ Securities........................................................137
Morgan Stanley........................................................................138
Nomura ....................................................................................139
RBC Capital Markets................................................................140
Socit Gnrale ..............................................................16, 141
Accountancy and financial management
ACCA..........................................................................................144
Akzonobel ................................................................................145
BG Group ..................................................................................146
H W Fisher & Company ..........................................................147
ICAEW..........................................................................IFC, 56, 148
ICAS ..........................................................................................149
Kerry Group ......................................................................62, 150
National Grid ............................................................................151
PwC ....................................................................................54, 152
RSM Tenon................................................................................153
Smith & Williamson ................................................................154
UHY Hacker Young ..................................................................155
Financial services
American Express....................................................................157
Aon............................................................................................158
Capital One ..............................................................................159
Catlin Insurance Company..............................................86, 160
CII ..............................................................................................161
Institute and Faculty of Actuaries ..................................94, 162
Lane Clark & Peacock LLP......................................................163
Mercer ......................................................................................164
Oliver Wyman ..........................................................................165
SEO London..............................................................................166
Swiss Re ............................................................................22, 167
Thomson Reuters ....................................................................168
Willis..........................................................................................169
City alternatives
FTI Consulting..................................................................115, 171
Teach First........................................................................110, 170
Birkbeck, University of London ............................................122
BPP Professional Education ....................................................IBC
Regents University London ..................................................122
Key
IFC = inside front cover, IBC = inside back cover, OBC = outside back cover.
targetjobsfinance.co.uk City & Finance 2014 | 5
Aon, Antonia Colburn ................................................................................................100
BDO LLP, Tom Palmer ..................................................................................................69
CIMA, Andrew Harding ................................................................................................12
Deloitte & Touche Public Sector Internal Audit Limited, Josephine White ........77
EY, Emma Browne ......................................................................................................75
Fidelity Worldwide Investment, Caroline Ader........................................................43
Financial Skills Partnership, Sarah Thwaites ......................................................106
FTI Consulting, Zephan Trent ....................................................................................25
Goldman Sachs, Andreas Hellstrand........................................................................46
ICAP, Edward Fremlin-Key..........................................................................................39
ICAS, Melissa Munro ....................................................................................................57
The Institute and Faculty of Actuaries, Trevor Watkins ......................................106
KPMG, Marcus Richards ..............................................................................................66
Lane Clark & Peacock, Hannah Gillinson, Rachel Walton................................92, 97
LCH.Clearnet, Anne Charvonia, Remi Raisys ....................................................11, 51
Lloyds TSB, Chris Watkinson ..................................................................................103
Macquarie Capital, Jae Park ......................................................................................41
Mercer, Giovanna Miceli..............................................................................................92
Mitsubishi UFJ Securities International plc, Gem Williams..................................47
Morgan Stanley, Christina Lynch..............................................................................45
Motor Insurers Bureau, Fiona Salusbury..............................................................101
National Grid, Richard Foster ....................................................................................73
Nomura International plc, Simon Taillefer ..............................................................49
PwC, Alina, Hannah ..............................................................................................70, 65
Smith & Williamson LLP, Charlotte Smith ................................................................81
Swiss Re, Liselotte Wallquist ..................................................................................104
Unilever UK, Julia Nocker ..........................................................................................78
Warner Music Group, Sophie Boyle ..........................................................................71
Dont forget to check out our Twitter feed @TjobsFinance for the latest
accounting, banking and financial services advice, jobs and news.
A
re you fascinated by
financial markets,
driven by the desire
to invest in stocks,
motivated by
managing finances and gaining a
professional qualification, or
excited about excellent customer
service? You may be intrigued by
the idea of working in finance and
want to know more or you may
already have your career mapped out.
In either case, read on: the finance sector is
huge and offers a wide range of work so theres
bound to be something for you.
The people behind the money
At its heart, the financial sector revolves around money.
You could be involved in investing it, borrowing it,
raising it, insuring it, managing it or countless other
possibilities. Yet once you get past the pound signs,
youll discover that finance is also very much about
people individual customers, corporate clients,
investors, shareholders and colleagues.
The places
Traditionally many financial institutions were situated in
a district of one square mile inside the ancient city walls
of London. The City became a quick and easy way to
describe the geographical area and what went on there.
But in reality you dont have to work in the City to
work in finance; there are opportunities throughout the
UK and around the world.
Working to tight deadlines
can be a challenge, but it
creates a fast-paced, exciting
environment to work in.
Remi Raisys, software developer, LCH. Clearnet.
Read Remis full profile on page 51.
I like the really busy
times of year when
Im running around trying
to get everything done and
theres a real buzz in the
market.
Antonia Colburn, insurance broker, Aon
Aviation, Aon. Read Antonias full profile
on page 100.
Launch your career in three simple steps. Learn how to
prepare, apply and impress (page 13).
Find out about internships: why work experience is so
important in finance, how to apply and what you could expect
as an intern (page 10).
Focus on expert advice for the area of finance that youre
most interested in, whether thats banking and investment
(page 29), accountancy and financial management (page 55)
or financial services (page 87).
Explore the finance sector to decide where to work and see
how the different parts of the financial world work together.
Learn more about specific areas such as banking and
investment (page 29), accountancy and financial
management (page 55) and financial services (page 87):
in each section, graduates describe their working lives.
Discover City alternatives sectors such as banking and
finance law, economics consulting and management
consulting are linked more or less directly to the investment
business (page 111).
Consider postgraduate study, which could give you the edge
when applying for finance jobs or help you launch a career in
academia (page 116).
The rewards
This fast-moving and dynamic sector is based around the
global financial markets. Financial products (from types of
insurance to complex financial instruments traded on the
stock exchange) evolve constantly to meet new demand
and the people working in finance make this happen.
As a recent graduate you can expect challenging work
and early responsibility: people working in finance often
mention how much they enjoy and appreciate this.
Starting salaries are very appealing too, ranging from
24,500 to over 38,000 for the most lucrative graduate
jobs, which tend to be in the banking and investment
sector. In many areas graduates are supported to work
towards gaining professional qualifications
that are recognised internationally.
Its exciting to
work on headline
clients or projects
before audit results are
released to the public.
Hannah, senior associate,
London Top Tier Assurance, PwC.
Read Hannahs full profile on
page 65.
Discover the main
areas within finance
and think about where
your skills, talents and
interests would fit best
before applying for
graduate jobs.
The banking and investment sector makes
money work as hard as possible. Its borrowed,
loaned and invested constantly the financial
markets are open 24 hours a day, straddling
different time zones. London is key because its
working day bridges that of the US and the Far
East.
The employers: large global investment banks
offering a full range of services, specialist
finance houses (smaller organisations that may
specialise in a particular type of work), financial
services organisations and investment
management firms.
The clients: these businesses generally provide
high-level financial services to other companies
corporate or institutional clients. This can
include advice on mergers and acquisitions,
capital raising, trading and asset management.
Other crucial functions (such as technology and
operations) work within the business to support
these services.
The perks: fast-paced and challenging work,
early responsibility, high salaries in many areas,
a global work environment.
Every business, whatever its size, needs an expert
to manage its finances and ensure all the figures
add up. Managing cash flow and monitoring profit
and loss are key areas of work and somebody
will also have to supply the crucial financial
information that can influence the strategic
development of an organisation.
The employers: large multinational organisations
providing a huge range of professional services and
smaller firms specialising in a particular area. You
could also work in commerce and industry or for
the public sector.
The clients: if you work for an accountancy or
professional services firm, the clients will be other
businesses seeking advice and expertise. Working
within industry, you would provide an internal
service to your employer. And finally, in the public
sector, you could work for the public good and
ensure that taxpayers money is managed properly.
The perks: work thats at the heart of how
businesses are run and the chance to gain an
internationally recognised professional
qualification
Most individuals need day-to-day financial
management products, such as bank accounts,
loans, pensions, credit cards and insurance and
some of these are also needed by companies.
Related areas such as reinsurance and underwriting
also make up an important part of this sector,
while financial regulators ensure a safe and fair
service for all.
The employers: large financial services providers
offering services such as retail banking; insurance
or reinsurance companies; regulatory bodies;
companies specialising in other areas that have
diversified into financial services
(eg supermarkets); firms offering services such as
actuarial consulting or underwriting.
The clients: large financial service providers serve
individual customers and small businesses,
providing a range of day-to-day financial services.
Some types of organisation (eg those offering
specialist services) offer advice or financial services
to other corporate clients.
The perks: an expanding sector with a focus on
customer service, where you could gain
management responsibility early on and still have a
healthy work/life balance.
I completed an
eight-week
internship
with LCP
before my
final year
at university.
This was a great experience and
further confirmed that becoming an
actuary was the right choice for me.
Rachel Walton, pensions analyst, Lane Clark & Peacock LLP.
Read Rachels full profile on page 97.
F
or many students, an internship is a first
foray into the world of work. Its an
opportunity to get to know the sector,
make contacts and see whether an
employer or a type of work is a good fit.
What is an internship?
Internships offer a structured introduction to working
life in the sector and the organisation. Most finance
internships are aimed at students in their penultimate year
of study and run for eight to ten weeks during the summer,
but some organisations also offer shorter taster
programmes or longer industrial placements. As an intern,
you should be treated as a member of the team and given
meaningful work to do. Interns are usually offered an initial
training programme but youll also be expected to
participate rather than observe from day one. You are likely
to be given a small project to work on, for example yield
curve analysis, some IT testing or researching a market.
Whats in it for me?
You will get to test your skills in live situations, explore
your career options and gain an insight into the
organisation. Its an unrivalled opportunity to find out
about different areas of the business and to network with
other professionals and like-minded ambitious students. An
internship is not a ticket to a job but it can raise your
chances significantly: its not unusual for employers in the
finance sector to take on 6090 per cent of their interns
permanently. On the other hand, you might find that the
area of work or the organisation isnt right for you its
much better to discover this during an internship than after
youve graduated and accepted a permanent offer.
Internships can help you to stand out
from the crowd, gain experience and
make contacts heres how to get started.
Getting an internship
and making it work
for your career
How do I find the right internship?
You will usually be expected to apply for a particular
business area so its important to spend time exploring the
different divisions and career opportunities that exist
within a firm before submitting your application.
Attending company presentations, speaking to students
who have completed internships and reading
organisations websites will help you gain an
understanding of the business areas and also give you a
feel for the culture of the organisation.
How do I prepare for applications and
interviews?
Apply early! The application deadline for most internships
is at the end of January. Many focused students will apply
long before the deadline, so consider doing the same if
you leave it too late, recruiters may already have offered the
internships to strong candidates who applied earlier than
you.
Think carefully about your skills and how they might be
relevant to the role youre applying for. If you havent got
any work experience, think about the skills you have picked
up in other ways, for example during extra-curricular
activities there will definitely be some. Recruiters like to
see applicants who have done their research and can explain
why they are interested in a career in this sector.
Agreeing your
personal objectives
with your manager
right at the start will help
you get something
measurable out of the
experience. Be part of
the team during your
time there, network and
show how eager you are to
learn. At the end, get feedback, ask them to
be a referee and crucially find out about
the next steps in the application process for
the graduate programme.
Anne Charvonia, graduate development specialist, LCH.Clearnet.
While internships are a fantastic way for people to gain
entry to a career and build up experience, they are certainly
not the only way in which to start a career, says CIMA
managing director, Andrew Harding. There are lots of
opportunities for bright students with passion and talent.
Many companies offer work experience that isnt part of
an official internships programme. Contact companies, and
people that you know working in the area that you want to
enter, to look for opportunities.
There are also ways to build up experience while you are a
student. Many universities have clubs and societies in
professional areas and some employers and professional
bodies run competitions that allow you to build up your
skills. CIMA, for instance, runs the annual Global Business
Challenge, an international business management
competition that enables you to test the depth of your
financial knowledge and expand your business acumen.
Despite gloomy predictions, many firms offer entry level
positions and will be prepared to train employees in the role.
Think about all the skills you have built up through work
experience, studies and extracurricular activities that could
be of use to a prospective employer.
Recruiters will routinely ask questions about the job role
and about the area of finance that the company operates in,
so be prepared for questions such as What do you think you
would do as an analyst for a trader? or What do you think
you are going to do in the first year? They are looking for a
realistic understanding of whats involved in the role you are
applying for and for your answers to suggest what strengths
and attributes you have to equip you for the role. Make sure
you keep up to date with whats going on in the world by
reading the business press and not just on the day of your
interview. Theres no point in saying Im passionate about
markets and then not being able to answer a question such
as Where did the FTSE finish yesterday?
How can I make the most of the experience?
To start with, recognise that youll be working in a
professional environment: make sure youre on time and
dressed appropriately. Then let your enthusiasm shine
through and really get involved a can do attitude can
really help you stand out.
STEP 1 PREPARE
Make time for employer research
break it down into manageable
activities: draw up a list of employers,
compare them, make a shortlist and
research them in more depth.
Use a range of research sources
TARGETjobs City & Finance, targetjobs
finance.co.uk, the TARGETjobs Employer
Insights (targetjobs.co.uk/employer-
insights), employer websites, your
careers service, national newspapers,
industry websites and any networking
events organised by your university.
Find out what employers want
check the minimum degree, acceptable
subjects, competences and skills.
Check the application process and
relevant closing dates.
3
3
3
3
STEP 2 APPLY
Plan ahead give yourself plenty
of time.
Tailor your application to the employer
match your skills and competences to
each job and organisation you
apply to.
Prepare longer responses in a separate
document this enables you to
structure them and check the spelling
more easily.
Use a range of examples highlight
your abilities with examples from work
experience, extra-curricular activities and
academic life.
Check your applications carefully
poor spelling and grammar will
jeopardise your chances of success.
3
3
3
3
3
STEP 3 IMPRESS
Find out the process before your
interview or assessment centre,
read all the information sent to you by
the employer.
Reread your application and the job
description use these to anticipate
questions and prepare fresh examples
you can use to demonstrate your skills
and competencies.
Participate fully in all activities
at assessment centres you can only
be assessed if you take part.
Prepare questions to ask write a list.
Be enthusiastic be ready to tell the
interviewer why you want to work for
their organisation and what you can
bring to the job.
3
3
3
3
3
PAGE
17
PAGE
20
PAGE
24
Use our application checklist and the
advice on the following 15 pages to land
your first graduate job in finance.
HOW TO GET HIRED
Read about an individual employers requirements
at targetjobs.co.uk/employer-hubs.
HOW TO GET HIRED
The top five skills
finance recruiters
are looking for
After 19 years of talking with
employers, TARGETjobs feels
confident to bring you the
top skills finance recruiters
look for in graduates.
STEP 1 PREPARE
1.
Finance graduates need to be able to grasp new concepts
quickly whether it is assimilating new information or
data, managing a project, or meeting a new client. If
something is new to you, you need to be able to ask the
right questions and follow the right leads during research.
Your intellectual skills will not be judged by your academic
grades alone: recruiters like to see that you can apply your
knowledge to practical situations. Show you really know
what the job entails. Recruiters dont expect in-depth
knowledge, but a good grasp of the basics (hint: read the
areas of work overviews in this publication!) will help you
and impress them.
2.
Recruiters are on the hunt for freethinkers with fresh ideas
who are going to make an impact. Do you have the ability
to create or identify new opportunities to develop the
business? Many firms use processes that have lasted for
years but are frequently tweaked to create improvements.
Have you done something similar? For example, if your
student society was planning on promoting itself via a stall
at a student fair and you suggested giving out some freebies
to attract people to the stand, then went about sourcing
suitable items, you would have provided a basic innovation
to improve society membership and increase awareness
among students.
HOW TO GET HIRED
3.
In the finance sector you need to convey complex
information in a professional and jargon-free manner, so
learning to tailor your communication style is vital. You
will also need to be able to work with colleagues, often in a
team, at all levels of the business good teamwork wont
happen without good communication between members.
You need to be able to express yourself concisely, but you
also need to be a good listener and good at asking
questions. Recruiters will be assessing your communication
skills through your application form answers, how you go
about answering interview questions, and group work and
presentations at assessment centres.
4.
Knowledge of the business you want to work in, the sectors
you would be working with, your employer and your
employers competitors aka commercial awareness is
essential if you want to work in the City. You can
demonstrate commercial awareness at interview even through
talking about a casual job. If youve worked stacking shelves
in a supermarket be able to identify the issues facing the
supermarket industry. Who owns the company? How is it
structured? If youve worked in a pub you could be asked
about the issues facing the drinks industry. Give the recruiter
answers that demonstrate an insiders not a customers
perspective.
5.
Recruiters are impressed by candidates who take the
initiative and are enthusiastic and interested. Candidates
who get in touch with recruiters and make themselves
known are more likely to stand out. Its a good idea to
attend events and fairs and meet people from the firm
youre interested in. Enthusiasm is also shown by doing
research you wouldnt bother researching something and
keeping up to date with it if you werent generally interested
in and enthused by it. Mention an aspect of the firms work
that interests you and find a way to link it to your own
skills and experience.
The employer hubs at targetjobs.co.uk/
employer-hubs are an invaluable tool for
discovering an individual employers unique
requirements, some of which you might not
have thought of. For example:
Achievement of goals (Deloitte)
Confidence to challenge the status quo (Nationwide)
Credibility (Grant Thornton)
Ethical approach to work (Santander)
Loyalty (Credit Suisse)
Objectivity (Swiss Re
Presence (Rothschild)
Resilience under pressure (M&G Investments)
Resourcefulness (BDO).
FI ND OUT MORE AND APPLY ON CAREERS. SOCI ETEGENERALE. COM
J O B S , I N T E R N S H I P S , G R A D U A T E P R O G R A M M E S , V. I . E .
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This material has been prepared solely for information purposes and does not constitute an offer to enter into a contract. Not all products
and services offered by Societe Generale are available in all jurisdictions. Please contact your local ofce for any further information.
2012 Societe Generale Group and its afliates. Ronan Guillou - FRED & FARID
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share ideas, we have adapted to market changes and thrived through innovation.
Bringing words like hard work and dedication together with community and
respect has enabled us to work collaboratively and build our future together. We
call this Team Spirit and its what makes us different. Its what makes you different.
PENULTI MATE YEAR STUDENTS AND MASTER STUDENTS
DO YOU SEE YOURSELF AS SOMEONE WHO
STANDS OUT? OR SOMEONE OUTSTANDING?
Page 1
HOW TO GET HIRED
Savvy employer
research pays off
What do you answer when a recruiter
asks, Why do you want to work for us?
Recruitment information
What recruitment process is followed?
What degree background and key skills and competencies
are sought?
How do your skills and experience match?
Company culture
What are the companys core values?
What does its brand promote?
How does it like to see itself?
How it is viewed externally?
Based on the information you find, how do you view it
and why does working for the employer appeal?
Sources of information
Recruiters tell us that candidates can over-rely on a
companys graduate website for information... but its
certainly a good place to go after youve looked at the
Employer Insights. You can then delve deeper and look at
their corporate website for press releases, and financial and
market information. University careers fairs and employer
presentations provide a wealth of information and may give
you the chance to talk to current employees and get a feel
for the company culture. Your careers service may also have
a database of alumni who can be contacted for information
about working for your chosen employer. Other avenues for
research include newspapers and finance-related websites.
E
ven if you have a 2.1 and can
boast a successful internship,
an ill-prepared answer to this
question can let you down big
time. Finance recruiters cite
lack of research as being the main problem
in recruiting talented individuals. The
regurgitation of an organisations mission
statement from their corporate website, or
appealing to their ego with, for example,
Youre the best accountancy firm in the
world! is definitely not going to be
enough. You have to show that you have fully understood not
only the organisation but also the marketplace it is operating
in, the problems it faces and who its main competitors are.
Where do you start? The employer hubs on
targetjobs.co.uk are an excellent place. Youve probably
already had a look at them to help you to decide which firms
to apply to, and then to find out what to expect during the
recruitment process, such as the degree background, key skills
and competencies sought, and how your skills and experience
match. Now its time to use them to be able to convey what it
is about a particular employer that appeals to you.
Start with a structure
So, down to some practical tips. Start by putting some
structure to your research you can download an employer
research checklist at www.targetjobs.co.uk. There are three
key areas to investigate.
Background information
What does the company do (what are its products or
services)?
Where is it located?
Who are its customers/clients?
Where does it operate (key markets)?
Who are its main competitors?
Is the company expanding, downsizing, reaching out into
new markets or pulling back its activities, and if so, why?
STEP 1 PREPARE
@TjobsFinance
Do some in-depth employer research
with the employer hubs at
targetjobs.co.uk/employer-hubs.
Discover how to get hired by top employers:
Hubs of activity:
all the answers
to getting hired
TARGETjobs employer hubs give
you everything you need to make
a well researched, high-quality
application to your employer of
choice, without fuss.
You ask ...
Why work for this employer?
How do I answer these application form
and interview questions?
Who will be judging whether Im right
for the job?
Weve got answers to these and the many
other questions youll have when
applying to top employers.
Also featured in
Article that mentions GTI Media
News story about GTI Media
Media graduate careers advice
HOW TO GET HIRED
What they say
Organisation profile
Graduate jobs and schemes
Work experience and internships
Events
Graduate profiles
Diversity
What we say
How to get hired
Application tips
Follow us:
@TjobsFinance
@targetjobsUK
What they say comes straight
from employers
Theyll tell you:
Markets they specialise in
What jobs and work experience are
on offer
When theyll be visiting your
campus and attending national fairs.
What we say is exactly that
Advice from TARGETjobs expert
careers editors specifically aimed at
getting you hired by individual
companies.
Our insights will tell you how to
get hired by:
Showing you what employers really
see as commercial awareness
Breaking down the application
process, from CVs to interviews and
assessment centres
Guiding you in answering the
questions youll be asked and the
tasks youll need to complete.
Content direct from employers,
including:
Company overviews
Graduate jobs and work experience
opportunities
The stories of recent graduates
Upcoming careers events
Expert advice on how to get hired
from the TARGETjobs team, including:
How to answer application forms
Questions youl l face at interview
What youl l have to do at assessment
centres
When you need a quick piece of
info, dont forget you can also
check out our employer hubs on
mobile and tablet devices. It
could make al l the difference
in the five minutes before your
interview!
Discover employers inside this
publication and jump online via
the QR code for their latest
opportunities.
Identify employers that
have What we say content
in their hubs.
targetjobs.co.uk/employer-hubs
HOW TO GET HIRED
Read about individual employers
application requirements via the employer
hubs at targetjobs.co.uk/employer-hubs.
STEP 2 APPLY
First impressions count:
apply with style
HOW TO GET HIRED
1. Research your employer
Recruiters want to see evidence that youve
done some research into their organisation
and the position youre applying for. If
youve met people from the
organisation at careers fairs, you could
mention this. You could also refer to
any related current news about the
organisation that youve come
across. Youll find lots of valuable
research tips on page 17. Once
you know why the employer is
right for you, youll be in a much
better position to explain why
you are right for them.
2. Do a first draft
Print off an online form or
make a photocopy of a paper
application so you can
practise on it. Prepare any
long answers to make sure
theyll fit the space use the
size of a space as a guide to
how much detail you need
to provide. For an online
application, type your
answers in a word
processing program and
use the spellchecker to
avoid mistakes.
An application online or on paper
is your chance to make a good first
impression with an employer, so
make it count. Take it step by step.
HOW TO GET HIRED
3. Give good answers
Demonstrate your abilities by answering the questions fully,
with well structured and specific answers. Match your skills
to the selection criteria you found during your research.
Provide evidence through examples drawn from a variety of
areas academic courses and projects, work experience and
placements, hobbies and extra-curricular activities.
Organise your material and keep it relevant and punchy.
Make sure your response is about what you did, not what
we did recruiters arent interested in anyone else.
Think twice before you cut and paste. Its all too easy
to forget to change vital details a sure-fire recipe for
disaster. Its important to tailor an application to the
company youre applying to and the role being
sought. Generic answers wont impress recruiters
make sure its obvious that youve made the
effort to think about what theyre looking
for, why you would fit their requirements
and why you want to work for them.
4. Check once then check again
Its essential to check your application for mistakes.
Recruiters receive so many applications that they need a
way to reduce the pile: a form full of mistakes will go
straight in the bin. If an online form has a save-and-return
option, save your answers and take a break. Youre far
more likely to notice any mistakes with fresh eyes. Even
better is to get someone else to check you could ask a
friend or take it to your careers service. Once youre certain
youve answered all the questions and left no mistakes, hit
send or pop the form in the post. Make sure you keep a
copy so you can refer to it when youre
invited for an interview.

A typical application form will include the
following sections:
personal details
application details
degree education
school/college education
employment history
career motivation
positions of responsibility
CV upload
equal opportunities.
I think I stood out from
the crowd because I was
determined and knew about
the job I was applying to, as I
had met as many
professionals as I could
during career fairs and
had some relevant
experience in the industry.
Simon Taillefer, senior analyst, fixed income structured sales,
Nomura International plc. Read Simons full profile on page 49.
apply early places at many firms fill up on a first-come
first-served basis and deadlines are often as early as mid-
November
engage with the firm candidates who generally fall by
the wayside are those who have not really gathered much
information about the firm itself, and who have instead
applied simply because the firm is a big player
take the time to find out which scheme will suit them
best, if there are several on offer, and apply to it as an
informed candidate.
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conpuier crine. q|obu| recession.
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Rsky place, Planef Farfh. 8uf as one oI fhe world's leadng rensurers, rsk s our busness. Rsk n every
shape and Iorm, n every walk oI lIe. As a graduafe af 5wss Re, your |ob wll mean comng fo grps wfh
all fhose global ssues fhaf make lIe foday so rsky and so challengng. Whefher your dscplne s nafural
scence, mafhemafcs, busness admnsfrafon, medcne, law, Inance, or |usf abouf anyfhng else Ior
fhaf maffer, we're lookng Ior excepfonal people who are up Ior spendng 18 monfhs oI fher lIe on our
graduafes@swssre programme. Af 5wss Re, rsk s fhe raw maferal we work wfh, buf whaf our clenfs
value are fhe opporfunfes we creafe. And hey fhs could be yours.
$eize ycur cppcrtunity at www.swissre.ccm/graduates

STEP 2 APPLY
Well crafted CVs and
covering letters
Covering letters checklist
Show the recruiter how well you have researched the
organisation and that youre the right fit: this is your
chance to relate your degree skills and experience to the
job requirements.
Be enthusiastic and genuine about why you have applied.
If you have read about projects or activities that interest
you, explain why.
If you have met representatives from the company at a
fair or employer presentation, mention this and why the
interaction encouraged you to apply.
Details matter, so check your spelling and grammar
carefully.
Finance employers look for smart, professional people, so
approach them in a way that shows you are what they
are looking for and communicate in a succinct and
business-like manner from the outset.
A
few finance employers prefer the personal
touch of a CV and covering letter. This
combination can reveal depths unfathomed
in an online application form, so its worth
taking the time to get them right. An up-to-
date CV and well crafted covering letter can also be an
excellent tool if you want to approach a recruitment agency
or send a speculative application to an employer.
CV checklist
A CV should be no more than two pages of A4. If youve
researched what an employer is looking for, and you have
a feel for what the organisation does, you can tailor your
CV to show off the most important and relevant
information.
When you write about work experience, focus on the
skills you developed and applied rather than simply
listing the tasks you undertook. Dont discard part-time
work or summer jobs as inappropriate show how your
skills are transferable to finance.
Use bullet points to organise your information and keep
your CV clear and concise. Recruiters want to be able to
scan through a CV to see that you meet the minimum
requirements and that you have matched your skills and
experience to the job.
Avoid large paragraphs of unbroken text. Choose a font
style and point size that wont strain the readers eyes.
Gaps in a CV are conspicuous. Detail what you did in
them rather than leave it to the recruiters imagination.
You may find it helpful to run your CV past a friend or a
careers adviser to get their reaction before launching it in
the outside world.
HOW TO GET HIRED
@TjobsFinance
Go to targetjobs.co.uk
for CV templates and
more advice.
Use the employer hubs at
targetjobs.co.uk/employer-hubs
to find out what to expect at a
specific employers interview.
HOW TO GET HIRED
STEP 3 IMPRESS
G
etting invited to an interview
means that your application
has sparked an employers
interest. Youve shown that
you have the skills and
qualifications the recruiter is looking for
youve passed the first hurdle and now they
want to find out more. The interview is
your opportunity to add to the favourable
impression you have already made.
Acceptance etiquette
Once youve been invited to interview,
reply by phone or email within a couple of
days. If you have decided not to pursue a
particular opportunity, cancel the interview
so as not to waste the interviewers time. If
you feel uncomfortable about talking to the
recruitment team, sending an email is
perfectly acceptable. If youre unsure about
what to expect, you can call the
recruitment team to ask a few questions.
However, make sure you have gone
through the website thoroughly
before you call.
The three themes of interviews
Nearly all first interviews are structured
around selection criteria, to make them as
objective as possible. All candidates are asked
more or less the same questions the
organisation thinks up the selection criteria and at
interview examines whether you meet these. The
questions are likely to follow three core themes:
Why should we employ you?
What interests you about the job?
Why have you chosen to apply to us?
Work out the criteria and think about those obvious
but tricky questions that are bound to come up, but
avoid sounding as if you have rehearsed your answers.
Go in with the right attitude: have a positive outlook
and be enthusiastic and honest.
Interviews 101:
master the basics
HOW TO GET HIRED
Good behaviour
Be smart, business-like and try to look the part. Check the
address and your itinerary beforehand and aim to arrive at
least 15 minutes before your interview begins. Be polite and
courteous to anyone you meet in reception. Make sure you
come fully prepared recruiters expect candidates to have
done their homework on the firm they are interviewing with
and to know why they are applying and what is going on in
the wider world that may be relevant to the position they
are applying for.
Dont be afraid to ask for clarification if you do not
understand a question. If youve been asked to complete
online tests as part of the application process, you may
sometimes be asked to retake these when you attend an
interview. This is so that the employer can verify that youre
able to get the same kind of results in person.
Interviews are a two-way process. As well as being a
chance for the interviewer to decide whether you would be
the best person for the job, remember that interviews are
also your opportunity to find out more about the job and
organisation so you can decide whether its the right fit for
you. If you like what you see, let your enthusiasm shine
through. Enthusiasm might just tip the balance in
your favour and lead to a job offer.
I think my relevant
work experience was
the single most important
thing that made me
stand out from other
candidates, although
I'm sure the fact that I
had a relatively strong
academic record and built a
good rapport with my
interviewer helped too.
Tom Palmer, corporate finance executive,
BDO LLP. Read Toms full profile on page 69.
Listen carefully; ask questions if there are any points you do
not understand.
If you are asked a more detailed question, summarise the
question to the interviewer in your own words to be sure you
understand what is being asked.
Take some time to think for a minute dont be afraid of the
silence.
Structure your response so that you are able to answer the
question thoroughly and articulately, while remaining
focused on the topic.
Use relevant examples to accompany your response.
Try to be aware of time, making sure you dont spend too
much time responding to one question, unless the
interviewer is engaging you further on the topic.
Be confident. It helps to think of an interview as a discussion.
Practise describing your experience and responding to
questions with a peer or friend.
Arrive on time or early, and dress smartly. First impressions
are important!
Make sure you have something to say about everything and
anything on your CV.
Thanks to Zephan Trent, consultant at FTI Consulting.
I found the
application process
lengthy and the initial
competency-based
interview nerve-
wracking! Luckily, I
felt confident talking
to interviewers about
my personality and my
career history, and I had
carried out enough research
about internal audit before
applying and attending
interviews.
Josephine White, internal auditor, Deloitte &
Touche Public Sector Internal Audit Limited.
Read Josephines full profile on page 77.
HOW TO GET HIRED
STEP 3 IMPRESS
12 ways to ace
assessment
centres
1. Know what
to expect
An assessment centre (typically
lasting one or two days) brings
together a group of candidates
who undertake a series of
exercises and assessments.
2. Know what assessors
are looking for
The tests give you the opportunity to
demonstrate that you possess the personal
and technical skills for the job. Every
organisation will design its own assessment
centre. If you identified its selection criteria
for your first interview, keep them in mind
throughout your time at the centre: every
test, exercise and interview will match you
against these criteria.
3. Make the most of
group exercises
Group exercises include discussion groups,
exercises that involve role-playing a specific
brief, leadership tasks and, most commonly,
job-related scenarios that test your ability
to operate in a task that approximates the
area you have applied for. Remember that
by your actions and words you must help
the group to complete the task and
promote your own cause.
HOW TO GET HIRED
4. Perfect your presentations
You could be asked to give a presentation, usually to a
mixed group of candidates and assessors. A structure is
helpful to prevent your mind from going blank and will
help the audience keep track too. Use whatever form of
notes you feel comfortable with, but never speak from a
script. Dont attempt to fit in too much information or your
audience will switch off. Five minutes is only enough time
to present four big ideas or messages. Much of the message
of your talk will be transmitted non-verbally, so your body
language can make a huge difference to your presentation.
You may be invited to use a flipchart, an overhead projector
(OHP) or PowerPoint slides use these to your advantage
to support and back up your presentation.
5. Smile
Yes, its that simple. Smiling is good for you it eases the
tension in the face and your audience.
6. Highlight your abilities
Ability tests assess general and specific intelligence. With
general ability testing, expect to be asked to use complex
information, in the form of words, numbers and diagrams,
to solve problems using logical or lateral thinking. Ability
tests are most likely to be numerical or verbal reasoning
tests, specific to the job you have applied for.
7. Show youre a quick learner
Aptitude tests assess your ability to learn something new.
Employees are increasingly expected to be flexible and
adaptable in the workplace, so those who can prove that
they are able to develop new skills quickly and competently
are in high demand.
8. Let your personality shine through
Dont forget that during the recruitment process,
employers only have a short space of time in which to get
to know you. Personality tests help to give them a better
picture of the kind of person you are. They are not in-
depth analyses of your innermost thoughts and there are
no right or wrong answers. To be successful, honesty is
the best policy.
9. Manage your nerves
Try to relax this will make the whole experience much
more enjoyable for you and, as an added bonus, youll
have a much better chance of making a good impression.
Candidates shouldnt be too distracted by nerves, one
recruiter told us anonymously. Nobody wants them to
fail! We have invested so much money in the recruitment
process leading up to the assessment centre; we genuinely
want them to do well and be the right people for us to
recruit.
HOW TO GET HIRED
10.Stand out but dont show off
You are most likely not in direct competition with the
other candidates. Youre being assessed against the
employers criteria, not against each other, and its vital
that you show you can work in a team.
11.Be yourself
It may sound cheesy, but your best chance of success is to
be the best possible version of your true self. If you find
yourself having to make major personality changes to feel
comfortable, it probably means the organisation isnt for
you.
12.Achieve a good mix
If youre achieving a mix of taking charge and taking a
back seat, its a good sign. And if you find youre enjoying
yourself, thats a really good sign!
Find out more about a specific employers
assessment centres by reading the employer
hubs at targetjobs.co.uk/employer-hubs.
Heres a sample of the nuggets you could find:
Avivas assessment centre maintains the strength-based
focus that characterises its graduate recruitment process
the tasks are designed so assessors can gauge
candidates natural reactions.
At Baillie Gifford, assessment centres are only used to
recruit for the investment operations graduate scheme
the firm believes that investment management skills
cannot be measured in this way and focuses on
interviews for that area.
At Barclays Capital, assessment centres are closely
aligned to specific divisions, with on-the-job simulations.
BDO says its working culture is big on co-operation and
supportive relationships, so assessors will be looking to
see whether potential colleagues from different
departments work together and respond to each other in
ways that reflect the firms values.
Applicants to Deloitte will know the results of their
assessment day within 72 hours.
Grant Thorntons assessment day does not include the
group activities and psychometric tests common to other
recruiters.
At ICAP, the broking assessment includes all the standard
elements, with the addition of a trading simulation.
KPMG assesses via a virtual office exercise, where
candidates are led through the process by a virtual
assistant.
Nationwide emphasises that it is important that
assessment centre candidates do not view themselves in
direct competition with other attendees; it says that if
there were three standout candidates at assessment but
only two vacancies, it would likely take all three
regardless.
Mitsubishi advises candidates to work on the basis that
they are being assessed all day, even during lunch its
not only another opportunity for you to shine, but its an
opportunity for you to get to know other people.
Morgan Stanleys assessment centre is likely to open with
a psychometric test, after which only the candidates with
high enough scores proceed to the next task.
At UBS, candidates are advised to structure their analysis
and response according to the SWOT framework
Strengths/Weaknesses/Opportunities/Threats.
Make sure you get enough sleep the night before
The most challenging part of the application process was the
assessment centre: it was a long day and quite intense, with
lots of interviews and tests in the space of just a few hours,
and no time to rest. I was exhausted when I got home at the
end of the day!
Tom Palmer, corporate finance executive, BDO LLP.
Be prepared for a challenge
The most challenging part of applying to my current
employer was the technical test it involved analysing
company reports and accounts, broker research, and other
information to come up with a reasoned buy or sell case for a
stock, which we were only given a couple of hours to prepare
for on the day.
Caroline Ader, equity research associate, Fidelity Worldwide
Investment.
Banking and investment is all about
making money work as hard as possible:
its invested, borrowed and loaned in a
whole host of different ways. You can
expect fast-paced and challenging work in
this dynamic global sector.
In a nutshell ................................................30
will suit you best?..................................32
How to beat the competition ....................34
Which area of work?..................................37
Areas of work ............................................39
All about initial training
and development....................................52
Contents
In a nutshell
T
he banking and investment business is all
about making money work as hard as
possible. Its borrowed and invested in a
whole host of different ways the very
last thing its allowed to do is to sit idle.
The financial markets are open 24 hours a day, straddle
different time zones and have major centres in London,
New York, Hong Kong, Singapore, Zurich and
Frankfurt. London is important because its working day
bridges that of the US and Asian markets.
Banking and investment can generally be described as
an assortment of highly evolved and complex
organisations that provide financial services. These
organisations operate at the top end of the market,
working with clients such as corporations, institutions,
governments and wealthy individuals to meet their
financial objectives. Investment banks deal primarily
with securities (most simply known as stocks and
bonds) rather than deposits and may assist clients in
raising loans, taking over and merging with other
businesses or floating their shares on the stock
exchange, among other services. Investment
management companies invest money on behalf of their
clients, aiming to make it grow.
The employers
Employers in this sector include:
Full-service investment banks, which carry out a
full range of banking and investment services and
traditionally cover sales and trading (markets).
Niche companies that may specialise in a particular
area of work, such as independent advisory services,
or a product such as hedge funds or derivatives.
Investment management houses or firms, specialising in
asset and private wealth management.
Inter-dealer brokers that act as intermediaries, allowing
professional participants in the capital markets to trade
without revealing their identities.
Commercial banks, which may get involved in several
areas plus their core business.
Use the employer hubs on targetjobs.co.uk/employer-hubs
to help you distinguish between organisations when doing
your research.
The jobs
Salesperson, major investor, provider of research, innovator,
middleman: these are just some of the ways in which you
could describe the roles that people working in banking and
investment may find themselves in. For more information,
read the overviews of the different areas of business in this
sector and the personal profiles of recent graduates working
in these areas starting on page 37.
The fee-earning areas of the business, which directly
produce revenue, are sometimes known as front office
roles. Jobs in this area include advising on and
implementing ways for client companies to grow, in
addition to trading financial products. Support services
(also known as back office) such as finance, human
resources and operations ensure that the right people and
money are in the right place at the right time. The
technology division straddles the whole organisation,
providing the infrastructure within which business takes
place.
Training and development
Graduates usually start their career with training designed
to introduce them to the sector. Organisations with a global
presence will often send all their new starters on a training
programme in a single location. Training programmes vary
in length, ranging from two to twelve weeks depending on
the role and organisation. But be warned: reduced
resources due to the downturn may mean you are expected
to hit the ground running. The upside of this is you may
enjoy early responsibility and client contact. Read more
about what you can expect from training and development
on page 52.
Degree background
People from a broad range of backgrounds are employed in
banking and investment a particular degree type doesnt
rule anyone out. That said, an interest in the financial
markets is crucial and you should be comfortable with
numbers. Much finance knowledge can be taught, so you
can get off to a flying start if you learn quickly and also
possess a solid set of soft skills such as communication
and leadership.
Some companies have entry requirements of at least a
predicted 2.1 and some also stipulate minimum UCAS
points. Completion of an internship is rated highly by
recruiters see the article on page 10. Most employers in
this sector use online application forms (for top tips see
page 20) and you may also be asked to complete online
tests. If you do well in these you may be invited to an
assessment centre or interview.
Beware: early deadlines
This sector is known for its early closing dates for graduate
applications sometimes as early as October. It is worth
applying as early as possible because recruiters often make
offers as applications come in, so all the graduate positions
may be filled even before the closing date. But in these
times, you may find it useful to keep an eye on immediate
vacancies appearing in places such as targetjobs.co.uk.
People from a broad
range of backgrounds
are employed in banking
and investment a
particular degree
type doesnt rule
anyone out.
T
he organisation you join as a graduate will
shape your career in many ways. The
initial training youll receive, the
companys reputation and culture, the
people youll work with... all of these
things will make a difference to your daily life and also to
your future career. There are pros and cons to working at
any organisation and the only way youll know what its
really like is by working there. That said, with a bit of
thought and research beforehand, you can get a clearer
idea of whats on offer and make an informed choice
about where to work.
Test your perceptions
Chances are you have some preconceived notions about
certain companies; its better to test them now than find
youre missing out later on. Do some research and ensure
you actually speak with people from those firms to
confirm that your perceptions are correct. Question why
you think youre drawn to favour one role over the others
is it really because you think youd be good at it or
because youve heard of it and like the sound of it?
You can discover a lot through careers fairs,
company presentations and alumni networks, as
well as websites such as targetjobs.co.uk or
publications such as the one youre reading.
Theres plenty of information out there; its all
about knowing where to look. Company
websites, recruitment brochures and the
financial press should be your first port of
call. Follow up on this by doing some
internet research, seeking out peer
recommendations and booking an
appointment with your careers service.
Whats on offer?
Boutique or niche firms will specialise in a particular area,
while larger investment management houses and banks
may cover a broad range of products and services. It pays
to look into the areas in which an employer specialises.
will suit you best?
Knowing yourself and what you want is as
important as thorough industry research when
securing your first job in banking and investment.
Check which banking and investment firms
offer the area of work youre interested in:
Question why you
think youre drawn
to favour one role
over the others.
Then consider how many of these areas are covered in the
graduate programme, and how likely it is youll be working
there. Is the employer an industry leader in your area of
interest? Miss out on this stage and you may find that
although you are working at a top or medium-tier firm and
specialising in, say, credit derivatives, this may not be one of
their strengths and so you may not get the scope and
exposure you are looking for.
Find out what training is on offer, how long it lasts and
whether its on-the-job or class-based. Look at the
opportunities for continued study once you complete the
graduate programme, whether this is acquiring additional
product skills or qualifications. For more on training, see
page 52.
Beyond the City
You dont have to work in the City although many people
are drawn to this vibrant financial centre, there are also
other opportunities across Britain and internationally.
Banking is a global business and most large investment
banks operate across the world. There may be opportunities
for international secondments or perhaps even to start your
career in another part of the world. Closer to home,
Edinburgh is the UKs second largest financial centre and is
known for being a hub of the fund management industry, so
it may be of particular interest if you are keen to work in
investment.
Know yourself
As well as getting a sense of what different organisations
offer, youll need to think about your personal preferences.
What kind of culture would suit you best? Ask yourself
what motivates you, but also what intimidates you. Are you
looking for a lot of early responsibility, or would you rather
progress steadily in line with your strengths? Are you
invigorated by heavy workloads, or do long hours
dishearten you? Draw up a list of likes and dislikes,
highlight personal priorities and be prepared to question
your motivations. Its tempting to leap at the chance of a
high salary, but be wise and consider which places really
offer the best starting point for your career.
Find out what training is on
offer, how long it lasts and
whether its on-the-job or
class-based.
A
ccording to the Association of Graduate
Recruiters (AGR), its investment bank
and fund manager members received
141.8 applications per vacancy in the
20112012 recruitment cycle (the latest
at time of going to press for which figures are available).
These levels of interest are hardly surprising, given the
salaries on offer. Investment banking was the highest
paid career for fresh graduates among AGR members in
20112012, offering a median starting salary of
38,250. Pay has since risen, with PwC reporting in The
Telegraph in 2012 that 45,00050,000 was now
typical.
The good news is, though, that even with these
phenomenal levels of competition, theres plenty you can
do to help your application make the final cut.
Be aware of closing dates
Dont leave it till the middle of the autumn term to check
when you need to get your application in. Most
investment banks graduate schemes open in August or
September and some close in late October/early
November.
Summer internship recruitment tends to follow a
similar timetable as graduate recruitment, though some
banks have later deadlines for these. Most investment
banks fill the majority of graduate scheme positions via
their internship schemes, so in practice if you want a
banking job you need to start applying in the month or
so before your penultimate year at university begins.
Despite the pressures and publicity the
sector has faced in recent years, banking
is still a top job target for many graduates.
Heres what you need to know to improve
your chances of getting a foot in the door.
First years you need to be ready too!
Make a note to apply for the spring insight weeks that
many employers in this sector offer as an introduction to
their work. These are typically held in the Easter vacation,
and will give you a head start in applying for internships
they usually introduce you to their different divisions and
provide advice on succeeding in their recruitment process.
Deadlines for spring insight programmes are typically in
January/February; you need to apply in your first year, or
second year of a four-year course. Its also a good idea to
contact your university careers service and sign up for
relevant events, such as campus visits from investment
banking recruiters.
Treat banking internship applications as
seriously as those for graduate jobs
Do plenty of research before you apply for internships.
Some employers ask prospective interns to apply to a
specific part of the business and assess them for
consideration for a graduate scheme in the light of their
performance in that area so it really is worth getting it
right (and this is where a spring insight programme can
help). Expect the internship recruitment process to be
almost as tough as for graduate jobs.
Home in on your target employers
Find out what they offer, and work out what that means for
you. This is a hugely complex sector and the range of
graduate schemes on offer reflects that. For example, at
Barclays Capital, 14 different divisions offer graduate
schemes. Are you interested in quantitative analytics?
Global financial risk management? Structuring? Why? How
do you know? If you dont understand the work that goes
on in the sector, its going to be very difficult for you to
know what area of business is the best match for your
skills. Recruiters are likely to restrict the number of
opportunities you can apply to within their organisation.
Brush up on your interview skills
Not all investment banks run the assessment centres that
are a typical feature of graduate recruitment, and interview
performance is regarded as extremely important. For
example, Goldman Sachs does not run any assessment
centres. Employers in this sector often invite applicants to
take part in a series of interviews and then swap notes, so
they can build up a clear, all-round picture of individual
candidates.
Interviews give banking recruiters a chance to see if
candidates can think on their feet and communicate
confidently. As the ability to hold your own in a face-to-face
meeting is such an important aspect of recruitment in this
sector, do take any chance you get to brush up on your
interview skills and take part in practice interviews.
Expect the internship
recruitment process
to be almost as
tough as for
graduate jobs.
Join us for an insight into the women
behind the investment management sector
Are you a female undergraduate who is:
Intelligent and inquisitive?
Interested in a global career?
Looking for a role in a fast-paced sector,
filled with opportunities?
Gain exclusive insight into a variety of careers, ask questions and get advice
from the best. Whether youre looking at investment, marketing, HR, finance,
IT, or many more, this expenses paid* event has something for you!
Apply today: www.women-in-investment-management.co.uk
Sponsors
More than just
doing the sums!
Brought to you by
21 October 2013 London
*Up to 50 travel costs reimbursed
LIM
ITED
SPACES
AV
AILABLE

O
nce youve decided that youre interested in
banking and investment (whether you plan
to dip your toes in the water with an
internship or dive into a graduate position)
you need to find out which roles and areas
of work would be a good fit for you. This section is an
excellent place to start your research.
In some cases, youll find out that areas of business
contain further divisions: for instance, within markets you
could choose to work in sales, trading or research roles.
And did you realise that investment banking is a specialist
area of work within an investment bank? To help the
decision-making process, read the overviews and graduate
profiles on the following pages.
To help you make an informed decision
about where to start your career, weve put
together overviews of the main areas of
work in the banking and investment sector.
Inter-dealer broking ..................................................................39
Investment banking ................................................................40
Investment management........................................................42
Islamic finance..........................................................................44
Operations..................................................................................45
Private banking ........................................................................46
Risk management ....................................................................47
Sales, trading and research ....................................................48
Technology ................................................................................50
I did an internship with ICAP
before my final degree year,
which gave me a sound insight
into the mechanics of broking.
Read Edwards full profile on page 39.
I decided to pursue a career in
investment banking because I
wanted to combine my interest in
finance and my background in economics,
and work in a role that was client focused.
Read Jaes full profile on page 41.
I was drawn to operations as I
was looking for a role that would
require analytical and problem-
solving skills.
Read Christinas full profile on page 45.
@TjobsFinance
Bloomberg Institute
is proud to sponsor the
award for the most popular
graduate recruiter in Investment
banking and investment
Goldman Sachs is receiving the award
for the most popular graduate recruiter
in Investment banking and investment
at the TARGETjobs National Graduate
Recruitment Awards, 3 April 2013
W I N N I N G
T E A M
W I N N I N G
T E A M

For more advice on getting
hired and working, go to
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Inter-dealer broking
You will have an outgoing, friendly personality and
trustworthy nature.
I
nter-dealer broking involves
providing an environment in
which clients, mostly corporate,
can trade with other clients in
financial instruments. These financial
instruments consist of, among other
things, bonds, stocks and loans.
It is the role of the inter-dealer
broker to act as an intermediary
between their clients, who are
brokers at other financial institutions.
The inter-dealer broker knows the
best prices for their clients and can
act for them in an anonymous
manner, allowing them to maximise
their clients investments in a
marketplace where direct contact
could result in less favourable prices
being quoted if one party knows the
identity of the other.
Inter-dealer brokers tend to
specialise in certain products, and
their work is done either by
telephone or electronically, depending
on the product involved. Those
specialising in telephone work will
often be working with more
complicated products, where it is
essential that they can explain these
to their clients. Electronic dealers
tend to use screens to identify the
needs of their clients and can make
deals quickly in simpler products
where less explanation is necessary.
Recent developments
Inter-dealer brokers have done better
than many of those working in the
financial sector recently. This is
because they take a percentage of the
deal between two parties, regardless
of whether prices are rising or falling.
In fact, market volatility often allows
inter-dealer brokers to make more
money, as greater volumes often
change hands when markets are at
their most volatile.
Starting out
While a degree in a financial
discipline would be an advantage, it
is not essential; a strong interest in
working in the financial sector is
more important. Many starting
positions in this role require
applicants to have achieved at least a
2.1. The typical career path for
someone starting out in inter-dealer
broking would be to start as a junior
broker, then progress to a broker
before going on to manage others at
a variety of levels desk manager,
then director, then possibly head of
division.
Skills required
Knowledge of markets is essential.
Finely honed people skills and
trustworthiness.
An outgoing and friendly
personality.
The energy and resilience to work
under pressure.
Edward
Fremlin-Key
Job
Graduate broker, financial futures
and options
Employer ICAP plc
University French and Italian,
University of Bristol
From a very young age I was interested
in working in the financial markets but
was unsure about the specific sector in
which Id like to specialise. After learning
more about broking, I felt that it offered
exactly what I was looking for. I did an
internship with ICAP before my final
degree year, which gave me a sound
insight into the mechanics of broking
and helped me to get a place on their
graduate programme.
Working life
As a graduate Im always looking to offer
assistance to and learn from my
colleagues. On a day-to-day basis I send
out the morning news report and help
with analysis and the strategic
investment publications that are sent to
clients. One of the best things about
broking is that it allows for a sensible
balance between time spent in the
office and a social life.
Career highlights
One highlight was witnessing the
successful completion of a large trade
in which I had played a part. The
adrenalin and sense of satisfaction I
received from having contributed to
something of considerable importance
was amazing and rewarding. From this
experience I learned the significance of
being professional, accurate and
composed under pressure.
Composed
under
pressure.
Edward
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@TjobsFinance
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Investment banking
Youll be cool under pressure and unfazed by long hours.
I
nvestment banks act on behalf of
companies, institutions and
governments, and provide
management and advisory work in
connection with a variety of financial
activities. These can include the issuance
of securities, overseeing of mergers and
acquisitions (M&As), the provision of
international financial analysis, and
investment management for corporate
pension funds, charities and private
clients.
Recent developments
Amid the recent economic turbulence,
the world of investment banking is
facing new changes and challenges. The
political and social ramifications of the
industrys activities have never been
more keenly felt. As an industry
professional, working at the centre of
current economic events, you can expect
to gain an indispensable insight into the
working of the financial system, and
you could play a vital role facilitating
market recovery. Changes that have
shaped the recent period include a
movement away from high-risk
ventures and a greater emphasis on
risk management as well as on capital
raising at the expense of M&As.
Starting out
You will generally start off as an
analyst and, with guidance and
encouragement, be expected to
progress quite quickly. You will soon
have the opportunity to interact with
clients including the CEOs of major
companies and be responsible for
collating and assimilating data into
presentations and reports. You will
learn a great deal in the first few weeks
as you broaden your knowledge and
learn to adapt and develop your skills
in this fast-moving industry.
Though demanding, the work
can be greatly rewarding. With
increased upward mobility, excellent
financial incentive, the opportunity
to travel and the rich experience of
early responsibilities, many people
find it an exciting and fulfilling
career.
While an appropriate
professional qualification (such as
an MBA) is an advantage, it is by
no means essential. A structured
training programme will be an
important part of your induction,
typically lasting a month or so and
providing the key skills to progress.
There is a variety of roles within
investment banking and
applications are usually welcome
from a variety of disciplines. A
finance degree isnt a prerequisite,
but you will need to demonstrate a
genuine interest in business and
financial markets.
Skills required
A good knowledge of the
financial system and the ambition
to succeed.
The intelligence and imagination
to think laterally and meet the
challenges of the job with
confidence and flexibility.
The ability to work in an often
stressful environment under
pressure and for long hours
where necessary.
Excellent client-handling skills are
a must, as is the energy and
readiness to deal with many
different people, providing the
best possible customer service.
For more information visit
www.targetjobsfinance.co.uk.
Another useful resource is the
Association for Financial Markets
in Europe at www.afme.eu
You will generally start
off as an analyst and
be expected to
progress quickly.
GRADUATE VIEW
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I
decided to pursue a career in
investment banking because I
wanted to combine my interest
in finance and my background in
economics, and take the opportunity
to work in a role that was client
focused, something that had always
appealed to me.
Getting in
I was fortunate in being able to do
several internships in various areas
of finance (audit, corporate banking
and investment banking) before
starting work full time, the most
recent placement being a summer
internship at Macquarie.
I think getting internships
definitely helped me get my job
most obviously it showed that I had
a proactive interest in finance.
When I was applying for internships
and jobs I was showered with
information via various sources
(online, careers fairs, company
presentations, etc) but they seemed
more like sales pitches than an
accurate representation of what I
would be doing I found it hard to
digest all of this and find out
exactly what it was that I was
signing up to.
Doing internships let me find out
and experience first-hand what
different jobs entail on a day-to-day
basis and therefore helped me to
decide which job interested me the
most and was most suitable for me.
My job
I would say there are two aspects to
being a graduate analyst: the first is to
help out on anything the team is
working on, which can range from
putting together pitchbooks or
presentations to building financial
models. The second is to learn as much
as possible as quickly as possible,
because in this job people wont hold
your hand for very long and you are
expected to take responsibility for
pieces of work as soon as possible.
Balancing work and life
Its fair to say that my social life has
been affected the work/life balance is
an important consideration for
someone thinking about a career in
banking. If you have a desire to
succeed in the industry and a
willingness to make some of the
sacrifices required, getting used to the
hours and the working life is easy. But
I can see why it would not be for
everyone and potential applicants
should know what theyre signing up
to before they start.
Highs and lows
One of the most exciting things for me
has been meeting and working with
CEOs and CFOs from early on in my
career. The biggest downside is
probably the work/life balance. I
found adjusting to my new lifestyle the
biggest challenge in my first six
months.
Developing new skills
I had several weeks of training before
starting at my desk this was a good
introduction but I learned a lot more,
and a lot more quickly, once I started
working. It was a very steep learning
curve but very rewarding. Skills that I
have developed in particular are time
and project management as a junior,
I am frequently working with different
people on different projects at any
given time, so managing work is
something Ive had to learn quickly.
My advice
If theres anything I would change
from my time at university, it would be
focusing more on my degree. Although
it is very important to think about
your career early on, at the end of the
day employers dont expect graduates
to be experts in the jobs they are
applying for.
Jae Park
Job Investment banking analyst
Employer Macquarie Capital
University Economics, London School of Economics
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Investment management
Excellent interpersonal, communication and negotiation skills are needed.
I
nvestment or fund management
consists of working on behalf of
clients, both institutions and
private investors, to manage their
finances and to meet specified goals.
Investment managers analyse the stock
market and administer transactions to
make the most of their clients portfolios
by investing in a variety of securities and
asset classes. Typically, the earning
potential of the investment manager is in
proportion to the success of the
investment, and a successful investment
manager is one who uses initiative and
foresight to make the right choices for
their clients money.
There are two main roles within
investment management: analyst and
investment manager. The analyst deals
with the research side of things by
following the market closely, analysing
stocks and predicting trends, aiming to
produce a strategic game plan; the
investment manager deals directly with
the clients portfolio, carrying out
transactions according to the analysts
findings.
Recent developments
What with the devastating effects of the
recession still making waves across the
world, the investment management
sector faces ever-changing challenges
and uncertainty. The current instability
means that the work is as exciting and
demanding as ever; the choices made
by todays investment managers will
come to define the economic landscape
of the future.
In these financially uncertain times,
the specialist knowledge of industry
professionals is much in demand.
Now, more than ever, investors are
concerned for the future of their
finances and greatly value the expert
advice of investment management
firms on how to best look after their
money.
Starting out
While a finance degree would be an
advantage, it is certainly not essential.
A 2.1 or higher in any area is typically
the required starting point, along with
a genuine enthusiasm for the finance
markets and a good head for figures.
Excellent interpersonal,
communication and negotiation skills
are paramount and as with most
careers in the industry fluency in
other languages is often a plus.
Securing an internship is one of the
best ways to gain experience and
understanding of the workings of the
industry. This will give you the
chance to dip your toe in and
explore what interests you.
Recent graduates usually start out
in research roles, putting their
analytical skills to good use by
preparing reports and contributing
to portfolio decisions. You can
expect to be met by a steep learning
curve in your first few weeks while
working closely with experienced
investors. This will give you
indispensable skills and insight that
will go on to shape your career. You
will also be encouraged to study
towards professional qualifications,
including an Investment
Management Certificate (IMC). Such
qualifications can boost your future
success and employability as well as
increase your earnings, which even
at entry-level are among the
highest in the UK. Depending on
your preference, you may find
yourself working among thousands
of employees for a world-class
company or bank, or instead in a
small, dedicated team at a boutique
firm.
Skills required
Confidence, enthusiasm and an
ambition to succeed.
An ability to fight your corner
when debating issues.
Excellent interpersonal skills.
An inquisitive nature someone
who is not afraid to question
accepted approaches or rise to
unforeseen challenges.
The ability to keep one step ahead
of the competition, by getting
involved in hands-on research and
second-guessing the changes to the
market.
Recent graduates
usually start out
in research roles.
GRADUATE VIEW
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Caroline Ader
Job Equity research associate
Employer Fidelity Worldwide Investment
University Modern & medieval languages, University
of Cambridge
Investment Management Certificate (IMC); levels 1, 2 and 3 of Chartered
Financial Analyst (CFA) qualification
I
nvestment management really
appealed to me as a field that
would provide me with
opportunities to learn not only about
investing and the financial markets but
also about an almost infinite range of
different industries and business models.
Getting in
I completed a spring week at
Morgan Stanley and a summer
internship at Black Rock, and then
worked for three years as a fund
managers assistant at Ruffer LLP
before joining Fidelity. All of this
experience helped me to understand
the various positions available within
investment management and to focus
on finding the role that was best
suited to my skills and interests.
The most challenging part of applying
to my current employer was the
technical test it involved analysing
company reports and accounts,
broker research, and other
information to come up with a
reasoned buy or sell case for a stock,
which we were only given a couple
of hours to prepare for on the day.
My job
I work within Fidelitys pan-European
consumer team, analysing mid-sized
food companies. On a day-to-day basis
my job is to keep on top of relevant
news flow, produce research reports
and financial models, work with fund
managers on investment ideas, and run
meetings with the management teams
of companies in my sector.
Work/life balance
An 8.00 am start is fairly usual as is a
ten-hour day. There was definitely a
lot to get on top of at the beginning
while I was learning about the
companies I would be covering and
this did mean staying late on
occasions. Ive been given a fair
amount of independence and its up to
me to manage my time as efficiently as
I can, so Id say I achieve a pretty good
work/life balance.
Highs and lows
The best aspect of this job is having so
many opportunities to learn from
more experienced investors. Its also a
privilege to meet with the CEOs and
CFOs of listed companies, and visiting
sites can often be a real eye-opener.
My most recent trip was to see fish
farming operations in Norway, which
was completely different from
anything else Id ever experienced.
On the challenging side, there are
plenty of times when stock calls go the
wrong way. Its important to learn
from any mistakes and not bury ones
head in the sand when new
information comes to light! Whats
been most difficult so far in my career
is studying for the CFA alongside
working; however, it proved very
useful as I had never studied any
economics or finance before.
Training and support
I had a full months training before I
started my current role, followed by a
couple of weeks learning how to
produce reports and build models
before I was assigned to a specific
sector. For this first year I have also
been coached by a dedicated director
of research and supported by a fund
manager acting as my mentor.
Essential skills
Not having a financial background
makes it a bit more of a challenge to
get into this industry but it is definitely
possible to learn what you need to
know outside of an academic context.
Analytical and numerical skills are key,
as are being decisive under pressure
and paying attention to detail. For me,
university provided a unique
opportunity to learn foreign languages
and study literature and film, so I
wouldnt change that at all.
City & Finance 2014 | 43 targetjobsfinance.co.uk
44 | City & Finance 2014
Islamic finance
An emerging market worth $1 trillion that requires an international approach.
I
slamic finance refers to the
$1 trillion market of sharia-
compliant products from
those provided by investment banks
to Islamic retail operations. In the
banking and investment industry,
financial instruments are produced
with the guidance of a sharia board,
whose advice helps create products
that conform to sharia law. In
principle this means that the
constraints on financial practices are
established by Islamic law. Inevitably
consumer demand means that there
are various products and services
available to investors who wish to be
sharia compliant, and in practice this
market is hugely complex and
steered by many different interests.
The prohibition on the payment
of riba (interest) means that
investments have to be structured
differently from conventional
financial products. The idea of
shared risk introduces into the
transaction a balance on potentially
irresponsible investing. In addition to
this, sharia-compliant products must
not only be halal (not invested in
prohibited assets such as arms,
tobacco or alcohol) but have a
responsibility to invest in products that
are beneficial to society. Many identify
Islamic financial products as similar to
SRIs (socially responsible investments)
for this reason.
Roles available
Islamic finance roles may be found
within all functions of banking and
investment companies, from asset
management to private banking. You
may decide to work for an
international bank that offers sharia-
compliant services to clients in specific
locations, or work for an Islamic
company that markets its products in
various financial centres.
Recent developments
The nature of Islamic finance is
complex due to the role of sharia
advisory boards. These boards,
along with professional bodies and
think-tanks, pass judgements on
existing products and advise on the
development of new products
ensuring that the evolution of
sharia-compliant markets and
products can keep up with
developments in other markets.
As an emerging market, financial
centres are attempting to attract
Islamic financial institutions and
revenues by changing legislation to
accommodate its requirements.
European markets have opened up
in this respect in recent years.
Starting out
While graduate training schemes in
Islamic finance are limited
(although this is changing), Islamic
financial products account for a
significant part of the work of many
UK and international banks. A
general training programme may
offer graduates a rotation spent
with a particular emphasis on
sharia. It is likely that this training
will be centred on a major Islamic
financial centre such as those in the
Gulf, Hong Kong or Malaysia.
Skills required
Foreign language proficiency is
very useful, and is a requirement
for some roles. Languages such as
Arabic, Malay, Bahasa Indonesia
or Bengali are particularly sought
after.
Strong communication skills.
Numeracy.
Project-management skills.
Negotiation skills.
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Christina
Lynch
Job
Graduate
operations analyst
Employer Morgan Stanley
University Mathematics,
statistics & accounting,
University of Strathclyde
Working towards
Investment Operations Certificate
I was drawn to operations as I wanted
to use skills from all three subjects in
my degree, was looking for a role that
would require analytical and problem-
solving skills and had always been
interested in the financial world. An
internship with Morgan Stanley gave
me first-hand experience in a
professional role and helped me
secure my position on the graduate
scheme.
My job
I am currently an analyst within my
employers global tax utility. My
responsibilities lie within the
transaction tax team, working with a
variety of taxes from different
markets, for example substitute tax
and capital gains tax.
Day-to-day work involves carrying
out reconciliations of firm and client
tax charges, in compliance with the
regulations of tax authorities in
various countries. I regularly
communicate with different teams for
assistance on tax queries so that I
can provide the best service to
clients or investigate more in-depth
issues.
Best bits
The most exciting part of working in
operations is that it is fast paced and
constantly changing. One of our main
focuses is process improvement, so
there are always opportunities to put
your own ideas forward and enhance
the function of your day-to-day role.
G
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Operations
Your job is to process transactions smoothly and
ensure greater efficiency.
T
he global financial market is
worth trillions of pounds and
every day investment banks and
financial companies conduct millions of
transactions. Operations is a critical part
of any banking organisation. It is the
back-office function responsible for
overseeing the life cycle of a transaction
from the initial preparations such as
booking trades for traders to post-trade
processes in settlements. Operations can
also cover risk, and the way in which
companies mitigate problems that may
arise. This involves looking at the
practices of the company itself, as well as
more broadly at the market.
Operations roles may be confined to
particular products such as securities,
futures or derivatives or for particular
functions such as risk management or
client services. In securities operations,
for example, you may be responsible for
ensuring that desks in linked markets
have sufficient capability to
communicate with each other. Within the
risk function you could be responsible
for ensuring that the companys internal
processes comply with regulatory
guidelines.
Making improvements
Banking is constantly evolving in
order to be more efficient.
Operations staff are an important
part of this process and contribute
expertise and project-management
skills to ensure that efficiency and
successful improvements are
made. It is particularly important
to be able to understand how
controls can be improved by the
use of technology, for example.
Graduates on operations
training schemes typically rotate
between different business
functions during the programme.
This allows you to gain experience
and assess your suitability for the
given role or function.
Intensive training is usually
given at the start of a graduate
scheme, then a process of on-the-
job training and mentoring starts
while the analyst works to pick up
increased responsibility over time.
There are usually opportunities to
study for further qualifications
and external certification.
Skills required
An analytical mind: the ability
to evaluate processes is crucial,
as the successful
implementation of a new
efficiency can make a real
difference to a business balance
sheet.
Excellent communication skills:
many operations roles involve
working with clients so clarity
and good listening skills are
imperative.
Proficiency with technology,
particularly in IT.
Attention to detail.
Numeracy.
Improve the way that
business is conducted.
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Private banking
Managing the funds of wealthy individuals.
process, people involved in customer-
facing roles may be required to travel
frequently if face-to-face contact is
important. Other staff, working
internally and acting on information
gathered by their colleagues, choose
the most effective products to
maximise their clients investments.
Starting out
The path a career in private banking
takes depends on the role that the
individual wishes to take in an
organisation. For those wishing to
specialise in customer-facing roles, a
degree with strengths in marketing,
sales or public relations is an
advantage but some knowledge of
finance is also desirable in
understanding how the needs of the
customer can be fulfilled. Conversely,
for those wishing to become involved
in the part of the business dealing with
financial products, a degree associated
with strong financial or numerical
skills would be ideal, but these staff
should still have good communications
skills in order to work effectively with
customer-facing staff.
Skills required
First-class communication skills are
highly sought after, and those
speaking other languages are at an
advantage in a worldwide business.
Taking a delight in providing
excellent customer service.
A knowledge of or an ability to
learn about financial markets.
Excellent numeracy skills.
Institutions specialising in
private banking often have
high-profile customers from
many different walks of life.
Trustworthiness and
discretion are absolutely
essential.
Andreas
Hel lstrand
Job Financial
investment
professional
Employer Goldman Sachs
University MSc finance, Stockholm
School of Economics
I studied at the Stockholm School of
Economics because of my long-term
interest in finance and markets; my
interest in working in wealth
management is long-standing. Previous
internships within the industry, such as
at Deutsche Bank, and playing hockey at
an elite level gave me a competitive edge
in the application process. I grew up in
Germany and Sweden, so languages have
also helped me in my career.
My job
I am a senior analyst in the private wealth
management team, which is part of the
investment management division at
Goldman Sachs. My daily tasks include
implementing trades of financial products
across all asset classes on behalf of
clients and helping our investment
professionals manage client portfolios, as
well as looking for new trading ideas and
building relationships with clients.
Developing my skills
As a new analyst I had five weeks training
in our New York office and participated in
regular training sessions afterwards. This
helped me develop an even better
understanding of the financial markets,
as we work across all different asset
classes. Within our team we take active
investment decisions and this makes
teamwork and communication a vital
aspect of the culture.
P
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Looking for new
trading ideas.
Andreas
B
anks court wealthy customers
because the returns available
on managing the funds of these
people are much greater than those that
could be obtained from the average
customer. These customers demand, in
return, an exceptionally high degree of
customer service from the institutions
they bank with and they often have very
diverse portfolios of investment,
requiring in-depth, specialist knowledge
to deliver the unique solutions that will
maximise their returns.
Private banking services can be split
broadly into two areas: advisory and
discretionary. Advisory services involve
the bank advising the client on what
decisions should be taken to maximise
their returns and the client then acts
accordingly, maintaining direct control
over their portfolios. Discretionary
services, on the other hand, involve the
client and the bank meeting to discuss
overall strategy to maximise the clients
return. The bank then makes the
appropriate day-to-day decisions to
achieve that aim, freeing up their client
to do other things.
New developments
Private banking professionals tend to
focus on one of three areas: managing
client relationships; investing money; or
support functions. As part of this
R
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Gem
Wil liams
Job Market
risk analyst
Employer Mitsubishi UFJ
Securities International plc
University Geography,
University Col lege London
Working towards CFA level 1
Ive been interested in finance and
business from an early age; while
studying A level economics I realised I
had an aptitude for numbers.
I have always enjoyed discussing
business with my entrepreneur father,
who started and runs his own
company. I was initially drawn to
trading and during my degree did an
internship with a shipping company
that involved securing fuel and
negotiating prices. However, I decided
to apply for jobs within the finance
sector and accepted a position on
Mitsubishis graduate programme.
My job
Im currently rotating in market risk,
which is likely to become my
permanent role. I am responsible for
monitoring the market risk of the
rates trading desks in Asia and the US,
checking value-at-risk figures, which
measure the risk of loss, and ensuring
that traders know what their risk
profile is. This changes daily
according to factors such as interest
rates and volatility.
I also take part in firm-wide
initiatives, for example organising and
volunteering at various CSR events.
Highs and lows
I find it exciting to be responsible for
two growing international desks,
dealing with ad-hoc queries from
senior staff and being stretched
constantly. Studying for the CFA
professional qualifications on top of
working is hard though!
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Risk management
Risk management staff ensure banks and financial
companies are profitable and safe.
A
s financial markets trade they
expose themselves to varying
degrees of risk. The risk
function of a bank or financial company
extends into all aspects of banking
from providing credit analyses of
trading counterparties to working with
regulators on policy to ensure that the
bank remains safe as well as profitable.
The work in this function is varied. You
may be involved in the modelling of a
new financial product that traders are
interested in selling or tasked with
reporting, explaining in detail the
complexities of a financial product to
senior management who may be
unfamiliar with this area of the
business. The ability to simplify
complex information and communicate
it well is therefore crucial.
Risk roles are often designated as
credit risk or market risk functions.
Credit risk is concerned with clients,
products and industries. For example,
you may research specific industries or
markets periodically to assess their
current stability. Market risk is
concerned with the bank itself and
wider market implications of banking
practices. In assessing market risk it is
important to understand the
relationship between the bank and the
market and to ensure that the banks
portfolio isnt structured so as to be
vulnerable. Stress testing is an example
of a typical duty for market risk staff.
Risk management can also be carried
out as part of the operations function.
The main responsibilities are regulatory
compliance and operational risk
mitigation. You may be asked to file
reports to regulators or assist in the
approval of complex trades and
transactions. For more information on
operations roles see page 45. Compare
this to risk management roles in the
financial services sector on page 104.
Recent developments
Banking regulations have changed
significantly in recent years with the
emphasis on greater controls on
what banking institutions are
allowed to do and how they must
report this. Risk staff are at the
forefront of this work, particularly
when you consider that you could
just as easily be working with the
regulators on the formation of
policy as with traders who are under
pressure to gain advantages in a
competitive market.
Starting out
Banking and investment companies
typically offer internships for
undergraduates. You may be
allocated to a particular function or
rotate in order to gain an
understanding of the particular
types of work open to you in this
sector. It is worth remembering that
many successful graduate job
applicants experience internships at
their new employer before they
apply for a graduate position.
Graduate training schemes in risk
often allow you to work with
different teams to develop an overall
understanding of the function
before you specialise.
Skills required
Excellent communication skills: in
risk it may be your responsibility
to explain complex financial
products to people who have little
detailed knowledge of the
transactions in a particular area.
Strong numeracy skills: maths,
economics or science
qualifications are mandatory in
some risk functions.
Quantitative and qualitative
skills.
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Sales, trading and research
Youll be good at communicating quickly, concisely and with clarity.
T
hese roles are all connected to
the trading and distribution of
financial assets and
instruments, to make money for clients
and investment banks. Products include
stocks, shares, corporate credit,
government debt, currencies and
derivatives. People working within this
field use their specialised knowledge of
one sort of product within one of the
following three roles:
Trading
Traders make deals, and buy and sell
products. They spend a great deal of
time at computer terminals or on the
phone with other traders, exchanging
information and making deals. They
also interact internally with staff
working in sales and research. The
workplace can be noisy, fast-paced and
pressured, but also dynamic and very
exciting.
Sales
Staff working in sales interact with
external investors and advise them on
which trades would be most financially
profitable. They then interact with
traders and ensure that the deals are
done correctly to the investors
satisfaction.
Research
People working in research analyse
trends in markets and then pass that
knowledge on to those working in
sales and trading to allow them to
make more informed decisions.
This area of work is known for
being highly lucrative but often with
long working hours; however, these
hours vary a little according to the role
that the employee has. Traders tend to
start very early in the morning in order
to prepare as much for the day and to
catch up on whats been happening in
other markets around the world
overnight before trading at their
location begins. However, they tend to
finish work very soon after trading
ends. Sales staff often start a little later
as their main role is interacting with
investors who tend not to start work
quite as early. Workers in research may
start a little later, as they react to what
happens once the traders start
exchanging products and pass their
analyses on once these processes have
started.
New developments
The relative volumes of different
products traded in the past couple of
years have changed as a result of the
recent financial turmoil. There has
been a move away from stocks and
shares, whose values often suffer in
difficult markets, and towards
commodities such as gold, as they
are seen as safer bets in difficult
times.
Starting out
A good degree in finance or one that
has a strong basis in numeracy is not
essential but preferred over other
disciplines, except in those roles
dealing with certain sorts of complex
products, in which case a degree
with excellent numerical skills is an
absolute must. However, strong
communication skills are also vital:
an essential part of all three roles is
the ability to communicate quickly
and clearly with others.
Competition for jobs in this
varied field is fierce and doing an
internship will provide you with an
advantage when finding the right job
as well as an insight into the industry
and some of the knowledge to hit the
ground running in one of these
intensely fast-paced roles. Fresh
graduates are usually placed in teams
with experienced staff where they
gain further knowledge and
experience.
Skills required
High levels of numeracy.
Being able to maintain high
professional standards and
integrity while working in a highly
pressured environment.
The ability to build strong
relationships and communicate
quickly with clarity.
GRADUATE VIEW
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I
have always wanted a
challenging work environment
and client and international
exposure. I tried to gain as much
experience as I could as early as
possible before joining my current
employer I interned, at KPMG in
Luxemburg, at Socit Gnrale in
Paris and at Commerzbank in
London. These experiences definitely
helped me find my current job and
understand what I wanted and where
I would fit in.
Standing out
I think I stood out from the crowd
because I was determined and knew
about the job I was applying to, as I
had met as many professionals as I
could during careers fairs and had
some relevant experience in the
industry. In addition, I studied at two
top-tier universities and speak four
languages well enough to handle
casual discussions at work. Finally,
my interests in cooking, running and
sailing (I sailed across the Atlantic in
2012) showed that I had real passion
and curiosity.
My job
I really enjoy my job, which enables
me to meet clients, work on concrete
issues that companies face and come
up with structured solutions. The
team I work in provides financing or
hedging solutions to large and mid-
sized companies. We focus on France
but also assist our German, Italian,
Spanish and some emerging markets
sales forces, so there is a lot of
diversity.
My day-to-day work is about
assisting the sales team by providing
accurate pricing and presentation
materials. I also look after some new
accounts myself. I have to follow the
market so that I can provide clients
with market updates and
opportunities. Communication is a
very important part of my job, as I
need to let team members know about
any client meetings that have taken
place and potential opportunities
arising from these.
Work/life balance
My life is quite well balanced: working
days are pretty intense but I am free
most evenings and weekends. I really
enjoy my job, so I am always willing
to invest time, and if necessary I will
stay late, for example to prepare for
client meetings.
Highs and lows
Ive been able to take on responsibility
early on and manage my own clients.
Its a meritocratic work environment,
so its possible to gain exposure
quickly and be promoted accordingly.
Getting trades and missing trades are
respectively the best and worst things
that happen at work! It is all about
pushing the right idea at the right time
and having the appropriate market
Simon Tail lefer
Job Senior analyst, fixed income structured sales
Employer Nomura International plc
University Quantitative finance,
Bocconi University, Milan, Italy
window. In my job, I can work on a
product for weeks or months before it
actually trades. As a sales person, I am
responsible for my client relationships,
and I need to ensure I have all the
information required to make things
happen, but I have also had to learn
about what factors I cannot control,
such as changes in market conditions.
It is a challenging job and I have
learned to accept criticism, be
adaptable, meet my objectives and go
the extra mile.
My advice
Finding the right job is not always
easy. It is vital to look at and consider
work opportunities while studying and
not wait until your graduation. To be
successful in this field, you need to be
motivated, hard working and have
good analytical skills.
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Technology
An IT degree is advantageous, but not always essential.
T
he innovative work carried out
by finance IT professionals is
recognised as one of the most
important components in the running of
todays banking and investment
organisations. It is thanks to the
dynamic technological expertise of such
individuals that the millions of
transactions carried out daily are
implemented and completed
successfully. From technological
solutions including front-end sales and
trading applications to risk analysis
systems and data storage solutions, the
function of the IT professional in
facilitating and optimising business
performance cannot be overstated.
While advancement in the world of
IT accelerates ever onward, forever
changing the way we communicate and
do business, the specialist knowledge of
the IT worker who stays abreast of
every development, is an essential asset
to any business particularly those in the
financial sector. Demand for outgoing,
passionate individuals with excellent IT
and communication skills is always high
and this demand is typically reflected by
the industrys high salaries.
Recent developments
Working with the highly mutable global
markets is always going to be fast paced
and challenging, and demand for a
strong technological infrastructure is
reflective of these erratic economic
times. The need for quality assurance
professionals is becoming increasingly
prevalent.
On the increase too is the impetus
within banking to improve data quality
and risk exposure, so recent times have
seen heavy investment in IT
infrastructure resulting in an overall
demand for workers throughout the
industry.
Starting out
While a postgraduate course is a
popular route into the business, an
excellent starting place in finance IT
as in all areas of this sector is to
acquire an internship. The time and
energy put in to expand your
knowledge of the industry will pay
off handsomely when it comes to
applying for jobs. All organisations
offer on-the-job training and
encourage graduates to improve
their qualifications.
Looking ahead
Greater responsibility can be earned
quickly and excellent career
prospects, for those who are
enthusiastic and prove themselves to
be capable, are usually forthcoming.
IT departments are often structured
like businesses in their own right, so
working in IT can give you the
chance to work in a variety of roles.
This will give you the opportunity to
try things out and find what suits
you best. As highly skilled
individuals, many technology
professionals get the opportunity to
travel and meet new challenges in
other environments.
Skills required
A degree in IT is advantageous
but it isnt always a necessity.
An interest in and a strong
aptitude for working with
technology.
An understanding of financial
systems, and of how technology is
employed in the sector.
The ability to communicate well
and work efficiently as part of a
team.
A calm outlook and the ability to
work under pressure.
GRADUATE VIEW
G
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V
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W
hen I started my degree I
wasnt sure what field I
wanted to work in I just
knew I wanted to develop software.
The main options were working within
business or building computer games.
In my final year I became increasingly
interested in the economy, the financial
sector and how business works, and
started to read some interesting articles
about the use of software applications
in trading. At this stage I started to go
to careers fairs and speak with people
in the sector, and to look for jobs in
finance. I applied to my current
employer when I finished my degree
and have now been working here for
over a year. I chose not to do an
internship as I wanted to focus on my
degree.
My job
LCH.Clearnet is a multinational
clearing house, providing counterparty
risk management across multiple asset
classes for sell-side clearing members,
buy-side clients and for exchange
markets globally. As a clearing house, it
sits in the middle of a trade as the buyer
to every seller and the seller to every
buyer. If either party defaults on the
trade, LCH.Clearnet owns the
defaulters risk and becomes
accountable for its liabilities.
I work within a team that develops
software applications designed to
gather and analyse market information
and generate reports that give our
clients vital risk management
information on their exposures. I
usually work on several projects,
which can range from relatively small
to substantial, at any one time. My
team can be made up of between 10
and 20 people, including IT specialists
and business experts. As well as
developing new applications I also
provide maintenance for current
systems, to ensure that our systems
remain robust.
Highs and lows
One of the best things about this job is
how much I can implement the
knowledge I gained at university it
feels great to put into practice what I
was studying every day. I love the fact
that I have lots of support but am also
given a good amount of autonomy to
design, plan, manage and implement a
project from the outset. I also get
involved in projects that make a real
difference and work closely with
senior management. Finishing a
project, and having my work used and
appreciated, is a fantastic feeling.
Working to tight deadlines can be a
challenge, but it creates a fast-paced,
exciting environment to work in, even
if it does sometimes mean working
long hours.
Working life
I usually work from 9.00 am until
6.00 pm, although at the end of a
project I sometimes work longer hours
Remi Raisys
Job Software developer
Employer LCH.Clearnet
University Computer science,
Goldsmiths, University of London
in order to meet a deadline. Its a social
environment where Ive made lots of
good friends and we often meet over
lunch. We have regular company
meetings, which are good for keeping
in touch with whats going on as well
as being genuinely interesting.
Training and development
When I first started here I received
training from experts to gain a good
understanding of the financial markets
and about our companys main business
objectives. I also had at least three
weeks training during my first year that
was related to IT. I feel I have developed
so much, both in terms of my IT skills,
as I work with real experts, and my
communication abilities. Its a very open
environment where asking questions
face to face is encouraged, so I have
plenty of opportunity to talk to business
experts as well as my immediate IT
colleagues.
All about initial training and development
Just as banking and investment employers come in all shapes and sizes,
graduate training programmes or schemes come in a range of flavours.
W
hen you join an investment bank or
investment management firm as a
graduate trainee, its up to you to
make the most of your initial
training.
Initial training: levelling the playing field
Your initial training will give you the chance to learn
about the organisation and develop the skills youll need
to use when you start work. Alongside soft skills like
presentation, you may be offered technical training on
regulatory and compliance matters. The initial training is
the ideal opportunity, where individuals are coming
together from different backgrounds, disciplines and
experiences, to level the playing field and ensure that
everyone is offered the best chance to learn and hit the
ground running.
The banking graduate scheme structure
The rotational scheme is common, where graduates rotate
through assignments in two or three parts of the business
during their first year to 18 months. Alternatively, some
programmes involve graduates going straight into a role on
a project team, working alongside experienced
professionals.
The recession has had an impact on the amount of time
and budget that can be spent on training schemes; you may
find that programmes are less thorough than in previous
years. The upside of this, however, is that you may find
yourself taking on earlier responsibilities than graduates in
previous years, such as communicating with people at
board level or going on client meetings very early on.
The graduate scheme: a place to network
Youre likely to hear a lot about the benefits of networking
on your scheme. Simply put, networking is about talking
with people and making friends as you would in any
situation. Never underestimate the power of relationships in
your career development: the woman you chat to in the
queue for lunch could turn out to be a crucial contact in
another part of the business. Whether its through a charity
event or sports team, participating in social events in the
workplace can be a
great way to get to
know colleagues
across the business.
Your initial training will also be an opportunity to
make contacts and network with everyone from other new
starters to top professionals. Enthusiasm and willingness
to learn are the most important qualities you can bring to
your new career.
Having the right attitude
There will be a lot to take in when you first start, and the
training youll be given will help you to develop your
career. If youre keen to get a head start, you could ask the
graduate recruitment team whether they have a suggested
reading list or any further information about the team
youre going to join.
Above all, enjoy yourself. Remember that the initial
training youll receive is the first step on your career path
think of it as a chance to build your skills, develop as a
professional and lay the groundwork for a successful
future career.
Some programmes
involve graduates
going straight
into a role on a
project team.
2013 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. All rights reserved.
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039323-270x190-TargetJobcity.indd 1 22/07/2013 09:44
ACCOUNTANCY & FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
Accountancy is a profession where you can
expect to do work thats at the heart of how
businesses are run. Every organisation
needs an accountant so you could work in
any sector and gain a professional
qualification thats recognised worldwide.
In a nutshell ................................................57
Choosing your accountancy employer ....58
Lets talk about money..............................60
Areas of work ............................................64
Qualify as a professional accountant......82
Professional bodies:
a snapshot ..............................................83
Contents
@TjobsFinance
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I AM THE
FUTURE
CEO OF

In a nutshell
The ability to communicate complicated information to
people who are not familiar with finance.
Professionalism and an ethical mindset.
High level of motivation and commitment to combine work
and study.
Basic proficiency in IT.
Commercial awareness of current issues.
Good numeracy and analytical skills.
Time management, multitasking and the ability to meet
tight deadlines.
Interpersonal skills to liaise with your team as well as
senior management.
G
lobal demand for accountancy and
financial management skills means that
those who qualify in the profession can
compete for roles across a broad range of
services in every sector and business
imaginable, from small enterprises, public sector
organisations and charities to large multinational
corporations. Professionals in the sector enable
organisations to run their finances effectively, ensure that
they comply with legal requirements and create winning
strategies to maximise profits.
Areas of work
Specialist areas include an assortment of services such as
assurance, audit, corporate finance, corporate recovery,
financial and forensic accounting, and tax. You could be
doing anything from analysing an organisations accounts to
helping a business facing serious financial problems.
Financial management is another area of employment for
accountants, usually within the private or public sectors,
which involves collecting information about a business and
making important decisions about its growth and
development. To find out about each area of work in detail,
see page 63.
Benefits of qualifying
Qualified accountants are professionals who hold a relevant,
nationally recognised qualification. Graduates normally
train for a professional qualification, which takes about
three years. This will give you a commercial focus that is
highly sought after by employers and will also equip you
with the relevant practical skills and theoretical knowledge
required to excel in todays business world. Accounting
qualifications are held in high esteem worldwide, with the
potential to open doors into other highly paid business
areas. Training in accountancy gives you a good
understanding of how businesses are run and therefore
makes you well prepared to run a business yourself in fact,
a higher percentage of company board members have an
accountancy qualification than any other postgraduate
qualification. To find out more about the professional
qualifications available, see the feature on page 82.
How to apply
Any degree discipline is accepted: many graduates from
arts and humanities backgrounds train in this field, and if
you have language skills you could be in high demand.
Good English and maths GCSE grades are normally
required as well as a minimum of 280 UCAS points and a
predicted 2.1 degree result. Some employers have specific
closing dates for applications, often in November,
although quite a few allow applications all year round
(applying early is still recommended, however). Check the
employer profiles and jobfinder tables at the back of this
publication for details (page 123 onwards).
TARGETjobs City & Finance would like to thank Melissa Munro of
ICAS for her help with this article.
@TjobsFinance
Use the employer hubs to do
in-depth employer research:
Choosing your accountancy employer
Invest time and effort in selecting the employer best suited to you and increase
your chances of a successful, happy career.
R
esearching employers and considering
which ones you would be best suited to are
some of the best ways to impress recruiters
and set yourself up for a successful career.
Finding the right fit can take a bit of time
but it will give you a much better chance of getting a job
youll really enjoy. We explore some of the main issues you
need to think about before making your choice.
The employers
The majority of trainee accountants are employed by
accountancy firms or practices. The most well known
employers in the sector are the Big Four, the four largest
international professional services firms, but there are also
plenty of medium-sized and smaller firms to take into
consideration. Different sized firms can offer different
benefits; for example, a small firm might offer a wider
range of experience whereas a large global firm might offer
more opportunity to travel overseas. The public sector is
not an area to be overlooked either. There are also graduate
positions in the private sector (sometimes known as
industry and commerce). This type of employer might
appeal to you if youre looking for exposure to a particular
industry. See if the employer youre interested in has an
independent Employer Insight review on targetjobs.co.uk.
The place
London offers many opportunities for a career in
accountancy and areas such as the square mile and Canary
Wharf are well known hubs for professional services firms.
However, accountants are needed up and down the country
so there are plenty of opportunities to find a job in the
profession wherever you want to live. Many accountants
choose to work in counties close to London such as
Middlesex, Berkshire and Surrey or, if youre still keen to
live in a city but not necessarily drawn to London life, there
are plenty of opportunities in places such as Manchester,
Birmingham, Bristol, Glasgow and Edinburgh. Outside of
the UK, the global demand for accountancy skills means
you could end up working anywhere in the world.
The training
Gaining a professional qualification will play a key part in
your first years of working as an accountant so training and
development should be a factor in your choice of employer.
Some employers will pay all your exam and tuition fees as
well as allowing significant study leave but not all can or will
offer such full support. Many larger employers have
attractive training packages but in return there could be high
expectations around exam passes and time taken to qualify.
Smaller organisations may offer less in terms of study
benefits but more in terms of flexibility and wider experience.
For more information see the qualifications article
on page 82.
Job fulfillment!
Research is the best preparation you can do when choosing
an employer, but its not just to impress recruiters you can
find out whether you genuinely want to work at an
organisation. There are plenty of ways to find out more
about employers. Speaking to people from different firms at
careers fairs and employer presentations will help you
understand what their working life is really like.
You could also draw up a list of areas that are
most important to you, such as
size, qualification or travel
opportunities, and use
employer websites and
publications to find out
which match your
preferences. Dont be
afraid to ask
questions and find
out everything you
want to know before
you make your
decision.
Lets talk
about money...
The salary and benefits you can
expect from a career in accountancy.
A
ccording to the latest biannual survey from the
Association of Graduate Recruiters, 25,750 is the
average starting salary offered by accountancy and
professional services firms, a figure that is predicted to rise
by 5.8 per cent in the coming year. Not bad for a
profession that remained pretty stable throughout the recession, and in
which employees can generally enjoy a decent work/life balance, with fairly
regular hours. There can be exceptions to this, of course there are busier
times of year such as financial quarterly and year-ends where the pressure
will pile on but our survey last year of 123 graduates working for
accountancy and financial management firms found that 83 per cent
described themselves as happy with the lifestyle around their jobs the
hours, travel, location and colleagues.
Benefits
Base salary is not everything, of course. A recent survey by ICAS reported
that although pay freezes are common, many firms are increasing the range
of benefits they offer. Weve taken a look at the key recruiters in this sector
to come up with a list of the typical benefits you can expect when you join
an accountancy firm. Bear in mind that not all firms will offer all of these,
but you can expect most of these standard employment benefits:
a graduate loan (larger firms, such as the Big 4, will offer up to 7,000
interest free, whereas smaller firms, such as Grant Thornton, offer
2,500) this can be a big help when it comes to paying a deposit on
rent or buying a work wardrobe
holiday allowance usually between 2025 days per year
interest-free season ticket loan
personal accident insurance
life assurance
pension scheme with company contribution
maternity and paternity leave.
Many firms are increasing
the range of benefits
they offer.
Most accountancy
employers will pay for
your exam fees
and give you time
off to study.
Most firms, especially the larger ones, also offer further optional
benefits, which employees can choose to suit them personally.
Heres a sample of what may be available:
Salary during and after qualification
Qualifying with a professional body usually takes about three to four
years and comprises a number of exams, practical work experience
(usually 36 months worth) and usually the completion of a professional
ethics module or course. Most accountancy employers will pay for your
exam fees and give you time off to study. Your salary will often increase
as you move towards qualification as you will be gaining valuable
experience. CIMA reports that its part-qualified students in the UK are
earning on average 31,432 in basic salary plus 1,512 in bonus
payments, totalling 32,944.
Expect a big increase in salary once you qualify. The ICAEW
reports that you can expect to be making 45,000 on qualification,
while the average earning potential of ICAEW chartered
accountants in business, six to nine years after qualifying is
85,900 (71,600 salary + 14,300 bonus).
health checks
lunch allowance
staff discounts (gym
membership, travel, computer
hardware and software)
extra holidays
annual travel insurance
bikes for work
carbon offsetting
private healthcare
dental insurance
childcare vouchers.
Graduate careers
at Kerry Group
We are now recruiting for our
next generation of global leaders
As one of the largest and most technologically advanced
manufacturers of ingredients and avours in the world,
Kerry Group supplies over 15,000 ingredients and avours
products to many of the worlds biggest food names.
Kerry Group is also a leading producer of chilled consumer
foods with leading brands such as Cheestrings, Low Low
and Mattesons.
Our best in class Graduate Programme provides an accelerated
path to leadership whilst working in an innovative, energetic and
global environment.
Kerry Group has over 100 vacancies in Accounting and Finance,
R&D, Engineering, ICT, Operations, Procurement, Quality,
Supply Chain, Sales and Marketing and HR.
Apply online at
www.kerrygraduates.com
W
ith so many roles to choose from
in accountancy and financial
management, weve put together an
overview of the main areas of work to
help you decide. Accountancy and
financial management offers a wide range of roles and
specialisms, and career paths vary too. You might gain
experience in a broad accountancy area like audit before
you specialise, or you could join a financial training
programme at a large industrial organisation. To help the
decision-making process, read the overviews and graduate
profiles on the following pages.
Once youve seen where you could be working and what
the different roles involve, discover the professional
qualifications you could gain (page 82) and read advice
from working graduate accountants on how to get hired
and succeed.
about where to start your career, weve
put together an overview of the main
areas of work in accountancy and
financial management.
Assurance..................................................................................64
Commercial finance..................................................................66
Corporate finance ....................................................................68
Corporate recovery ..................................................................70
Corporate treasury....................................................................71
Financial accounting ................................................................73
Forensic accounting ................................................................74
Internal audit ............................................................................76
Management accounting ........................................................78
Risk assessment ......................................................................79
Tax ..............................................................................................80
I felt that assurance/audit would
give me a wide range of experiences
as well as skills sets, and a good
overview of how businesses operate.
Read Hannahs full profile on page 65.
After I did some research into
possible career options, M&A
seemed an obvious choice, as I
would get to work with a wide variety of
businesses in different sectors.
Read Toms full profile on page 69.
Internal audit appealed because I
knew Id get a lot of responsibility
early on in my career and work in a
wide range of public sector organisations.
Read Josephines full profile on page 77.
@TjobsFinance
For more advice on getting
hired and working, go to
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Assurance
Reviewing data and procedures and providing advice to clients.
A
ssurance is the review of
financial data and procedures
within a company to ensure
that shareholders money is being put to
proper use, and to provide them with
the information they need when
considering investing in an organisation.
This review is called an audit.
An annual audit, carried out by an
independent, external organisation, is
a legal requirement for businesses in
the UK. It can also involve
investigation, analysis and the
provision of advice to clients. The final
report provides assurance that the
companys results are true and fair.
Many companies also carry out
internal audits. This is not a legal
requirement but it is good practice.
Increasing regulation means that
companies need to be constantly
reviewing their processes to ensure
compliance; carrying out an internal
audit puts them in a better position
when it comes to an external audit.
(Find out more about internal audit
on page 76.)
Increasingly, other types of
assurance are also being undertaken,
such as carrying out due diligence on
a company that is a target for a
merger or acquisition, or checking to
ensure a company is meeting
sustainability or social and corporate
responsibility standards. These are
potential areas in which you could
develop your career.
Working life
Graduates usually train in external
audit while studying for a professional
qualification. This hands-on style of
training gives you great experience
from the word go. It can be hard work
juggling the demands of the day job,
studying and your social life but there
are compensations. You will work in a
team, which means there are always
colleagues there to help and advise
you, and youll get time off for study.
Initially, you will probably move
around the country quite a bit and
may have the opportunity to work
abroad. Each company you audit will
present new challenges. And you
have the chance to meet lots of
interesting people and develop
increasing commercial awareness. As
you progress, you will be given more
responsibility and be able to use your
judgement and experience. After two
or three years you should progress to
assistant manager and be able to lead
teams.
Skills required
Your academic background needs to
be good as professional exams can be
tough, but it doesnt have to be
finance related.
Having the right work experience
can help. If you can show that you
have been able to work with others
and build relationships, are able to
organise your time and can
communicate well both verbally and
in writing then you have a head start.
Youll need a degree of self-
confidence too. You will meet all
sorts of people and may have to be
able to winkle out information if it is
not being offered readily.
Best and worst
The hours can be long at peak times
(usually January to April) and, as
with all jobs, there is a certain
amount of repetition of some tasks.
But this can be more than balanced
by the variety of companies you visit,
the opportunity to meet new people
and the chance to gain more skills
and experience.
There is also a great sense of
achievement when each audit is
complete and you all go out and
celebrate!
GRADUATE VIEW
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chose accountancy because of the
structured training route and wide
range of opportunities it would
open up to me once completing the
graduate programme. I felt that
assurance/audit would give me a wide
range of experiences as well as skills
sets, and a good overview of how
businesses operate.
Getting in
Before applying here I completed a
graduate scheme at another company
in the finance sector, before deciding
that I wanted to pursue a career in
accountancy. My experiences definitely
helped me get this job as I had plenty
of examples to give of work situations
throughout the interviewing process. I
know other members of my team have
been on internships and placements,
which definitely helped set them up for
a graduate role.
My job
As a senior associate I tend to be a bit of
a middleman, reporting to the manager
on different jobs as well as coaching
more junior members of the team on the
audit tasks they have been assigned.
What I do day to day largely depends on
what sort of audit (interim review, year-
end audit, regulatory audit) Im working
on and what stage of the audit weve
reached. During the on-site audit Ill be
testing the riskier areas of a clients
financial statements, getting support for
the numbers making up the balances, or
reviewing the financial statements and
related notes to make sure theyre
consistent with the audited numbers.
Work/life balance
The work /life balance depends on the
stage of an audit Im working on.
During time pressured year-end audits,
it can be difficult to strike a good
work/life balance. I make the most of
the quieter periods!
Highs and lows
Its exciting to work on headline
clients or projects before audit results
are released to the public and then to
see how the results are interpreted in
the financial markets and the effect on
share prices. Its always rewarding to
spot errors in the financial statements
during the audit execution as it proves
the value we add to a clients work, as
well as demonstrating the need for
independent reviews.
Sometimes the hours can be a little
unpredictable; as a client-facing
organisation we have to be fairly
amenable to the clients needs. On the
whole I can expect a pretty busy
January and February (to take account
for the December year ends) and the
occasional busy period for the rest of
the year (normally at the quarter
ends).
Training
As Im working towards the ACA
qualification, Ive had to do a lot of
Hannah
Job Senior associate, London Top Tier Assurance
Employer PwC
University Human sciences, University of Oxford
Studying towards ACA qualification
studying for exams. The majority of
these exams were taken within my first
year and the support has been great.
The tutors tend to be people who
recently worked in practice so they
understand how to make the course
content relevant. We also have
structured in-house training to make
sure that everyones receiving a
standardised level of training in audit
and assurance. Most importantly I get
a great deal of support from members
of the team; most of the training is on
the job through coaching from more
senior members of the team.
New skills
Ive developed a much better overall
understanding of how businesses work
and the ability to read and interpret
financial statements. Ive developed my
personal skills and built growing
numbers of relationships with clients
and colleagues.
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Marcus
Richards
Job Advisor,
public sector financial management
Employer KPMG
University Chemistry and law,
University of Bristol
CIPFA qualified
I have always been interested in finance
and economics so it made sense to
embark on a career in something I am
passionate about. I applied for my first
role in accountancy the week that
Lehman Brothers collapsed; I think that
reinforced my impression of the kind of
challenges I might get involved in
through working in this area.
My job
We support public sector clients, mainly
government departments, in dealing
with some of their most difficult
financial problems, to ensure they can
deliver the services they are tasked to
do. My role varies according to the
project I am working on; it can range
from tackling complex operational issues
to contributing to challenging strategic
decisions. The projects we work on tend
to come with demanding deadlines and
workloads, but I relish this.
Career highlights
The most exciting part of working in this
area is the scale and complexity of the
projects and the feeling that what we do
has a tangible, positive impact. We have
done some really interesting projects
around the health reforms for which
there is no precedent. It has been
challenging but very rewarding in
helping to drive through innovation.
Commercial finance
Performing analysis and offering strategic advice to
ensure business success.
C
ommercial finance is at the
heart of industry and commerce
and has a strong focus on
consumer transactions. Sectors such as
retail, manufacturing, fast-moving
consumer goods and leisure employ
commercial finance managers to analyse
the performance of their products or
services and make recommendations to
maximise profits. A finance manager
might focus on one specific product or
offer broader strategic advice to drive
the whole business forward, depending
on their level of expertise and the nature
of the organisation.
The role involves creating the best
possible financial controls and
structures to enable non-finance
functions such as sales, marketing and
circulation to streamline their
expenditure and make well informed
business decisions. Commercial
finance managers might also
recommend a price for the product or
service, which entails finding a balance
between attracting consumers and
making a sufficient profit. Other
responsibilities include tracking and
analysing sales performances against
targets and highlighting any
variances, forecasting future profits,
and developing new products and
promotions.
Starting out
Most graduates join a training
programme in industry and
commerce where you can gain a
professional accountancy
qualification while developing your
skills in management, persuasion
and communication. You are likely
to be given a fair amount of
responsibility from the start, such as
advising on financial controls and
providing appropriate information
and analysis to help colleagues make
key decisions.
Skills required
The call for business awareness is
self-evident in commercial finance
and the ability to communicate in a
team environment, particularly with
non-finance colleagues, is also very
important. Strong analytical skills
and attention to detail are needed to
evaluate figures effectively and any
experience in a commercial
environment will help demonstrate
your understanding of industry.
Best and worst
Commercial finance will give you a
valuable springboard from which to
launch a career in management:
youll gain a good understanding of
how business works and a lot of
exposure to your chosen sector.
However, you will need to be
prepared for a pressured
environment where every decision is
reflected in daily sales reports.
@TjobsFinance
What we
do has a
positive
impact.
Marcus
@TjobsFinance
ICAEW is proud to
sponsor the award for
the most popular graduate
recruiter in Accounting and
financial management
PwC is receiving the award for the most
popular graduate recruiter in Accounting
and financial management at the
TARGETjobs National Graduate
W I N N I N G
T E A M
awards house ad_Template 2013 23/07/2013 17:34 Page 1
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Corporate finance
Adding value to businesses going through change.
are now offered by the ICAEW. In
some roles within corporate
finance, complex deals often
require detailed knowledge of the
area of business in which the
organisation is trading in those
roles, staff will need to have
acquired this special sector-specific
knowledge.
Skills required
To work in corporate finance, you
need excellent communication skills.
Brokers and lead advisers in this
area need to be able to strike deals
effectively with other parties.
Confidence is essential, as are good
numeracy skills and the resilience to
be able to work long hours under a
high degree of pressure.
Confidence
is essential
in corporate
finance.
C
orporate finance primarily
involves adding value to
businesses through buying and
selling. For example, a company may
decide to buy out another company to
augment its business. Or the owners of
a company could sell the whole or part
of a business and allow senior staff to
attempt a management buy-out extra
funds would need to be raised to make
this possible.
The roles
Roles range from lead advisers, who
project manage the process of raising
capital, through to reporting
accountants and auditors, who are
responsible for making sure that the
accounts of any target company are in
good order, to lawyers, who ensure
that any transactions are carried out in
the correct legally binding way.
New developments
Due to recent events in the banking
sector, businesses are finding it
increasingly difficult to find the extra
funding necessary to take important
steps forward. Although there has
been an increase in the visibility of
private equity firms in the past few
years, the current conditions will
provide fresh challenges for those
interested in this area.
Starting out
Auditing roles provide good
experience in calculating how much
businesses are genuinely worth.
Professional qualifications for this role
GRADUATE VIEW
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wanted to use the skills Id
developed while studying
economics at university and to
work on varied, interesting projects.
After I did some research into possible
career options, M&A (mergers and
acquisitions) seemed an obvious
choice, as I would get to work with a
wide variety of businesses in different
sectors and see markets in action on a
day-to-day basis.
Getting in
I did a six-week internship in a
corporate finance boutique in the
summer of my second year. I think my
relevant work experience was the
single most important thing that made
me stand out from other candidates,
although Im sure the fact that I had a
relatively strong academic record and
built a good rapport with my
interviewer helped too. The most
challenging part of the application
process was the assessment centre: it
was a long day and quite intense, with
lots of interviews and tests in the space
of just a few hours, and no time to
rest. I was exhausted when I got home
at the end of the day!
My job
I work in M&A, which is within
corporate finance. We advise
businesses on processes involving
selling, targeting or fundraising. My
day-to-day responsibilities vary a lot
thats one of the main reasons why I
enjoy the job. The kinds of things I
might do in a given day include
identifying potential buyers or targets
for our clients and making contact
with them; helping carry out
valuations for clients; financial
modelling; market analysis; and
contributing towards the writing of
documents such as business plans and
information memoranda.
Working life
Corporate finance is notorious for its
long hours. The heavy workload is
compounded by the fact that Im
studying for a professional qualification
at the same time, so there are occasions
when I have to surrender my social life.
However, there is occasional downtime
in the office and I probably value my
leisure time more as a result.
Highs and lows
It can be exciting to be party to the
negotiations that occur during the
process of a deal, trying to anticipate
how the other side might respond and
how in turn our side should react. Its
quite tactical and you can never be
quite sure whats going to happen
next. The major upside can also be a
downside while there is a lot of
excitement in the process, it can also
be quite fraught, and its frustrating
when an outcome isnt what you had
hoped for.
Tom Palmer
Job Corporate finance executive
Employer BDO LLP
University Economics, University Col lege London
Currently studying towards ACA qualification
Developing new skills
Developing strong attention to detail
has probably been one of the most
significant areas professional work is
different to academic work in that you
cant just throw something together
and expect it to receive a positive
response solely because the content is
good. You have to ensure all your
output is well presented and has been
checked meticulously.
Advice to students
If I had my time again at university I
would probably have started
considering my career options earlier.
Like most freshers, I saw the first year
as an opportunity to exploit my
newfound autonomy and do as little
work as possible. This meant I didnt
start considering what to do next until
well into my second year, which did
make finding the necessary experience
more stressful.
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Alina
Job Associate
Employer PwC
University Business administration,
finance and economics, Richmond
University, London
Currently studying towards ACA
qualification
I completed a number of different
internships during school and
university so that I could try out
various industries to form a better idea
of what I really wanted to do and then
focus all my efforts on my chosen
career path. My first contact with PwC
was during an international internship
between Nicosia, Cyprus and London.
The internship was in assurance, which
is commonly known as audit, but
presentations and informal talks with
other departments led to me finding
out about business recovery services
(BRS). I joined the BRS shared scheme
in 2012.
My job
My role is split into two areas,
assurance and business recovery
services. Within assurance my work
has included engagements with clients
from education and media, to
insurance and manufacturing, through
to consumer electronics. Within
business recovery services my work
involves a lot of business
development. Tasks include analytical
work to understand clients specific
needs and the environment they
operate in, so we can provide them
with assessments and risk processes.
My advice
You cannot start early enough to look
for job opportunities. And dont miss
the details do your research. Many
people who started with me werent
aware of more tailored offers such as
international positions or shared
schemes.
Corporate recovery
Helping failing businesses recover in the best way
possible and as smoothly as possible.
C
orporate recovery involves the
processes behind ensuring that
creditors, suppliers or
employees of failing businesses get the
best deal. Specialists in this field are
normally appointed through referrals
from banks, lawyers and accountants.
They may decide, after analysis, that it is
possible to keep the business going if
certain steps are taken, such as ceasing
to trade in the loss-making areas of a
business. If rescue is not a possibility
then it becomes their task to wind up the
business and recover as much as possible
from selling the business assets.
New developments
The number of companies getting into
trouble in the recent recession was
lower than many in the industry
expected. However, life could become
difficult for businesses with large
amounts of debt. Other possible
casualties include companies exposed to
the public sector, which, in light of
heavy cuts in government spending, will
see their margins squeezed.
Starting out
Graduates with a wide range of
degrees, including those in
mathematical disciplines, business
studies, economics, management or
law are all well placed to seek
employment in this field, but those
with other good degrees with
excellent negotiation and
communication skills, such as
marketing, may well find employment
in this area. As a graduate you can
expect to be involved in a number of
roles gaining knowledge of how the
industry works before moving on to
specialise in your chosen area.
Skills required
To work in corporate recovery you
need an interest in the way that
companies work. As well as good
negotiation skills and an ability to
deal with complex financial
information, you need excellent
people skills and sensitivity recovery
specialists often have to work with
staffs who are losing their jobs.
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Sophie Boyle
Job Treasury
analyst
Employer Warner Music Group
University Computer-aided design,
University of Kent at Canterbury
AMCT Diploma in Treasury qualified
I chose to work in treasury after
completing an internship over a
university summer holiday. I worked at
a cash-poor company and when a
chartered accountant left suddenly I
was able to take on parts of their role. I
found the forecasting and cash aspects
particularly interesting and decided to
investigate further I put myself
through the first AMCT Diploma in
Treasury exam before I got my job.
My role
I work within a team of five people; my
four colleagues are based in New York
so for half the day I handle any requests
that may arise, from managing liquidity
to solving complex affiliate queries
arising from global netting. I also have a
few ad hoc projects to work on and this
combination gives me enough
responsibility to feel challenged.
Highs and lows
The variety of situations that arise
during the day makes the job extremely
interesting. I work with 16 currencies,
each with a different cut-off time so
there are constant deadlines
throughout the day. Because I work on
an international basis not all of my
colleagues are in the same time zone,
so discussions can take longer as they
have to be conducted over email.
C
orporate treasurers work
within the heart of an
organisation, ensuring that it
has enough cash to meet any demands
that are likely to be made upon it. This
involves monitoring liquidity in the
companys finances and being aware of
any developments in the business that
generate risk and ensuring that capital
is available to cover these. Treasurers
are also responsible for maintaining
relationships between their own
business and any others providing
financial services to it, such as banks.
They also take a role in raising any new
funding for the business, ensuring that
firm financial controls are present to
guarantee financial security. Because
these functions are absolutely core to
the success of the business, staff
working in corporate treasury will
often be dealing directly with senior
management in monitoring the
financial situation this, coupled with
the fact that substantial sums of money
can be involved, can generate a lot of
pressure.
New developments
New controls over the banking sector
are being implemented to ensure that
some of the worst effects of the
turmoil that enveloped the worlds
banking system in 2008 can be
mitigated in future. Treasurers need to
stay well informed to ensure that they
can manage their organisations funds
in the best possible way under the new
proposals.
Starting out
Further qualifications organised by the
Association of Corporate Treasurers
(ACT) are necessary to work and
progress in this field. Graduates
typically start work in a more general
financial role at a company and work
on these qualifications on a part-time
basis. Once qualified, they then move
into a more specialised role within
corporate treasury. The role can vary
over time, depending on what the
business is currently involved in but
typical duties for a new starter would
include managing cash and providing
other areas of the business with
financial advice.

Skills required
To work and be a success in
corporate treasury youll need a good
understanding of business and
economics, excellent analytical skills
and an ability to work well under
pressure.
Corporate treasury
Managing an organisations funds and ensuring security.
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I work
with 16
currencies.
Sophie
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Richard
Foster
Job Financial
analyst, group financial control
Employer National Grid
University Management, University
of Leeds
Currently studying towards CIMA
qualification
I completed an industrial placement in IT
consultancy with a Big Four firm,
gaining valuable commercial knowledge
to apply in industry. After university I
wanted a career in energy; National Grid
appealed because it offers broad
experience of the gas and electricity
industry.
My job
My current role supports two key
finance teams. Firstly, I spend time
with our group financial reporting
team, contributing to our annual report
and half-year release. The work is
intense as it has high-profile
deliverables, yet it builds my technical
accounting skills as well as the ability
to project manage against strict
deadlines.
Secondly, I work within
management reporting, providing
performance insight to our board on
our main businesses. We run the
group budgeting and forecasting
processes. Here I learn how the
business plans and implements its
financial strategy. It is interesting
because there is a lot of exposure to
senior finance leaders and it equips
me with a sense of our long-term
direction, the challenges we face, and
the success we can achieve.
Developing skills
On the programme I am constantly
learning, developing the valuable soft
skills, such as leadership, required to
keep pushing on. Importantly, working
alongside like-minded graduates
motivates me to continue seeking
further opportunities.
F
inancial accountants analyse
and report on financial
transactions that can yield vital
information on how a business is
performing. This information is
important to external investors, such as
shareholders or banks, as it allows
them to compare and choose which
businesses they should invest in. It is
vital to other organisations that they
trade with, such as suppliers, as it
allows these other businesses to make
good decisions, based on market
conditions, about whether they should
supply their services or not and if credit
should be extended. It is also an
absolute necessity to those within the
business itself to keep good financial
control by driving the best decisions
for example, what a sensible level of
remuneration for staff should be or
whether the company can invest in new
equipment without seriously reducing
the return that it can make to investors.
Typical areas that financial
accountants may work in include
auditing, treasury management and
cash flow, or the reporting on new or
likely acquisitions.
New developments
International standards for reporting
for financial accountants have been
gradually developed over a number of
years. Many jurisdictions, including
parts of the European Union, already
use these standards, and now that
compliance is also happening in the
United States life should be easier for
those working in areas concerning the
finance and reporting of large
multinational companies.
Starting out
While studying for a professional
qualification, graduates will
generally start their
employment in a programme that
enables them to gain an understanding
of the whole of the business. The wide
range of knowledge and skills
developed in this role allows people in
this field the chance to specialise in a
variety of areas.
Skills required
Financial accountants are often
required to explain complex financial
arrangements to those with little or
no financial background so they need
excellent communication skills. They
also need a good level of numeracy in
addition to an analytical, enquiring
mind and a desire to challenge and
improve the way in which an
organisation works.
Financial accounting
Keeping good financial controls in an organisation.
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need excellent
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City & Finance 2014 | 73 @TjobsFinance
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Forensic accounting
Uncovering key financial information, quantifying losses and investigating fraud.
F
orensic accountants help clients
resolve financial problems such
as fraud, disputes and suspected
misconduct. They carry out investigations
to uncover key information about the
person or organisation in question and
quantify the losses involved. This might
involve interviewing people to verify facts
and pin down the perpetrator, tracing
and recovering illegitimate funds or
searching through delicate information
for incriminating evidence. There is also
scope to specialise in fraud risk
management, reducing the chances of
fraud taking place in the first place.
Forensic accountants can work in a
specialist department of a professional
services firm, on behalf of an individual,
a private organisation or a public body
such as the Serious Fraud Office, the
Serious Organised Crime Agency or HM
Revenue & Customs. Forensic
accountants often work alongside
lawyers and are sometimes asked to give
evidence in court as expert witnesses.
The area of work has become
increasingly important over the years as
there is more demand for accountability
in both the public and private sectors.
Starting out
Some firms recruit directly into this area
but many graduates initially train in
audit or work in a forensic department
as part of a rotational training
programme. Graduate level
responsibilities might include creating
spreadsheets, extracting relevant data
from financial records and checking
written reports. An important aspect of
a graduate role is to keep the key issues
of the case in mind at all times and
understand the implications of the
information being analysed.
Skills required
Forensic accountants need the
inquisitiveness and sound judgement of a
detective as well as the numerical and
communication skills to convey complex
conclusions effectively to people from a
non-finance background. Attention to
detail is very important as fundamental
evidence might be hiding in the depths of
seemingly trivial data.
Best and worst
The routine record analysis can be quite
laborious, and working hours will come in
peaks and troughs, but finding a crucial
piece of information is very satisfying.
Investigations can sometimes lead abroad,
offering scope for international travel. The
area of work attracts people from a wide
range of interesting backgrounds too, such
as law enforcement, forensic technology
and private investigation.
Attention to
detail is very
important.
GRADUATE VIEW
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I
wanted a career within a
professional service sector, so my
two main options were law or
accountancy. Having studied languages
at A level and through university I
wanted to broaden my skill base and
felt that having a chartered accountancy
qualification would give me an
invaluable knowledge platform on
which I could begin my career.
During my degree I did various work
experience programmes within law
firms and investment banks. This gave
me an insight into different working
environments and types of roles that
would suit me best. In my penultimate
year I undertook a summer internship
at Ernst & Young, during which I spent
a day shadowing a director from FIDS,
and was offered a graduate position
upon completion.
My job
I mainly work on investigations and
compliance-related engagements (a
large part of my departments work
focuses on dispute engagements as
well). My responsibilities vary but on
each engagement I am involved with
detailed transaction analysis. During an
investigation this could include email
review and asset tracing; during a
dispute calculating the loss of profit.
Other tasks include assisting with or
leading interviews, report drafting and
helping with engagement
administration such as the budgeting,
resourcing and billing of a project.
Work/life balance
As we are a project-based department,
there are times when we will be
working to a tight timeframe and we
will work all the hours necessary to
ensure we meet the deadline. Overall
the company promotes a flexible
working environment, which means
that within reason I can manage my
own time; I have rarely changed any
important social commitments because
of work.
Career highlight
One of the first projects I worked on
was an investigation into allegations
from a number of shareholders in a
property and management company
based in Israel. The allegations centred
on the misuse of funds invested in the
company by one of the companys
shareholders. The investigation
involved a large-scale asset-tracing
exercise and interviews with employees.
During this engagement we faced some
of the most difficult working conditions
I have been subjected to. The employees
of the company we were investigating
appeared co-operative but we soon
became aware that they were going to
be as obstructive as possible. They
ensured their lawyer was present at all
times in our meeting room, all forms of
communication such as email and
mobile phones were prohibited and we
were not allowed to access any other
part of the office except the allocated
meeting room. This meant that
Emma Browne
Job Executive, fraud, investigation and dispute
services practice (FIDS)
Employer EY
University Modern languages, University of Bristol
CA qualified
communication between our team
members was virtually restricted to
written notes. As a team we remained
professional throughout and ensured
that verbal communications between
team members were kept to a minimum.
At the end of each day we went to our
office to debrief in full. As a new
executive I learned that it was imperative
to keep a record of all the obstacles we
faced during our time on site as these
formed part of our report to the client. I
also learned about the importance of
confidentiality when performing an
investigation.
My advice
Enjoy what youre studying and make
the most of all the opportunities you
have access to. Go to as many careers
fairs and speak to as many employer
representatives as you can to get a
better understanding of the careers that
are out there.
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Internal audit
Investigating, reporting and advising management on how to improve business efficiency.
C
ompanies are exposed to
external audit as a result of legal
requirements to ensure that
investors, such as shareholders, can see
that the company is being run in an
honest manner. However, many
companies also employ internal auditing
teams. These teams look closely at key
areas of the business and report their
findings to management; the information
that they gather is used by senior
management. Internal auditors can advise
management if important areas of the
business are being run in an inefficient,
financially risky or even fraudulent way.
Larger companies have their own internal
audit teams but it is common for smaller
companies to call in the skills of an
organisation specialising in auditing work
to carry this task out for them.
New developments
As a result of the Enron scandal over a
decade ago, strict regulations have been
brought in by many jurisdictions to
tighten up controls and stamp out
corporate fraud. The level of
transparency necessary for the safe
running of a company versus the
reduction in cost-causing bureaucracy is
still an issue in this field and any further
changes will have important
consequences for auditors.
Starting out
Graduates typically begin work in this
field as audit assistants before moving
on to more senior roles that cover larger
areas of the business and tend to be
more strategic. Degrees in business
disciplines are looked at favourably for
this role, as a successful auditor has to
be able to see how the business as a
whole functions in order to do their
job properly. Other degree disciplines
are also accepted as there are many
other skills associated with this role.
Auditors are involved with staff at all
levels of the company and tact and
good questioning skills are an essential
part of the job.
Skills required
Internal auditors need a good
knowledge of how businesses are run
and an ability to liaise and
communicate effectively with staff at
all levels, sometimes in awkward
situations. An eye for detail is an
advantage, as well as the ability to see
the bigger picture.
Tact and good
questioning
skills are
essential.
GRADUATE VIEW
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career in internal audit
appealed to me because I
knew Id get a lot of
responsibility early on in my career and
that Id get to work in a wide range of
public sector organisations and see
what goes on behind the scenes the
systems and processes that are carried
out to make the organisations run
smoothly. I also wanted to continue
studying while working in order to
maximise my professional development.
Applying
I found the application process lengthy
and the initial competency-based
interview nerve-wracking! Luckily, I
felt confident talking to interviewers
about my personality and my career
history, and I had carried out enough
research about internal audit before
applying and attending interviews.
My job
I travel to different public sector
organisations and assess the controls
in place to reduce any risks that could
negatively affect their objectives being
achieved. On a day-to-day basis this
involves discussion with staff and
management, reviewing documents,
taking samples of their record-keeping
systems and testing whether the
systems and processes in place are
effective. If I find any weaknesses, I
will then make recommendations to
management on how to improve the
risk controls. Finally I will draft a
report detailing my assessment and
conclusions, recommendations to
management and a level of assurance
provided to the organisation as to how
effective their controls are.
Work/life balance
As this job requires a lot of travel it
means that I can be away from home
for a week at a time, staying in a hotel
near the client site. When this happens
it does make a work/life balance
difficult but in my experience it has
only been the odd week that I am that
far from home its not the norm!
Highs and lows
The most exciting part of the job is the
wide variety of areas I can be looking
at. Examples of audits I have
undertaken are payroll, adult social
care contracts, new roads and street
works, creditors the list goes on! I like
the fact that the job is project based, so
one week Ill have one audit booked
and the week after Ill have moved on
to a completely different subject.
The biggest crisis Ive had to deal
with so far was when about five of my
audits were reviewed at the same time,
and I was given additional work to go
back to the client for while keeping up
with my current audit at the same
time. From this I learned to check in
more often with management while
undertaking audits, so that I know
that Im covering all the areas
required. Then I can be sure there
Josephine White
Job Internal auditor
Employer Deloitte & Touche Public Sector Internal
Audit Limited
University Marketing management,
Oxford Brookes University
Studying towards Chartered Institute of Internal Audit certification (IIA)
wont be much extra work to do once
the file has been reviewed. The more
experienced I get, the fewer review
points I have anyway.
Personal development
The main areas I feel Ive developed
from training are how to form good
client relationships and network.
Skills required for a career in
internal audit
The most important skills needed in
this area are organisation skills, as you
need to be able to juggle your time and
produce deliverables within strict
deadlines; a thirst for knowledge,
because to be successful you need to
have a deep understanding of the
organisation and the subject field;
and excellent communication skills,
in order to communicate effectively
and evidence findings and
recommendations to clients.
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Julia Nocker
Job Account
finance
manager, discounters
Employer Unilever UK
University BSc international
business, Maastricht University;
MSc corporate finance,
EDHEC Nice; MSc
organisation: management, change
and consultancy, Maastricht
University
I have always enjoyed working with
numbers and understanding the
story they can tell. After university I
wanted to combine that interest with
working on tangible products, which
is what the fast moving consumer
goods industry offers. Finance
appealed because of the opportunity
to work across different business
areas in a variety of functions.
My job
I have just finished the financial
management graduate scheme
where I did several placements. I am
now the account finance manager for
Unilevers business with discount
retailers. I work with the sales team
who sell products to supermarkets
such as Lidl or Poundland. I am
responsible for the profit and losses
and therefore performance of the
team, which means I get involved in
the annual agreements we have with
customers and the promotions we
support in store, as well as
forecasting and balance sheet
management.
Highlights
My last placement was working on
the Simple brand that we had just
integrated into Unilever as part of a
new acquisition. I was the only
finance person on a newly formed
business team, working on a
complex piece of business. I learned
to prioritise, show leadership and
deal with many different
stakeholders at the same time.
Management accounting
Providing business-specific economic guidance.
M
anagement accounting deals
with the supply of economic
information that can aid in
decision-making processes. Management
accountants have acquired an in-depth
knowledge of the business sectors they
work in and a wide range of different
skills such as planning, management and
strategy in addition to their accounting
abilities; it is this combination that
allows them to provide specialised,
business-specific guidance. They offer
advice on topics such as the economics
of design, the cost of running of
production lines, the maintenance of
buildings and equipment, staffing levels,
and the potential cost and planning of
IT solutions. Their approach generates
insights into how a business can plan
for, and adapt to, a changing
environment. Management
accountants often need to see a
business from a complex global
perspective, while dealing with the
specific, local issues of each process
at hand, and how all these different
factors interact, in order to provide
the best advice.
New developments
There has been an increasing interest
in areas of risk management and
governance involved in management
accounting over the past few years.
As with many other financial roles,
the recent recession has brought
home the importance to businesses of
accurate planning, risk assessment
and best practice.
Starting out
Management accountants usually
start off in a general financial role
and then move on to specialise. A
range of degrees is accepted, typically
with a 2.1, and those who can
demonstrate at interviews a flair for
business, finance or management will
have an advantage. Qualification is
offered by the Chartered Institute of
Management Accountants (CIMA)
or the Chartered Institute of Public
Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA).
Skills required
Along with good decision-making
skills, a high degree of numeracy and
a good level of business acumen,
management accountants need to be
able to present often complex
financial information to management
staff in an easy-to-understand
manner. Over time, to progress
further, they need to develop an in-
depth knowledge of the field they
work in.
Risk assessment
Identifying and evaluating risks, recommending actions
to take and helping clients meet their objectives.
the costs of staff numbers, the available
pool of skills, the technology required,
competitor reactions and supply chain
disruption.
Risk assessors work closely with
executive boards and senior
management to provide advice on all
areas of business from security and
fraud to environmental and social
performance. Technology is also an
increasingly important area of focus,
resulting in more accountancy firms
employing IT specialists to offer expert
advice. Risk assessment services are
sometimes offered alongside
compliance advisory, helping
businesses to meet with new laws and
regulations that affect their industry,
and governance advisory, ensuring
that a business has an effective set of
processes to meet the expectations of
management and stakeholders.
Starting out
Some accountancy firms employ
graduates directly into risk
assessment roles but most will expect
you to train initially in a broader
area such as assurance and then
specialise later on. You might have
the opportunity to gain relevant
experience on a rotational graduate
programme. Alternatively, you could
join a specialist risk department in a
large industrial organisation. Your
primary responsibilities as a trainee
might include examining daily
business functions to assess existing
controls and working with senior
members of your team to make
recommendations for the client.
Skills required
Working in risk assessment requires
numerical and analytical skills. You
need a questioning, logical mindset
to identify problems and the
creativity to come up with solutions.
Presenting your ideas to senior
management requires strong
interpersonal skills and confidence.
Best and worst
Pinpointing issues and coming up
with solutions is a particularly
satisfying and intellectually
stimulating job. However, it is a
predominantly advisory role so if
youre not keen on taking a step back
and letting others make the final
decisions, a career in risk assessment
might not be for you.
R
isk assessment plays an
important role in helping
organisations to understand,
prioritise and manage risk in order to
avoid problems and capitalise on
opportunities. It enables clients to
achieve their objectives, which might
include expanding their business,
outperforming competition or
protecting their reputation. Risk
assessors methodically identify risks,
evaluate them and recommend the
appropriate actions to take; for
example, if a client wants to expand
their business, theyll need to consider
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Tax
Identifying and evaluating risks, and recommending actions to take.
New developments
Changes to the tax system are frequent
and tax is therefore an exceptionally
fast-moving industry. At the beginning
of the 2013/2014 financial year, the
changes introduced included an
increase of under-65s personal
allowances (the amount individuals
can earn each year before paying tax)
from 8,105 to 9,440. The capital
gains tax threshold (the amount of
profit that can be made on the sale of
certain assets before paying tax) was
also adjusted. The main rate of
corporation tax in the UK was lowered
to 23 per cent for 2013 and is due to
continue falling; it is set to reach 20
per cent in 2015, which will be one of
the lowest in the world. Tax advisers
will need to stay abreast of
developments such as these if they are
to provide the best possible service to
their clients.
Starting out
A good pass in an economic or
financial discipline, or a degree that
demonstrates excellent numeracy
skills, is helpful but not essential
there are other skills involved in the
job, such as problem solving,
persuasion, gaining trust of clients
and organisational skills, and it is
important that graduates can
demonstrate these. A graduate would
typically start work in the tax
department of a professional services
firm, while studying part time to earn
their qualification from the Chartered
Institute of Taxation (CIOT). Once a
member of CIOT, they may then
move on to work for a more
specialist organisation that focuses
more specifically on taxation
requirements. They can then also
specialise in certain fields of taxation.
CIOT
Members of CIOT will have passed
its exams and received the Chartered
Tax Adviser (CTA) qualification. In
order to register to study with CIOT,
it is usually necessary to first pass the
Association of Taxation Technicians
(ATT) exams. There are some
exceptions to this: for instance, those
who have certain law or accountancy
qualifications or experience from
working at HMRC do not need to go
through ATT. Becoming a student
member of ATT does not require
specific qualifications.
Skills required
To work in tax you need a talent for
analysis, problem solving and
communication, a high level of
numeracy and the desire to build
good working relationships based on
trust. Attention to detail is also
important, as is the ability to meet
deadlines and to view problems in
their broader context. You also need
to practise discretion when dealing
with the financial arrangements of
clients.
T
ax advisers may be called in
by businesses (corporate tax)
or highly paid individuals
(private client tax) as consultants to
offer one-off solutions to a particular
tax problem, or they may be employed
on an ongoing basis, ensuring
compliance and cost-effective solutions
to taxation demands made on their
client. They undertake tasks such as
completing tax returns, explaining tax
laws to clients and liaising with HM
Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
Tax rules are complex and it is
important for those working in the
field to keep up to date with any
changes to ensure that they can offer
the best possible advice to their clients,
who are often dealing with
considerable sums of money. Tax
advisers build up strong relationships
with their clients who demand
discretion with their financial matters.
In addition, these clients often have
investments liable to taxation in many
different parts of the world, so a tax
adviser may have to be aware of what
is happening in several jurisdictions at
the same time.
GRADUATE VIEW
G
R
A
D
U
A
T
E

V
I
E
W
D
uring my final year of
university I wasnt sure what I
wanted to do next. I knew I
didnt want a chemistry-focused job,
but didnt want to think of my degree
as a waste. Studying for a further
qualification such as the ACA while
being paid and gaining valuable work
experience made accountancy sound
like the perfect option. I chose tax
because it is relevant to each individual;
what I like about working in corporate
tax is that Im gaining a broad
understanding of company finances.
I didnt do an internship as I wasnt
sure what industry I wanted to work
in until my final year at university.
However, I do think an internship is a
brilliant way of getting a feel for the
type of work we do and whether it is
right for you. Before I started I had no
idea what to expect; an internship
would have readied me for the
working environment and helped me
decide what accountancy sector I
wanted to work in.
My job
I am a second-year trainee. My main
role is to assist managers with the
preparation of company tax
computations and returns. My
secondary role is to help train and
buddy the first-year trainees. The
bulk of my work involves tax
compliance making tax
computations and returns, liaising
with clients to inform them of their tax
liabilities and keep them up to date
with their tax affairs, and dealing with
HMRC on their behalf. I have also
become involved in the day-to-day
running of the firms share scheme
plan and the tax compliance affairs of
my employer. In addition, I have
helped on business development for
media sector clients and advisory
pieces for large UK and international
companies. I have also found myself
involved in staff recruitment by
tweeting on behalf of Smith &
Williamson trainees!
Balancing work and life
When I dont have exams the work/life
balance is really good. I commute from
Essex to London, and still have time to
see friends and socialise in the
evenings. During exam periods,
everyone is very understanding and my
work is eased slightly to allow time for
revision. During these times revision
has to be my number one priority as
my job depends on passing, but the
help we get from our tuition provider
really helps decrease the amount of
revision after work.
Varied work
The most exciting part of working in
corporate tax is the varied work, from
VAT and corporation tax returns to
employee remuneration and share
schemes. Because our department is
relatively small (around 40 people) I
get the opportunity to work with a
Charlotte Smith
Job Corporate tax trainee
Employer Smith & Wil liamson LLP
University Chemistry, University of Southampton
Studying for ACA qualification
mix of tax seniors, managers and
partners, which gives me a good all-
round understanding of different
aspects of tax.
My career highlight
My biggest career highlight so far has
been working on a tender to deal with
the tax affairs of a large UK company.
I was able to work closely with
partners and go to the proposal
meeting. When we got the job I felt
proud that Id contributed to us
winning the tender.
Advice to others
Make the most of the opportunities
available to you at university via clubs
and societies as well as specifically on
your degree course so that you have a
range of skills to demonstrate at your
interview.
Qualify as a
professional
accountant
H
aving a qualification from a recognised
professional accountancy body
demonstrates to employers, clients and
the general public that you have the
training and skills to do your job well.
The high standard of accountancy qualifications means you
have to work and study incredibly hard but the benefits of
becoming a professional accountant far outweigh the bad.
Professional bodies: the basics
There are several professional bodies in the sector, ranging
from those that cover all areas of accounting to those that
offer training in a specific area such as management
accounting. Obtaining membership entitles you to use the
designatory letters after your name, bestowing vital prestige
that could make all the difference to successful career
progression.
Qualifying with a professional body usually takes about
three years and comprises a number of exams and practical
work experience. It is possible to study at an academic
institution without working at the same time but you
cannot normally gain membership with the professional
body until you have a certain amount of work experience in
accountancy as well. For this reason, most people opt to
study and work at the same time. Most accountancy
employers will pay for your exam fees and give you time off
to study.
Choosing a professional qualification
More often than not your choice of employer will determine
which professional qualification you work towards.
However, if your employer offers you a choice or if you are
choosing between employers that offer different
qualifications, you should consider carefully what your
future career plans are and not just focus on how many
exams youll have to sit! Its important to realise that no one
qualification is easier than another: standards are
monitored by an overseeing body to ensure parity. The
differences lie in the focus of the syllabus, the sector of
employment in which you train and how you obtain the
training.
Read the following summaries to find out more about
some of the main qualifications and make sure you research
your chosen qualification thoroughly. Whichever one you
choose, membership of a professional body will give you
the necessary tools for a successful career.
Find out why
qualifying as a
professional
accountant is so
important and
who offers the
qualifications.
Association of Chartered Certified
Accountants (ACCA)
Qualification: ACCA qualification
The ACCA qualification is an established route
to professional status, and globally you will be
in demand for your finance and accounting
knowledge and skills, regardless of
employment sector.
ACCA is the largest and fastest growing
international accountancy body, with over
424,000 students, 154,000 members and
8,500 approved employers. Studying with
ACCA allows you to build a future that is
diverse, challenging and full of opportunities.
There are three equally important elements to
qualifying as an ACCA accountant exams,
practical experience and a professional ethics
module. The exams are progressive, so if you
have a degree in history or economics you will
build on your knowledge as you progress. If
you have a relevant degree you will likely be
entitled to some exemptions, and will enter
the qualification at the most appropriate level.
You will need to complete 14 papers in total. A
maximum of nine papers in the fundamentals
level are available for exemption. You have to
complete three years relevant work
experience and achieve 13 performance
objectives before you can qualify.
accaglobal.com/ukgraduates
Professional bodies
A snapshot of some of the main qualifications in accountancy.
You will be in demand for your
finance and accounting
knowledge and skills.
Chartered Accountants Ireland
Qualification: Chartered accountant
qualification (ACA/FCA)
Chartered Accountants Ireland is Irelands
largest accountancy body with over 22,000
members and 6,000 students. Recognised
internationally as Irelands premier
accountancy qualification, Irish chartered
accountants follow successful careers both at
home and in 192 countries.
The wide regard in which our members are
held can be attributed to the excellent
educational standards to which we adhere, and
the structured, supportive nature of our
training. As well as passing professional
exams, every Irish chartered accountant must
gain relevant work experience, and most
students will gain this experience through a
structured training contract in an accountancy
practice. However, since the launch in 2009 of
the elevation programme, candidates can
generate their experience and study up to and
including the final exams, outside of a training
contract. Elevation candidates can take exams
in different sittings or even spread over more
than one year. A new blended learning model
for elevation students means lectures can be
viewed online remotely, either live or recorded,
providing excellent revision opportunities.
As well as completing authorised work
experience and demonstrating competence in
information technology, students must pass
professional examinations covering modules
from taxation, finance and law to strategic
finance and management accounting. The
exams are broken into three sections,
concluding with the final admitting exam
(FAE) that tests the candidates overall
competence. For more information, visit
charteredaccountants.ie/careers or
charteredcareers.net
Association of Corporate Treasurers
(ACT)
Qualification: AMCT Diploma in Treasury
(AMCT)
The Association of Corporate Treasurers (ACT)
sets the benchmark for international treasury
excellence. As the chartered body for
treasury, we lead the profession through our
internationally recognised suite of treasury
qualifications, by defining standards and
championing continuing professional
development. We are the authentic voice of
the treasury profession, representing the
interests of the real economy and educating,
supporting and leading the treasurers of
today and tomorrow.
In todays marketplace, ACT qualifications
are an important benchmark of professional
competency, showing your commitment to
the industry and to your professional
development and performance. ACT
qualifications are relevant to a variety of roles
including treasury, accountancy, risk,
financial management, banking, relationship
management and consultancy.
The AMCT Diploma in Treasury is the ACTs
core qualification and leads to associate
membership of the ACT. Being AMCT qualified
will differentiate your skills set from your
peers by helping you to achieve strategic
understanding of the finance and treasury
function. The modular syllabus allows you to
adapt the qualification to your chosen field
and develop specialist knowledge in the key
areas within treasury, risk and corporate
finance that are relevant to your role and your
career.
treasurers.org/amct/grad
Chartered Institute of Management
Accountants (CIMA)
Qualification: CIMA Certificate in Business
Accounting; CIMA Professional Qualification
CIMA is the worlds largest professional body
of management accountants offering the
most relevant accounting qualification for a
career in business. The CIMA qualification will
open doors with employers all over the world;
as a CIMA management accountant youll earn
more and go further.
Theres more to management accounting
than you might think. Its about looking
beyond numbers and spreadsheets to add
real value to a company. CIMA members work
in all areas of a business, in all types of
organisations. They could be a project
manager, a management consultant, a
finance director or a chief executive.
If you have already studied a relevant
degree, for example accounting or business,
you may be entitled to exemptions from some
CIMA exams. However, graduates in any
degree discipline can study CIMA. You would
start by studying the CIMA Certificate in
Business Accounting, which will give you a
solid grounding to then progress on to the
CIMA Professional Qualification.
Do you analyse situations and weigh up all
your options before making a decision? Then
youre thinking like a management
accountant already.
Find out more at: cimaglobal.com/target
and facebook.com/cimauk
Chartered Institute of Public Finance
and Accountancy (CIPFA)
Qualification: CIPFA Professional
Qualification
If you want a career that is diverse,
challenging and gives you responsibility from
day one, then becoming a CIPFA qualified
accountant could be the best decision you
ever make if you have aspirations of reaching
the top.
Designed to equip you with essential
accountancy, leadership and strategic skills
to enable you to succeed in both the public
and private sectors, the CIPFA Professional
Qualification can take you anywhere you
choose.
The CIPFA Professional Qualification is the
gold standard financial qualification for
government and public services
organisations; you can become qualified in as
little as two years and reach the top quicker.
There are three stages of assessment to
the CIPFA Professional Qualification:
professional certificate, professional diploma
and the strategic stage, with each stage
awarding a recognised qualification.
Assessment is through exams and a log of
workplace experience.
There are various entry routes to the
professional qualification, designed to suit
graduates, AATs, fully qualified accountants
and senior professionals.
To find out more, visit cipfa.org/pq or
contact CIPFAs student advisors on 020 7543
5656 and quote reference: MA13E127ME6.
Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT)
Qualification: Chartered Tax Adviser
Qualification (CTA)
The CIOT is the UK professional body for
Chartered Tax Advisers, dedicated to
promoting the study and practice of taxation.
The institute is a member of the Confdration
Fiscale Europenne, the umbrella body for
taxation advisers in Europe, and deals with all
aspects of direct and indirect taxation. In
order to sit the exams candidates need
confirmation of eligibility, which can be
gained in a number of ways including
qualifying with another accountancy body or
passing the Association of Taxation Technician
(ATT) exams.
To become a Chartered Tax Adviser,
candidates will need three years professional
experience and to pass four written tax papers
and two online e-assessments. Candidates
are examined on two specialist tax subjects
and must also show an understanding of a
broad range of taxes, as well as applying their
knowledge to a practical case study. Credits
are available for candidates who have passed
the examinations of certain other professional
bodies prior to sitting the CTA exams.
Candidates must be registered with the
institute for six months before the exams,
which are held in May and November. For
those pursuing a career in international tax
the CIOT also offers the Advanced Diploma in
International Taxation (ADIT).
tax.org.uk
CPA Australia
Qualification: Certified Practising Accountant
(CPA)
CPA Australia is one of the worlds largest
accounting bodies with a membership of
more than 144,000 finance, accounting and
business professionals in 127 countries. We
have affiliations with a range of leading
accounting bodies all around the world. Our
core services to members include education,
training, technical support and advocacy.
Staff and members work together with local
and international bodies to represent the
views and concerns of the profession to
governments, regulators, industries,
academia and the general public.
The Certified Practising Accountant (CPA)
designation is a mark of high professional
competence. It indicates soundness in depth,
breadth and quality of accountancy
knowledge. It provides members with an
internationally recognised postgraduate
qualification as well as the opportunity to
complete specialist training and continuing
professional development (CPD). To use the
CPA designation, a member must complete a
degree or a postgraduate award recognised
by CPA Australia, complete the CPA
programme, including three years of
professional experience in finance,
accounting or business, undertake CPD
activities each year and comply with a strict
code of conduct set by CPA Australia.
cpaaustralia.com.au/cps/rde/xchg/
cpa-site/hs.xsl/become.html
Institute of Chartered Accountants in
England and Wales (ICAEW)
Qualification: ACA (Associate of the Institute of
Chartered Accountants in England and Wales)
The ICAEW chartered accountant qualification,
the ACA, is one of the most advanced learning
and professional development programmes
available. It gives you the knowledge and
expertise to perform at the highest levels in
accountancy, finance and business.
You can train for the ACA qualification in all
sectors, from accountancy practice and
business, to the not-for-profit and charity
sectors. All you need to do is apply for an ACA
training agreement with one of ICAEWs
authorised training employers. The training
agreement details the commitment between
you and your employer, and is key to your
success and development. Its also why 97 per
cent of the Best Global Brands employ ICAEW
chartered accountants.
Graduate training agreements typically take
three years to complete and during this time
youll gain practical work experience, develop
your ethical understanding of business,
enhance your professional skills and achieve a
high level of academic excellence.
What do you need to apply for an ACA
training agreement? You dont need to have
studied a business or finance related subject
at university. Employers are looking for a first
or 2.1 in any degree discipline and upwards of
260 UCAS points is a typical requirement, but
some employers will accept a 2.2. Equally,
employers want you to be motivated and
career driven, as well as commercially aware.
Discover more about becoming an ICAEW
Chartered Accountant, search for internships,
placements and ACA training agreements at
icaew.com/careers
Institute of Chartered Accountants of
Scotland (ICAS)
Qualification: Chartered Accountant Qualification
(CA)
The CA qualification is recognised by a wide
range of sectors and organisations from
leading professional services firms and global
corporations, to small and medium-sized
businesses and the public sector.
ICAS is the only UK institute to both train and
examine all of its students and its members have
the right to put the letters CA after their name.
There are currently over 19,000 members
working globally, many in high-ranking positions
such as chief executive, chairman, director or
partner.
The CA qualification takes three years to
complete and involves a combination of
structured work experience, classroom-based
study and exams. The exam syllabus contains ten
subjects divided into three stages: the test of
competence (TC), entailing the initial acquisition
of knowledge; the test of professional skills (TPS),
in which students develop their practical skills;
and the test of professional expertise (TPE),
assessing the judgement and application of
knowledge. Through classroom-based study and
online learning, students develop all-round
business and financial acumen along with
problem-solving skills. The flexible work-based
training, monitored through an achievement log,
ensures that every student gains the breadth of
practical experience necessary to qualify as a CA.
icas.org.uk/becomeaCA
Project1_Layout 1 07/08/2013 16:27 Page 1
FINANCIAL SERVICES
Financial services is graduate
recruitments best-kept secret.
In this expanding sector with a focus
on customer service, you could gain
management experience early on,
travel internationally and still have
a healthy work/life balance.
In a nutshell ................................................88
Which employer should you choose? ....90
People skills:
at the heart of actuarial work................92
Areas of work ............................................96
and development..................................106
Professional bodies ................................108
Contents
@TjobsFinance
FINANCIAL SERVICES
M
any graduates find their financial
services career by accident: they
intend to be investment bankers or
accountants but stumble across a
financial services role and realise it
would suit them down to the ground. There are financial
services jobs to suit every taste. They are open to
graduates from many different backgrounds and offer
generous salaries and a better work/life balance than is to
be found in many traditional City roles but most
graduates, unaware of them, miss out.
What is financial services?
Financial services is difficult to define. One companys
financial services vacancy might be anothers banking and
investment role and the variety of jobs available defies
easy clarification. An insurance underwriter, for example,
does a very different job from a retail bank manager.
However, all financial services roles directly affect the
everyday lives of ordinary people. Retail banking helps
people deal with their day-to-day finances and financial
planning from debit cards and overdrafts to mortgages;
insurance companies provide or find the best cover in case
of emergencies; the regulator oversees the financial
markets, helping to ensure trust in the economy; actuaries
assess financial risk in a variety of ways, such as
managing pension funds; and risk management work
underpins the sector to ensure that organisations are
financially sound.
Within these areas are multitudes of specialisms and
job roles, meaning that there are over 50 different career
paths open to you. In this section, we take you through
some of the options open to you and trace the work you
could do and the paths you could forge.
In a nutshell
All financial services
roles directly affect
the everyday lives of
ordinary people.
FINANCIAL SERVICES
The employers
Financial services employers generally fall into four main
areas:
Financial services providers. Companies offering a range of
financial services such as retail banking and savings
accounts. These tend to have a network of branches over
the UK and are often international.
Diverse international groups. Businesses that have been
successful in a different sector but have diversified into
financial services, eg supermarkets.
Specialist firms. Firms that offer expertise and services
in particular areas, eg actuarial consulting, risk
management, underwriting and reinsurance.
Regulation. The industry regulators in the UK, the
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the
Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA), also
employ graduates.
Turn to the next page to find out what you should
consider when thinking about where to work.
The perks
A huge variety of work and career paths
Many of the graduates profiled in the following pages mention
how much they enjoy the variety of work and how they can
apply a whole range of soft skills communication,
presentation, managerial to name but a few within a financial
environment. You can receive a lot of responsibility: if
regulating the market, for example, you may start out
supervising a small bank. Theres also no limit to what you can
go on to do after your initial position. Many people in financial
services progress to managerial roles but not necessarily in the
area in which they started. Financial services gives you lots of
transferable skills that work well in many areas.
Top-notch career development
Financial services is a traditional graduate recruitment sector
and firms tend to be well set up for graduate recruits. Most
employers will offer structured training, which may be part of
a formal graduate scheme or induction this will make sure
youre up to speed in any technical areas and brush up your
softer skills. Many firms will also match you to a mentor (a
more experienced professional) to help you make the most of
your opportunities and a buddy (usually a recent graduate
employee) to provide more informal support. You should also
get the chance to take a professional qualification
internationally recognised badges of professionalism to
improve your knowledge. In some careers, such as actuarial
work, these are mandatory; in others they are optional. Check
out pages 106109 to read about whats available.
Great salaries and benefits
While financial services may not match the highest salaries
in investment banking, they are still very comfortable: on
average, graduates could expect to earn around 29,000
with some organisations offering starting salaries of up to
38,000 according to advertisers in last years TARGETjobs
City & Finance. Plus, there tends to be a much easier
work/life balance standard office hours are the norm
which gives you more time to enjoy your earnings. Many
employers also give you other great benefits on the side,
such as bonuses, golden hellos, healthcare and even
subsidised gym membership.
Applying
For the vast majority of roles you dont need a numerate
degree but you should be comfortable with numbers and
have a genuine interest in finance. You usually apply by an
application form, which may include some online tests.
You could then be invited to an assessment day, although
you may face a telephone interview first. Group exercises
in financial services assessment days tend to be focused on
a work-related task. You may be asked about topical
issues, such as sub-prime mortgages or the current
financial market and its challenges, and recruiters are
looking for your analysis of these situations. Recruiters are
not trying to trick you and if you prepare well you could
soon be accepting an offer.
Financial services
gives you lots of
transferable skills
that work well in
many areas.
influencing/persuasiveness
written and oral communication client-facing skills
analytical and problem solving
managerial
teamwork
time management and organisation
attention to detail
an affinity for numbers but not necessarily a numerate

degree.
Do in-depth employer
research with the employer
hubs on targetjobs.co.uk.
FINANCIAL SERVICES
Which employer
should you choose?
Banks, actuarial consultancies, insurance
companies, insurance brokers... there are
countless career possibilities in financial
services. To help you ensure long-term
success, take time to consider which will
give you the best start.
R
ecruiters can tell when applicants genuinely
want to work for them so considering
which type of working environment will
best suit you will help you bag that initial
graduate job offer and ensure long-term
career success and happiness in the workplace.
Different types of organisation
No two companies will be identical, even if they are direct
competitors. Some financial services graduate
employers:
work across many different areas (for example,
retail banks may also provide insurance services)
provide a number of services within one
particular financial area (for example, an
actuarial firm)
specialise in a specific aspect of one area
(for example, underwriting claims for an
insurance company).
Your experiences will differ hugely
depending on where you work so
think about which aspects of
financial services most appeal to
you. The areas of work articles
from page 95 will take you
through the main employers
for each financial services
specialism, but also dont be
afraid to investigate other
options: many
supermarket chains now
offer retail banking
services, for instance,
and there may be
actuarial vacancies in
investment banks.
FINANCIAL SERVICES
Rotational versus. non-rotational
graduate schemes
Keen to discover where your talents lie and gain a broad
understanding of the business before specialising? Larger
employers tend to run rotational graduate schemes in which
youll work across their different business areas or
specialisms for a certain period of time. After this, managers
and the HR team will place you in a permanent role in the
area of your choice. Already sure of what you want to do?
A non-rotational scheme in a particular discipline where
you apply for a specific job role may be more up your
street.
Careers both in and outside the City
There are plenty of opportunities in London but you wont
miss out if the capital isnt for you regional bases are now
cropping up all over the UK. When you become more
experienced, some roles may allow you to
work from home while others may give you
the chance to travel internationally. Youll
obviously maximise your chances of securing
a position if you can be flexible in terms of
location, but it is possible to stay in a particular place.
Training and professional
qualifications
All good employers will provide in-house training
when you join, covering any necessary technical skills and
soft skills such as appropriate communication. There are
also professional qualifications run by official bodies that
you can take across financial services specialisms for more
information see pages 106109. In some cases they are
mandatory (eg in actuarial work) and prove that you are a
capable professional; in others they will be optional. Find
out where an employer stands on this and what kind of
support is on offer while you learn (eg study leave).
Hot progression prospects
Career progression in financial services can be rapid. Read
employer profiles and look at the employer hubs on
targetjobs.co.uk and ask at interview about what graduates
go on to do in the firm to get an idea of the career
progression you could expect.
Finally
remember that choosing an employer is a two-way
process: you want a job offer but you also want to make
sure that the employer offers a working environment that
will give you the best start.
Step one: Read employers AZ profiles in this publication

and check out the employer hubs on targetjobs.co.uk to
compare organisations quickly and find out more about
particular recruiters. Then check out their graduate
recruitment websites to conduct your initial research.
Step two: Meet employers. Your careers service should

arrange careers fairs and presentations where you can
meet HR recruiters and recent graduate employees face
to face. Recruiters are looking for employees they can
trust with their clients so present yourself in a
professional manner.
Step three: Remember the names of the people you meet

and, when you come to apply for a graduate job, mention
them in your application.
Step four: Get yourself some work experience to

test drive the company first hand.
Career progression in financial
services can be rapid.
FINANCIAL SERVICES
Y
ou do need a high level of numeracy to be
an actuary and thats why most employers
of graduate actuaries seek applicants with
a numerical degree. You will spend much
of your time as a trainee making models
and calculations. But this doesnt mean that all you are
required to be is a numbers person. Todays actuary can
spend as much time advising and presenting to clients as
they do in front of a computer.
Giving advice to clients
For us, applicants numerical abilities arent more
important than their interpersonal skills, says Giovanna
Miceli, resourcing and employer brand manager at HR
and financial services consultancy Mercer. If there was a
tendency for actuaries to have little interaction with
clients in the past, that is no longer the case. It is
important that candidates are comfortable speaking to
clients and taking them through the numbers.
Hannah Gillinson, actuarial consultant at financial,
business and actuarial consultants Lane Clark and
Peacock LLP, agrees: Actuaries arent boring number
crunchers: you do have to be comfortable with
calculations but giving advice is at the heart of what
we do.
Interpersonal skills are also important to career
progression: firms such as Mercer, and Lane Clark and
Peacock LLP, need good people skills in their future
managers and team leaders.
The interpersonal skills youll need
If you want an actuarial job, you need to convince
recruiters and assessors that you have the necessary
interpersonal skills in particular:
Teamwork
The ability to communicate technical and statistical
information to people who may not have a background
in these areas
The ability to provide good customer service, which
includes listening to and understanding a clients point of
view and anticipating and solving problems. This ability
can also be referred to as having good client-facing skills.
Go for clarity over jargon
Recruiters assess your communication skills through how
you express yourself at all stages of the application and
selection process. In our application form and at
interviews, we ask a number of questions assessing
candidates understanding of industry trends and our
business, says Giovanna. The extent to which they
can communicate their understanding clearly and
convincingly can make the difference when
we are deciding whom to offer jobs to.
You probably expect to use numerical
skills in an actuarial graduate job, but you'll
need to be good at working with others and
dealing with clients too. Heres how to show
off the strength of your people skills during
the recruitment process.
FINANCIAL SERVICES
The first step to communicating clearly is to ensure
you truly understand industry terminology so that you can
use it appropriately and, if required, explain it. Avoid
jargon if it's confusing if youre unsure, check whether a
term is explained in a Financial Times article.
Structure your application and interview
answers carefully
The next step to communicating clearly is to make sure
your sentence construction is logical: one idea or concept
per sentence.
If providing an example of a time when you
used/developed a particular skill, use the CAR structure.
Describe the Circumstances of the example, the Actions you
took (what you did) and the Results.
Put the audiences needs first
At Mercer, how you deal with clients is assessed in part
through a presentation you give at an assessment centre.
The scenario we give applicants is that the senior
consultant is held up and the graduate has to present to the
client in their place, says Giovanna. Those candidates who
catch on quickly to the fact that the assessors are acting as
the clients tend to do best.
When structuring the presentation, you need to think
about what the clients want to know (clear
recommendations/strategy and the reasons for them), and
ensuring those points are put across. We also need
candidates to have the courage of their convictions and to
justify their decisions, adds Giovanna. They should expect
to be questioned and challenged, to address concerns raised
but to stand by their conclusions; after all, as a firm we
pride ourselves on our expertise and judgement.
Look out for others
One of the things that we look for at our assessment
centres is how candidates interact with others, says
Giovanna. Do they remember other candidates names? Do
they share information and look out for others on the day?
Those that do tend to work best in our collegiate
environment.
It has been suggested in the past that actuarial careers
are good for graduates who prefer to deal with numbers
more than people, but, if that were ever true, it isnt any
longer at least if you join an actuarial consultancy or
professional services firm.
Recruiters assess your communication
skills through how you express
yourself at all stages of the
application and selection process.
Analytically minded?
Creative thinker?
Find out more: www.actuaries.org.uk/becoming-actuary
Actuaries can calculate the
probability of future events
occurring and quantify those
risksto a business.
They are problem solvers and
strategic thinkers with a deep
unorstanoing c nnancial systms.
They work in a variety of exciting
rcls intrnaticnally. /n actuarial
career is one of the most diverse
ano rwaroing in th wcrlo.
Where could you work?
Every area of business is subject
tcrisks sc an acturial carr crs
many cpticns. / typical businss
problem might involve analysing
utur nnancial vnts, spcially
when the amount or timing of a
paymnt is uncrtain. lt cculo alsc
involve assessing when and where
devastating storms may hit to help
predict risks and their associated
ccsts cr invstmnts cr insuranc.
Salaries for graduate trainee
actuaris ar arcuno 25,OOO -
35,OOO ano as ycu bccm
more senior this can rise to well
cvr 5O,OOO. Sc th rwaros
arsubstantial.
How do l hnd out more7
Tc nno cut hcw tc bccm an
actuary, th bnnts c stuoying
tcwaros an actuarial ualincaticn
and areas that actuaries work
in, thn lcck at th wb link
blcw cr nno us cn Facbcck
www.b-an-actuary.cc.uk.

To have a go and find out more about the competition just visit:
www.studentchallenge.targetjobs.co.uk
Monthly prize draws for everyone.
Practise online assessment exercises free of cost.
Enhance your CV and job prospects.
Open to all undergraduates studying
any degree subject.
Final on 9 December 2013.
Do you have what it takes?
See how you rank when you go head-to-head against your fellow
students from leading UK universities. All with the chance of winning
the 1,000 first prize plus a paid internship with Siemens!
T
he term financial services covers such a wide
range of careers that it can be difficult to
know where you will fit in. However, taking
the time now to find a career that will suit
your skills and abilities will stand you in
good stead in the future.
Over the next few pages, weve outlined some of the
main areas of work that you can enter, along with profiles
of real graduates working in the industry to give you an
inside view. You could work in a number of these areas
during the course of your career but thats whats so
exciting about the financial services industry there are
huge numbers of opportunities.
Once youve seen where you could be working and what
the different roles involve, take a look at the professional
qualifications you could achieve on page 106.
about where to start your career, weve put
together an overview of the main areas of
work in the financial services industry.
Actuarial work............................................................................96
Insurance ..................................................................................98
Regulation and compliance ..................................................101
Retail banking ........................................................................102
Risk management ..................................................................104
During my degree I was able to
take some actuarial-based
modules. I found these interesting,
so was spurred on to do some research
into the profession.
Read Rachels full profile on page 97.
I looked into retail banking because
I felt that working within a sector
that was going through significant
change would provide great development
opportunities.
Read Chriss full profile on page 103.
I chose a career in risk and
compliance as it would allow me
to combine my legal and insurance
backgrounds.
Read Fionas full profile on page 101.
FINANCIAL SERVICES
For more on how to get hired
and working lives, go to
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Actuarial work
Actuaries evaluate complex financial risks. This is an area suited to highly analytical,
numerate graduates who can communicate well and keep a strategic eye on the future.
finance or mathematics. Graduates
from non-numerate degree
backgrounds will need to display a
strong understanding of the financial
system and a good grasp of figures.
Actuarial science degrees and
postgraduate qualifications are
popular because they can exempt you
from some of the examinations that
are required to gain entry to the
profession.
Youll usually start out as a
trainee, carrying out tasks to support
senior colleagues. At first the work
will involve carrying out calculations
and making financial projections
based on pre-constructed models;
later down the line youll have a hand
in constructing these models and
deciding which are most suitable by
reviewing results and drafting reports.
From the outset you will be
studying for a professional
qualification alongside full-time
work. Actuaries are required to study
towards an Associateship or
Fellowship with the Actuarial
Profession in order to gain the highly
analytical skills needed to progress.
Balancing work and study can be
challenging, but most employers are
happy to shoulder the bulk of the
cost and often offer support such as
up to 40 days study leave per year.
Career path
Once qualified, many actuaries
choose to specialise in a particular
area that interests them, such as
insurance or pensions, or to practise
abroad as the qualification is
recognised worldwide.
Actuarial work is a well respected
profession with good career
prospects: many actuaries progress to
more senior managerial roles and
take on greater responsibilities
including handling client
relationships and undertaking
important technical duties. Since the
work actuaries do is increasingly
wide ranging and often applicable to
many different sectors, opportunities
also exist in seemingly unrelated
fields, for instance on infrastructure
projects or schemes that address
climate change.
Skills required
The best actuaries have a good head
for numbers and are highly self-
motivated. They are astute problem
solvers, hard workers and top-notch
communicators. The work can be
changeable so possessing good
foresightedness and flexibility is
essential. The road to qualification is
long but those in search of
stimulating work and assured
progression will be well suited to an
actuarial career.
FINANCIAL SERVICES
A
n actuary is essentially a
financial forecaster who
calculates and assesses risks, and
predicts future outcomes. Actuaries use
complex statistical and mathematical
models to predict the occurrence and
potential impact of uncertain events, and
maintain and update these models
according to changes in the financial
landscape. Key roles typically involve
monitoring these predicted impacts,
advising clients of their findings and
developing solutions. They work on
behalf of a range of financial services
organisations, from insurance and life
assurance companies through to
accounting firms, specialist actuarial
consultancies and even investment banks.
The work is typically varied, involving a
good mix of customer-facing activities and
number crunching.
Starting out
Most new starters will have a numerate
degree such as statistics, economics,
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uring my degree I was able
to take some actuarial-
based modules. I found
these interesting, so was spurred on
to do some research into the
profession. After speaking to
actuaries at my university careers
fair, I felt certain that I would enjoy
actuarial work.
Getting in
I completed an eight-week internship
with LCP before my final year at
university. This was a great
experience and further confirmed
that becoming an actuary was the
right choice for me.
During school and university I
had always been involved in a range
of extra-curricular activities. I think
this helped highlight that I had
certain skills that could be put to
good use at work, as well as
showing that I could manage my
time effectively.
My job
I work as part of a team on a variety
of different projects. These include
pension scheme valuations,
monitoring investment manager
performance and assessing the
potential impact on a pension
scheme of specific events such as
changing the pension benefits
available to members or life
expectancy increasing at a faster
rate than currently assumed.
In each of my client teams I have
the responsibility of managing the
junior members and delegating work
where appropriate. Office life can get
quite hectic so it is vital that I
manage my time effectively and
communicate my progress to others.
It is also important to stay proactive
in keeping up to date with any
pensions news.
Highlights of the job
I have a mixture of clients, who vary
in the complexity of their schemes,
their size and the type of work they
generate. This means that at any one
time I have a range of different, often
challenging, projects to work on.
Working for a consultancy also
means that I often attend client
meetings, and because of the size of
my company it is not unusual for me
to be working directly with partners.
And the challenges
To become a qualified actuary you
have to pass 15 exams! This is a long
process that requires a lot of hard
work and dedication to succeed. I
have currently done 11 of the exams
and hope to qualify next year.
Work/life balance
I have managed to keep my working
hours pretty constant so far, although
inevitably on occasions I have had to
work later than usual to finish off a
piece of work.
Rachel Walton
Job Pensions analyst
Employer Lane Clark & Peacock LLP
University MMORSE, University of Warwick
Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries
Training and personal
development
I am now in my final year of my
employers three-year graduate
training programme. So far I have
received training covering everything
from technical calculations through to
legal awareness. Upon arriving at LCP,
I was assigned a buddy who was on
hand to help me out when I needed it.
I also have a study mentor and a
generous study package to help me get
through my exams.
Advice to undergraduates
Make sure you get on top of your job
applications well in advance of any
closing deadlines to ensure they are to
the best possible standard. Meeting
people at careers fairs is a great way to
learn more about a profession. Plus I
would strongly recommend getting
work experience if you can.
GRADUATE VIEW
FINANCIAL SERVICES
FINANCIAL SERVICES
Insurance
Insurance work ranges from assessing aeroplane crash sites to working out exactly how
much a rock star drummers hands are worth.
I
nsurance work essentially
involves safeguarding a person
or organisations financial assets
in the wake of an unexpected event.
Types of graduate job in
insurance
Job titles vary according to employer,
but the main types of graduate job
roles are:
Graduate underwriter: responsible
for deciding whether to grant a
policy to a potential client, whether
(and, if so, what) conditions should
be attached and how much the
client should pay in premiums.
Underwriters work closely with
actuaries and negotiate with
insurance brokers.
Claims management trainee: handles
and progresses matters when claims
are made on a policy. This involves
dealing with the claimant and
assessing whether the claim is valid
(essentially, pinpointing anything that
means that the full settlement might
not be paid). Duties might also include
arranging for any tasks to be
completed for example, organising
building work to be completed or
replacement goods to be sent out
and loss adjusting activities.
Trainee loss adjuster: assesses the
extent of loss sustained by the policy
holder (which may include the loss of
income to a business if it has to remain
closed), to check that the claim is valid
and, in the case of disputed claims,
investigate how the loss was caused (eg
how a fire started). Loss adjusters are
usually independent from the insurance
company and work for specialist
practices; within the insurance
company, some of their duties will be
completed by claims managers.
Business development, business
finance and sales graduate roles: vary
according to the business and remit of
the role, but all of these involve
promoting services to potential
clients, identifying and pursuing new
business opportunities, and helping to
ensure that the business is successful
on a financial level.
Graduate insurance broker: typically
works at an insurance brokerage and
helps clients to select and obtain the
best insurance products from insurance
companies for the best premiums.
Trainee actuary: traditionally
employed by insurance employers to
complete financial forecasts and to
manage funds.
Graduate product manager: works at
insurance companies and creates,
tests and launches new insurance
products to various markets. This
involves completing sales forecasting
and ensuring that the products
comply with the requirements of the
FCA and PRA.
Operations management: responsible
for managing and motivating
customer service departments.
Support functions: the industry also
employs technology specialists, risk
managers, and marketing and HR
professionals.
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FINANCIAL SERVICES
This is not an exhaustive list,
though: there is a huge range of
job roles at different employers.
Types of graduate
insurance employer
Insurance companies provide
insurance products and services to
clients usually by means of a
price-comparison website or an
insurance broker. Examples of
large insurance companies include
Aviva and Swiss Re.
Retail banks/supermarkets are
increasingly providing
competition to traditional
insurance companies in offering
insurance services, particularly in
personal insurance. These include
RBS and Lloyds Banking Group.
Insurance brokers are
independent intermediaries
between the insurance company
and the customer, helping clients
to obtain the best insurance
products for their needs. Many
brokers have expanded their
functions in the last few years
for instance, by offering
management consulting or risk
management services. Examples
of large insurance brokers include
Aon and Marsh.
The markets based in London are
central to insurance trading. The
London market trades insurance
policies internationally,
specialising mostly on general
insurance, reinsurance and high-
exposure risks. Lloyds of London
is an insurance market for
members who operate out of
syndicates.
Specialist consultancies carry out a
small number of insurance
functions, for example handling
claims for the London markets.
Youll also find specialist actuarial
consultancies, who largely specialise
in life assurance and pensions, and
loss adjusters.
Types of insurance
Insurance employers specialise in
certain types of insurance. For
example, Swiss Re focuses on
reinsurance in life and health, and
property and casualty, markets, while
Aviva is known for its pensions, life
and general insurance products. As
the employers specialism will affect
the type of work graduate employees
do, applicants should know about the
main types of insurance namely:
General insurance is an umbrella
term covering all types of insurance
with the exception of life assurance.
Commercial/corporate insurance
financially protects businesses from
unforeseen circumstances such as
theft, negligence, liability, property
damage and other interruptions to
their day-to-day business. In some
cases it can also compensate for
employee injury.
Life assurance is insurance taken
out in the case of a premature death
so that beneficiaries are financially
looked after.
Personal insurance refers to a
variety of personal insurance
contracts that an individual can
take out for their own personal
benefit. This includes insurance for
vehicles and health.
Reinsurance is insurance for
insurers and is a risk management
strategy. When an insurer sells a
policy to a client they may seek
reinsurance from another
insurance company if they
consider the pay out would be too
much of a financial strain in the
case of a large single amount or if
a number of smaller policies were
claimed at the same time (say, in
the wake of a natural disaster).
Skills and types of degree
needed
In practice, actuaries often have a
numerate degree. Most other job
roles in insurance including
broking, product management and
claims management are typically
open to graduates of all degree
disciplines, although employers
often state a preference for a
numerate (such as maths or
engineering) or business/
management-related degree.
Exact requirements vary from
employer to employer. The insurance
industry, contrary to popular belief,
is fast paced. Graduates need:
to react quickly
good attention to detail
great client-facing (customer
services) skills
to be numerate.
Trainees at larger employers
can often choose to apply to
specific graduate programmes that
specialise in a particular function;
the schemes are usually rotational,
which involves the graduate
undertaking a number of
placements for up to two years.
Some employers will encourage
you to move across departments or
to travel overseas. It is likely that
you will be given on-the- job
training and you will work alongside
more senior members in a team. You
may be encouraged by your
employer to take examinations in
order to gain qualifications from
professional bodies.
As the employers
specialism will affect the
type of work graduate
employees do, applicants
should know about the
main types of insurance.
Trainees at larger
employers can often
choose to apply to specific
graduate programmes that
specialise in a particular
function.
GRADUATE VIEW
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t university, I wasnt sure what
I wanted to do but I was keen
to work in the City.
I considered jobs in banking but
thought my maths skills wouldnt be up
to scratch. I arranged a weeks work
experience in insurance where I spent
time with brokers and underwriters
across many different classes of business
and companies. I enjoyed this and
thought that I would be well suited to a
broking role, so started looking around
for graduate scheme placements in some
of the bigger broking houses.
Although I only had a weeks
relevant work experience I gained a
basic understanding of how insurance
works, which definitely helped in the
interview process. I would recommend
trying to get a couple of days under
your belt even if you are not able to get
on a formal internship scheme.
My job
I am one of eight brokers on a team of
18 people. My job is to take various
aviation risks into the marketplace
(either Lloyds or individual insurance
companies) and to discuss pricing and
terms with underwriters to try to get the
best deal possible for the client. My day
involves co-ordination with client
managers in the office to see what risks
need to go to the market. I gather the
necessary information I need to present
to underwriters in order for them to rate
the risk. Once I have the relevant
information I usually carry out some
form of analysis of various
exposures in order to negotiate with
underwriters. If it is a busy time of
year I will spend most of the day out
of the office.
Work/life balance
Generally its a good balance I
normally get in to the office at about
8.45 am and leave at about 5.30 pm,
although at busier times of the year I
will stay later. There is also a good
social life in the City friends,
colleagues, other graduates and
underwriters.
Highs and lows
I enjoy working with other people
and having to negotiate deals face to
face. The most exciting part is when
it all comes together and I win a new
account. I like the really busy times
of year when Im running around
trying to get everything done and
theres a real buzz in the market.
Highlights have been completing
complicated placements more or less
on my own with an end result of
happy clients.
One of the lows is when I have
put a lot of work into bidding for a
new piece of business but nothing
comes of it. Sometimes it can be a
challenge to manage the expectations
of underwriters and clients and to
meet in the middle. It can also be
quite stressful when its too busy and
I have lots of deadlines to meet.
Antonia Colburn
Job Insurance broker, Aon Aviation
Employer Aon
University Geography, University of Edinburgh
Dip CII qualified
Learning new skills
As part of the graduate programme, I
have been on a number of really useful
courses and projects. I have also got to
Dip CII level quite quickly and hope to
be qualified by the end of the year,
thanks to the support Ive received in
terms of revision courses and study
leave.
I have improved (or definitely feel
more confident in) my skills in
presenting to large groups of people.
And this is coming from someone who
used to dread even speaking in a
university tutorial!
FINANCIAL SERVICES
There is a good social life
in the City friends,
colleagues, other graduates
and underwriters.
Antonia
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orking in regulation and
compliance, you will
make sure that those
who are authorised under the
Financial Services and Markets Act
administer and monitor satisfactory
compliance systems and procedures.
Identifying and assessing risks and
providing appropriate strategies are
key to a role in this area. If you are
detail-oriented with a talent for
analysing and reviewing data then
regulation and compliance might be
for you.
New developments
The industry is often in the headlines
and regularly subject to change; this
has recently involved emphasis on
promoting responsible and
sustainable banking. At the beginning
of the 2013/2014 financial year, the
Financial Services Authority (FSA)
split into two separate regulatory
authorities: the Prudential Regulatory
Authority (created in 2012 as a
subsidiary of the Bank of England)
and the newly formed Financial
Conduct Authority (FCA).
Starting out
There are graduate schemes with
companies in this area and you can
also apply to the FCAs graduate
programme. At the FCA, graduates
undertake placements in different
divisions and disciplines, gaining
experience in several areas of the
agency. Its graduates may also be
seconded to banks, fund managers,
professional services firms, the
Treasury and the European
Commission. The FCA will sponsor
some graduates through certain
qualifications with professional
bodies, including the CISI, the CII and
the CFA Institute.
For the first few years of their
career graduates will usually gain a
broad overview of the sector before
specialising. Later on, they may move
into management or choose to become
a specialist in a particular area. In
compliance, they are typically given a
particular product area to review.
Graduates will usually work within a
team, often including a manager and a
previous graduate. It is easy to transfer
between regulation and compliance.
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Fiona Salusbury
Job Risk &
compliance
support officer
Employer Motor Insurers Bureau
(MIB)
University Law, English language
and linguistics, Oxford Brookes
University
Diploma in Insurance; currently
working towards a Certificate in
Data Protection
I chose a career in risk and compliance
as it would allow me to combine my
legal and insurance backgrounds.
Before my current role I worked as a
personal injury and motor claims
handler, which provided me with an in-
depth knowledge of the insurance
industry as well as the business,
technical and organisational skills
required for my current role.
My job
I work for the MIB, an organisation set
up to compensate the victims of
negligent uninsured and untraced
motorists. My role involves assessing
risks, from physical hazards to the
security of information; upholding a
culture of security compliance; and
writing policies and procedures for the
business. On a day-to-day basis my
responsibilities include recording and
investigating security breaches,
responding to subject access requests
and general enquiries from the public,
managing complaints and developing
current projects.
Highs and lows
I particularly enjoy liaising between
departments, and because my
employer offers flexi-time I can manage
a good work/life balance. I work in a
friendly department, which holds
monthly social events. The most
challenging part of my job is taking
phone calls from irate complainants
who have been misinformed!
Regulation and compliance
This area involves working with organisations or individuals
to oversee their compliance with laws and regulations.
FINANCIAL SERVICES
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Retail banking
If youre a natural innovator and people person with managerial aspirations
and motivational skills, youll fit right in here.
R
etail banking, which is
sometimes known as
personal financial services, is
what most people think of as high
street banking; it concerns providing
financial products and services, such as
bank and saving accounts, insurance
and mortgages, to individuals. Some
banks also include their business
banking wing in their retail banking
division.
Retail banks are essentially
retailers, so they need to combine
meeting financial targets with good
customer service. They turn a profit by
charging fees for services or interest
for borrowing money. When financial
markets experience turbulence, some
companies introduce more stringent
criteria for borrowing money and
increase their interest rates.
Retail banking organisations have to
constantly innovate to survive.
Innovations focus around:
technological advances, such as
mobile banking and anti-fraud
measures
banking product ranges and terms
banks are branching into new areas
such as insurance
customer service.
There has also been an increase in
regulation, with a bigger focus on
giving impartial and fair advice to
customers.
Graduate job roles
The main graduate jobs in retail
banking are found in branch
management or relationship
management. However, other roles are
available in marketing and products (eg
developing, managing and promoting
products such as mortgages), risk
management and compliance.
Employers include retail banks,
building societies and supermarkets
offering financial services.
On a branch management graduate
scheme, you will typically spend your
first 12 months receiving intensive
training and working towards
accreditation (eg the IFS School of
Finance BSc in banking management
and practice). You will manage teams of
people during a series of placements and
will spend time on the floor dealing with
customers in at least one of the banks
branches. In your second year you will
typically specialise in a particular area,
such as mortgages or investments, and
you may be put in control of a
particular service team. This will involve
recruiting, managing and motivating
employees, meeting targets, creating
new products and services, and dealing
with customer complaints. If successful
in your second year, youre like to go on
to a permanent branch manager role
depending on your particular employer.
After a couple of years, branch
managers usually become area
managers.
Skills required
You can work in most retail banking
roles, including branch management,
with any degree discipline: your ability
to manage, motivate and communicate
is more important to most employers.
Some employers will require you to
have a good maths GCSE grade. Other
than a strong degree, youll need:
the ability to manage, motivate and
inspire people
the ability to meet financial targets
excellent communication skills
strong organisational skills
customer service skills.
FINANCIAL SERVICES
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I
decided to work for a FTSE 100
company as I wanted to work
abroad in the future and big
name companies are well recognised
internationally. I looked into retail
banking because I felt that working
within a sector that was going through
significant change would provide great
development opportunities.
Getting in and getting on
I joined Lloyds Banking Group on
their two-year graduate scheme after
finishing my degree. My first
placement was in wealth risk; I then
completed two placements in
commercial banking and retail
strategy. In the latter role I experienced
a full breadth of projects across our
various retail brands. This gave me
great insight into why and how
decisions are made as well as firsthand
experience of how putting the
customer at the centre of everything is
becoming more and more important.
After experiencing retail in head office
I arranged to spend my final placement
in a branch setting, where I was
exposed to every part of the retail
operation, initially as an observer but
then developing into branch
management for the final two months.
My job
I am the executive assistant to the
managing director of Lloyds TSB, a
role which I was asked to take on at
the end of the graduate programme.
His personal assistant and I form a
team looking after every part of his
working life. Its difficult to describe
what I do on a day-to-day basis as this
changes daily, sometimes at a
moments notice. What I do is dictated
by what the managing director is
doing, which can be anything from
making a presentation to attending an
executive committee meeting. There
are several things that I do on a
continual basis such as respond to his
emails, write his communications,
follow up on his questions and actions,
and act on his behalf in various
meetings. Basically, Im the person that
gets things done.
Work/life balance
My workload is very much dictated by
the schedule, so some days my hours
will be 9.00 am to 5.00 pm and other
times Ill be working into the evenings
and at weekends. Its not expected that
I do this but I want to make sure that
everything is done on time and to a
high standard. I always make sure that
I maintain a good and extensive home
and social life as this is the way I relax
and unwind.
High points
The two most exciting parts of my job
are the variety and the exposure.
Working for the managing director
means that Im exposed to everything
that we do in the bank and I get to
have an input. I have met so many
Chris Watkinson
Job Executive assistant to the managing director,
Lloyds TSB
Employer Lloyds TSB
University Marketing management, Manchester
Metropolitan University
Professional diploma in banking practice and management
people and formed some really great
working relationships as well as
friendships.
Developing my skills
The skill Ive developed the most is
stakeholder management, both
upwards and downwards. I get to
interact with people significantly more
senior than myself on a regular basis.
It does feel a bit awkward at first,
asking them to do something for me
when ordinarily it would be the other
way around, but its important to form
a good working relationship with
them. The same thing applies to
managing downwards Ive witnessed
many times that the best leaders
inspire their colleagues to do things,
instead of telling them to do things.
FINANCIAL SERVICES
GRADUATE VIEW
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Liselotte
Wal lquist
Job
Associate
Employer Swiss Re
University BSc food science, MSc
nutrition and health; ETH Zurich
I enjoyed the diversity as well as the
quantitative analysis and statistics
elements of my studies, which is what
drew me to my current career. I did a
couple of internships, working within the
food industry and nutrition research,
through which I gained experience in
working in a professional environment.
This has helped me in my current role
even though the content of the
internships, for example measuring iron
absorption by intestinal cells, was
different.
My job
I work in risk management. Our team is
responsible for providing reports for
internal as well as external stakeholders
such as regulators. My current focus is
on the Solvency II project for the
European regulator as well as on Life and
Health (L&H)-related internal requests.
Highs and lows
I enjoy the diversity of my job in terms of
the varied content and tasks, and the
wide range of people and their
backgrounds I come into contact with; in
addition, my current position allows me
to get a holistic view of Swiss Res risk
landscape. My challenge is to produce a
high standard of work to specific
deadlines: in such situations its key to
find a balance between perfectionism
and pragmatism.
Risk management
Risk managers protect organisations against loss
and financial uncertainty.
R
isk managers act on behalf
of financial services
organisations as a front-line
defence against loss. Their aim is to
make sure that companies do not
exceed their financial limits, and that
they stay within their set business
parameters. They evaluate a variety of
different types of financial risk,
including fraud, market (eg risks arising
from interest rate fluctuations), credit,
liquidity (eg whether an organisation
has sufficient cash flow), operational
(eg risk of processes breaking down),
and health and safety. For instance, in
the key area of insurance risk, roles
might involve advising insurance
organisations on the purchase of
insurance or building safeguards to
protect the profitability of the business
if things go wrong.
Starting out
An industry-relevant degree in business,
law, economics or management, for
example, is often expected and will
provide you with an excellent
background understanding.
Many companies also want to see
proven experience in the industry
(particularly for insurance risk roles),
so undertaking an internship or work
placement will stand you in good
stead.
The most common entry route is
to join a rotational graduate scheme,
which gives you the opportunity to
try out different roles before
specialising later on. Youll usually
start off as a member of a small team:
tasks vary from meeting clients and
surveying sites through to evaluating
risks, writing reports and making
preventative recommendations.
Depending upon your career
aspirations, youll have the
opportunity to study for professional
qualifications and specialise in
particular areas such as technology or
fraud.
A risk management role will equip
you with a broad knowledge of
industry processes, putting you in a
good position to progress to
executive level in other areas of the
sector.
Skills required
Specific technical or numeracy skills
are needed for some risk
management roles; all roles require
excellent interpersonal and
communication skills because youre
likely to be working with a wide
variety of people from the outset.
You need to be confident,
diplomatic and flexible with
the ability to look two steps
ahead at all times. A thick
skin, an enquiring mind
and strict attention to
detail will also benefit
newcomers to this area.
My current focus
is on the Solvency II
project for the
European regulator.
Liselotte
FINANCIAL SERVICES
@TjobsFinance
@TjobsFinance
CPA Australia is
proud to sponsor the
award for the most popular
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W I N N I N G
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FINANCIAL SERVICES
and development
Some financial services specialisms require
you to have certain professional qualifications
defined by the regulator, the Prudential
Regulation Authority (PRA), while in others
they are optional but may still be defined by
the employer. Heres what you need to know.
Q
ualifications are a great way to update your
skills, inspire client confidence and take
your career to the next level and in some
financial services graduate jobs they are
compulsory.
Combining work with study
Completing most qualifications usually takes at least a year
and comprises a number of exams and practical on-the-job
experience. It is possible to study at an academic institution
without working at the same time, but since most
qualifications demand a certain amount of relevant work
experience, most graduates opt to study alongside full-time
work. This is also a popular method among financial
services employers who design their graduate schemes
around new employees undertaking qualifications in their
chosen field.
Funding and support while you train
While you study, financial services employers typically
provide support such as study leave, mentoring, networking
and coaching, and financial help (eg towards exam fees and
the cost of learning materials). Its a good idea to ask about
the types of support on offer at interview.
The Financial Skills Partnership offers information on
qualifications and careers can be accessed at
www.directions.org.uk. The FSP is the employer-led body
that supports the development of a skilled workforce in the
UKs financial services, finance and accountancy sectors.
Choosing a professional qualification
More often than not your choice of employer will
determine which professional qualification you work
towards. However, if your employer offers you a choice or
if you are choosing between employers that offer different
qualifications, you should consider carefully what your
future career plans are and not just focus on how many
exams youll have to sit! Its important to realise that no one
qualification is easier than another. The differences lie in the
focus of the syllabus, the sector of employment in which
you train and how you obtain the training. Read on to
determine what training and qualifications are necessary to
work or progress in each area, or turn to page 108 to
compare professional bodies and courses at a glance.
Actuarial training
Your first step towards becoming an actuary is to gain entry
qualifications (such as a maths A level grade B or A and an
upper second class degree at university in a numerate
subject) to the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA), the
UKs professional body of actuaries, and to apply for a job
as an actuarial trainee. Graduates then have a number of
different routes available to them to get into the IFoA and
qualify as an actuary. You could take a few of our Core
Technical (CT) subjects independently to gain experience on
the exams and also to show an employer that you are a
good investment and can take and pass the exams on your
own. However, most of our students gain an actuarial
trainee role without passing any of our exams. It is possible
to gain exemptions from up to eight CT exams from a
relevant degree course. An employer will take on a graduate
and support them through the qualification to Fellowship,
including study leave, paying for exam study and
membership, as well as providing relevant work experience
and a work-based study mentor.
In order to qualify as a Fellow from the IFoA, students
must be a member, meet our entry requirements, take a
series of exams and gain three years of relevant work
FINANCIAL SERVICES
experience. The exams consist of eight CT subjects, one CT
business awareness exam, three Core Application (CA)
exams, two Specialist Technical (ST) exams and 1 Specialist
Application (SA) exam. You also need at least three years
worth of work-based skills and professionalism training.
You may be eligible for exemption from some of the
exams if you have a relevant first degree or postgraduate
qualification (eg in statistics, economics or actuarial science)
under your belt be sure to check this with the IFoA
(www.actuaries.org.uk) before you apply.
The Fellowship qualification allows you to develop
expertise in a particular area such as life insurance; general
insurance; pensions and employee benefits; health and care;
finance; investment; or risk management. Senior actuaries
often go on to fill a number of different roles later in their
career and, once qualified, can choose to practice anywhere
in the world.
Retail banking training: giving retail
investment advice
If you want to give financial advice to customers, you need
to pass an appropriate qualification. Choices include:
Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning (run by the
Chartered Insurance Institute CII)
Diploma for Financial Advisers (run by the ifs School of
Finance)
Diploma in Investment Planning (run by the Chartered
Institute of Bankers in Scotland CIOBS).
Diploma in Professional Financial Advice (run by SQA)
Diploma in Investment Advice (Private Client Advice
Route) (run by the Chartered Institute for Securities and
Investment).
Mortgages qualifications
If you want to advise on mortgages you will first need to
pass one of the following exams:
Certificate in Mortgage Advice and Practice (ifs School of
Finance)
Certificate in Mortgage Advice (CII)
Mortgage Advice and Practice Certificate (CIOBS).
If youre keen to specialise in long-term care insurance you
will need a further qualification such as the Certificate in
Financial Planning and Long Term Care Insurance (CII).
If you want to advise on equity release, a qualification such
as the Certificate in Equity Release (CII) or the Certificate
in Regulated Equity Release (ifs School of Finance) is
essential.
Qualifications in the pensions industry
Some roles in the pensions industry, such as acting as a
pension transfer specialist or overseeing pensions
administration, require an appropriate qualification.
Would-be pension transfer specialists need to first become
an Associate or Fellow of the Pensions Management
Institute. There is no regulatory requirement to take
professional qualifications for other specialist jobs in the
pensions industry, but your employer may encourage you
to take them as part of your continuing professional
development (CPD).
Insurance training options
Although the regulator requires you to attain and
maintain competence, there are no specific qualifications
required for roles within general insurance. Exams are not
compulsory, but many companies encourage staff to take
professional qualifications as part of a structured CPD
programme.
Popular qualifications include:
Certificate in Regulated General Insurance (ifs School of
Finance)
Certificate in Insurance (CII)
Diploma in Insurance (CII)
Advanced Diploma in Insurance (CII)
Certificate in Claims (Chartered Institute of Loss
Adjusters).
The average study time for each module is between 40
and 120 hours, depending on whether you are studying to
Certificate, Diploma or Advanced Diploma level. Many
holders of the Advanced Diploma in Insurance go on to
become Associates or Fellows of the Chartered Insurance
Institute.
Other training and development opportunities
Whatever your role within financial services it is likely that
you will be expected to undertake CPD to keep your skills
up to date. There are loads of ways to go about this but
here are a few ideas:
Go on an IT, time management or people management
course these only last a few hours or days and are a
great way to give your skills set a quick boost.
Consider a part-time postgraduate qualification to fill
major gaps in your knowledge or help you cross over to
a different area of work.
Formal training courses arent the only way forward
enhance your knowledge through networking or
approach a senior manager to be your mentor.
For those who are giving retail investment advice the
regulators requirements are more defined in terms of
hours required and the type of activity that can be
counted.
TARGETjobs City & Finance would like to thank Trevor Watkins,
director of education at The Institute and Faculty of Actuaries and
Sarah Thwaites, deputy CEO at the Financial Skills Partnership,
for their assistance with this article.
Professional bodies
A snapshot look at the four key professional bodies in the financial
services industry and what qualifications they have to offer.
The Institute and Faculty of Actuaries is the professional
body for actuaries in the UK. It represents its members
externally and oversees their education at all stages of
qualification and throughout their careers.
Actuaries use their mathematical expertise, statistical
knowledge and problem-solving skills to help businesses
evaluate the long-term financial implications of their
decisions. Traditionally, actuaries have worked in the
insurance and pensions industries but theyre increasingly
moving into areas such as healthcare, banking, business
management and risk assessment. The role of an actuary
is one of the most challenging and rewarding in the
world.
Qualification
Qualification typically takes between three and six years.
There are four stages to the examination: core technical
stage, core applications stage, specialist technical stage and
specialist applications stage. Subjects include financial
mathematics, publicity and mathematical statistics,
models, economics, communications, general insurance
and risk management.
If you want to find out more, visit
actuaries.org.uk/becoming-actuary.
Demonstrate your competence and enhance your career
prospects with a professional qualification from the ifs
School of Finance.
The ifs is a registered charity incorporated by Royal
Charter and is the only specialist financial education body
that is able to award its own taught degrees so is uniquely
positioned to support your professional development.
Qualifications
Our part-time qualifications are the result of constant
dialogue with employers and students, and draw on over
130 years of educational experience, resulting in the ifs
being a strategic partner with many of the worlds leading
financial organisations. Our qualifications include:
Professional Certificate in Banking
Professional Diploma in Banking Practice and
Management
BSc (Hons) in Banking Practice and Management
BSc (Hons) in Finance and Accounting for Financial
Services
MSc in Banking Practice and Management.
Visit ifslearning.ac.uk or contact the Student Services
and Admissions Office on 01227 829 499 or email
enquiries@ifslearning.ac.uk.
FINANCIAL SERVICES
FINANCIAL SERVICES
The CII is the worlds largest professional body for
insurance, risk and financial services. CIIs qualifications
cater for all levels of knowledge and experience, from new
entrants through to experienced professionals. On
completion, individuals can use globally-recognised
designatory letters, subject to membership and CPD
requirements. Experienced candidates completing the
Advanced Diploma in Insurance or Financial Planning will
be eligible to apply for chartered status. Completion times
range from six months at Award/ Certificate level, to
between two and three years at Diploma and Advanced
Diploma level. Many graduate schemes embed the
Advanced Diploma in Insurance (ACII).
Qualifications
Insurance. The CIIs professional qualifications in
insurance align with the sectors professional requirements
and job roles, providing the core knowledge, skills and
professionalism needed in todays diverse market. Exam
subjects include: reinsurance; aviation and space
insurance; cargo and goods in transit insurances; insurance
business; Takaful and insurance law.
Financial planning. The CIIs professional qualifications
in financial planning address the FCAs regulatory
examination requirements and meet the needs of a broad
spectrum of individuals working in advisory and support
roles. Exam subjects at the essential Diploma level
include: personal tax; investment principles, markets and
environment; trusts and financial planning process.
To find out more, visit cii.co.uk or email discover@cii.co.uk.
The Pensions Management Institute (PMI) is the UKs
leading professional body for those working in pensions
and employee retirement benefits. It supports and develops
the experts who are responsible for running the UKs
pensions industry and is acknowledged as the body for
establishing, maintaining and improving professional
standards in every area of pension scheme management,
consultancy and trusteeship.
Qualifications
It provides a full range of qualifications, membership and
support services for the ongoing professional development
of its 6,000 members including:
numerous qualifications for those at the start of their
career to those at the top of the pensions ladder
a popular programme of conferences and seminars
PMI News, a monthly magazine, and PMI Technical
News, a quarterly newsletter
other publications including Pensions Terminology
expert partners, who offer PMI members fast track
access to the most up-to-date information available in
the pensions industry
a network of UK regional groups
PMI TV an online TV channel offering a selection of
topical, relevant and informative programmes
CPD and retail distribution review accreditation
programmes
the PMI Trustee Group
an online careers service.
For full details visit pensions-pmi.org.uk.
Just 16% of pupils eligible for free school
meals make it to university, compared
to 96% from independent schools.
*

Change their lives. Change yours.
*Source: Sutton Trust, 2010
Matt Inniss, The University of Cambridge Taught: History Now: Head of Department
The single most important thing you will do teachrst.org.uk
Charity No 1098294
I wanted to
make a
difference.
So I did.
TF2707 TargetjobsEngineering Matt 270 x 190.indd 1 05/07/2013 15:33
CITY ALTERNATIVES
The employers
Law in London the scene is dominated by large firms
handling high-value, often international, commercial
transactions. Further afield sole practitioners and high
street firms handle work for smaller businesses.
Consulting employers range from large consulting firms
to specialist boutiques providing advice on specific areas
such as strategy, IT or regulation work. Many roles offer
excellent salary prospects and the chance to quickly rise
up the career ladder.
Property dominated by a small number of international
firms based in London and regional centres. Further
openings can also be found within a range of smaller firms.
The benefits
Like other City jobs, many City alternatives roles offer
excellent salary prospects as well as the chance to make the
most of your intellect, gain respected professional
qualifications and quickly rise up the career ladder. In
addition, although consultants can find themselves working
long hours, the work/life balance in these areas tends to be
good.
Skills required
Each of the different sectors will require the development of
knowledge specific to that area, but core skills youll need
include intellectual acumen, creative thinking and excellent
problem-solving, project management, interpersonal and
communication skills.
Applying
Competition for management and finance consulting, and
law is fierce. Both sectors welcome graduates from any
degree discipline but youll need to have top-class
qualifications from a good university, usually at least a 2.1 or
a first, and 300 UCAS points. Entry requirements for
property are slightly less stringent but still generally require
at least an expected 2.1 and 200+ UCAS points.
H
otbed of international finance that it is,
the City offers many roles linked more or
less directly to the investment business.
Broad areas of work that utilise new
graduates include law, economics,
finance, property and management consulting.
The jobs
Commercial lawyers work with investment bankers to
get the best possible deal for their clients and ensure that
the contracts comply with the appropriate investment-
related regulations. To qualify, law graduates are required
to complete a one-year full-time (or two-year part-time)
legal practice course before starting a two-year training
contract. Non-law graduates must also complete a
conversion course.
Management consultants provide organisations with
strategies to improve their business. They identify
problems, then suggest and implement solutions.
Finance and economic consultants this specialist area of
consulting involves coming up with business
recommendations or producing independent expert
advice for clients.
Keen to work in the City but not
necessarily in a finance role?
Choose an alternative.
Banking and finance law ......................................................112
Economic and finance consulting ........................................113
Management consulting ........................................................114
In a nutshell
@TjobsFinance
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Banking and finance law
Tackling the legal aspects of complex financial transactions. Those with an eye for
detail and a strong work ethos will fit right in here.
B
anking and finance lawyers are
involved in a wide range of
transactions. Funding
arrangements are key to the work that
banking lawyers do. Clients who are
buying a company or property, for
example, will need funding in place to
complete the acquisition. Banking
lawyers need to understand the
transaction as a whole, including tax,
property and corporate issues, as well
as the banking aspects.
The work
Banking lawyers act for both lenders
and borrowers. Lenders are typically
financial institutions, such as banks,
while borrowers tend to be corporates
often looking to acquire property or
shares. Lawyers acting for lenders are
involved with drafting the finance
documents including the loan
agreement and security documents.
Lawyers acting for borrowers review
the draft finance documents and
prepare all necessary corporate
documents including board and
shareholder resolutions and corporate
certificates. Banking lawyers are often
involved in negotiations to ensure that
lenders are sufficiently protected or
that borrowers are not overly
restricted. The nature of the work
means theres likely to be a pretty strict
and quick schedule in place since
purchasers are often bound by fixed
exclusivity periods.
Banking lawyers normally have a
number of transactions on the go at
any one time and rarely work alone on
a case. Most transactions have a
partner, associate and trainee
working on them meaning that
responsibility and client contact come
early on. The timetable for a
transaction can be anything from
days to months but this ultimately
lies in the hands of the client. The
hours are long, especially while a deal
is being finalised.
Banking is an exciting area that
allows lawyers to use their technical
legal knowledge and be creative at
the same time. Banking is
increasingly global, so many deals
have an international element. This
gives lawyers the chance to liaise with
local counsel and learn about other
local laws and procedures.
New developments
Modern banking is becoming ever
more complex. Alongside the current
financial climate, the scope for
banking litigation and arbitration is
growing and so banking and finance
law is crucial. In the terms of
financial deals, all eventualities need
to be covered and security for the
loan put in place. Lenders and
borrowers need to be confident that
the deal is secure and that they know
exactly who is liable should anything
go awry.
For more information about
legal careers, check out
targetjobslaw.co.uk
and TARGETjobs Law.
CITY ALTERNATIVES
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Economic and finance consulting
Advising clients on financial problems and recommending solutions to promote
prosperity. Ideal for analytically minded, creative graduates.
E
conomic and finance
consultants provide objective,
research-based advice for a
variety of clients such as large
corporations, regulators and
government bodies. When an
organisation underperforms in the
marketplace or suffers from financial
problems that threaten its future, an
economic and finance consultant is
called in to identify where things are
going wrong and implement plans for
future success.
Consultants in finance offer in-
depth financial and market insights to
benefit the client organisation. They
advise on areas such as competition
policy, dispute consulting, regulation
and valuation. Given the instability of
the economic climate, as well as the
specialised knowledge required for
financial work, such expertise is highly
valued across a range of sectors.
A multinational corporation may
need advice on the effect of a merger
that results in a monopolised market
and diminished choice for the
consumer. Consultants are also
employed to carry out valuation work
on assets such as intellectual property
rights, and to liaise with law firms to
settle disputes between organisations.
Regulators often employ consultants
when setting prices for state-regulated
industries such as energy supply.
Starting out
The typical entry level role for
graduates is as a data analyst. The
work involves research, onsite data
collection and the analysis of the
findings relevance to client needs. As
graduates progress they become more
adept at spotting trends and
identifying relevant market
information.
Starting out, most of a graduates
time will be spent on desk-based
research. With time you have the
opportunity to liaise directly with
clients, make projections relevant to
their market area and present
recommendations to ensure future
prosperity. Experienced consultants
spend a lot of time away from their
desks, meeting clients, examining work
processes and liaising with a variety of
people from industry professionals to
accountants.
Skills required
Consultancy work requires excellent
attention to detail, an analytical mind
and the determination to find answers.
Circumstances affecting clients can
vary greatly from case to case so
flexibility is key. Consultants must be
able to adapt their advice according to
the particularities of each project and
find innovative and lasting solutions.
Strong numeracy skills should be
complemented by the ability to write
concisely, and good client-facing and
interpersonal skills are also vital.
Best and worst
The specialist knowledge that
economic and finance consultants offer
is highly sought after, especially during
the recession. The work is often
demanding and highly pressured.
However, it can also be very satisfying
to take charge of a project and see it
through to completion. Graduates
enter a fast-paced business
environment and get to take on a fair
amount of responsibility early on.
With progression comes increased
interaction with clients and the chance
to play a greater role in projects.
Travel also plays a significant part in a
consultants role. It is common to
work abroad on international projects
in a wide variety of industries, from
communications and retail to energy
and aviation.
CITY ALTERNATIVES
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Management consulting
Working with client organisations to generate a competitive advantage,
maximise growth or improve business performance.
The job
Management consultants advise client
organisations on how they can
improve their performance. Often
working in teams of two to six
consultants, they typically work on
projects in a range of fields, and liaise
closely with senior management
figures in the client organisations they
are working for. While analytical skills
and confident numerical skills are very
important, understanding a clients
needs is the key to a successful project.
Starting out
Graduates normally enter the
profession as an analyst, and many
firms devote the first few weeks in the
job to an orientation programme
concentrating on and building useful
skills and techniques. As well as
formal classroom learning, many firms
run mentoring schemes that help to
develop networking skills useful in the
daily job and in aiding personal career
development. There is a strong focus
on learning on the job: graduate
consultants will have responsibility for
tasks and at least parts of projects
from an early stage, and will often be
required to work on site for the
duration of a project whether
elsewhere in the country or abroad.
Relevant masters degrees or PhDs may
allow entry at a more senior level.
Skills required
Research, analytical and problem-
solving skills are at the heart of
management consulting, as the role
fundamentally involves assessing how
business can be improved, and how
this can be achieved through the work
of internal departments. Effective
communication and presentation skills
are needed to relay suggestions, and
graduates need the confidence to be
able to defend their conclusions and
proposals to senior managers.
Interpersonal skills are important in
gaining the trust of employees in client
organisations, while the ability to
adapt to a range of working
environments is also crucial.
Graduates also need to be creative and
come up with customised solutions to
an organisations needs, rather than
applying rigid models.
Highs and lows
From an early stage in your career, you
will have responsibility and contact
with senior business leaders. While it is
possible to specialise in a particular
area, management consulting is a
fantastic opportunity to gain a broad
perspective on business and
management, and can lead to a
wealth of career opportunities. Travel
can be an exciting part of the job, but
hours may be demanding.
For more information about
consulting careers, check out
targetjobsconsulting.co.uk
and TARGETjobs Management
Consulting.
CITY ALTERNATIVES
@TjobsFinance
It is the talent and expertise of our employees that
makes FTI Consulting a global thought leader in economic
and nancial consulting. We provide clear analysis of
complex economic and nancial issues for use in legal and
regulatory proceedings and strategic decision making.
We have vacancies for numerate, highly analytical
graduates to join our Economic and Financial Consulting
practice. Working in small client teams where knowledge
sharing is a key part of the culture means youll have
the opportunity to do meaningful work from an early
point in your career.
For more information and to apply go to
www.fticonsulting.co.uk/graduates.
Closing date for applications is 17 November 2013.
EXTRAORDINARY
GRADUATES
EXTRAORDINARY
OPPORTUNITIES
GRADUATE OPPORTUNITIES
IN ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL
CONSULTING
ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL
CONSULTING
FORENSIC AND LITIGATION
CONSULTING
STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS
TECHNOLOGY
CORPORATE FINANCE

POSTGRADUATE STUDY
I
n the current climate, more and
more graduates are opting to
pursue postgraduate study. Now
its even more important to
make sure that youre clear
about what you want to get out of it and
why you think its necessary, so that
youre fully prepared to sell your
qualification to finance employers and get
the recognition you deserve for your extra
academic effort.
How postgraduate study can help
your job search and application
Further financial study can demonstrate your intellectual
capacity, while the sustained effort of working on a
dissertation is a good example of self-discipline,
organisation, independent research and project
management. Presenting papers, giving talks and working
on group assignments will hone your presentation, co-
operation and communication skills. Use your free time
wisely too: make the most of your universitys facilities by
getting involved in extra-curricular activities, attending any
additional training modules and networking at conferences.
Show that you can thrive outside the library by keeping up
to date on commercial developments in the financial world
and getting work experience in the holidays, both of which
will prove you can apply your theoretical knowledge to a
practical environment.
Taking your study to the next level is
an increasingly popular choice and
the huge array of different finance
courses on offer means that you can
tailor your study as you see fit. But
is it the best choice for you?
Further study in
finance: is it right
for you?
Keep up to date
with commercial
developments in
the financial world.
POSTGRADUATE STUDY
To explore a burning interest in a particular aspect of
finance further make sure you research course content
thoroughly so you can pursue your passion to its fullest
potential.
To network and gain new contacts getting yourself
known will no doubt pay dividends, particularly if youre
looking to cross over into the finance sector from an
unrelated field.
To gain specialist skills youre currently lacking while
these will no doubt be handy in your career later down the
line, balance your new-found expertise with practical work
experience and commercial thinking so you can offer
employers the whole package.
To make up for poor first degree results most companies
look for consistent academic ability so having a good
postgraduate degree wont erase the fact you only just
scraped a 2.2.
To put off competing for jobs the current climate is
tough but further study shouldnt be a fall-back option if
youre reluctant to grapple with the tricky job market. Be
honest with yourself: if you cant see how further study
will benefit your CV, how will you sell it to future
employers?
To up your employability a postgraduate degree alone
may not give you a competitive edge in the eyes of
employers.
Go to targetcourses.co.uk for all
the information you need to
compare postgrad courses.
Choose your course wisely
If youve decided to go ahead with further study, its time to
make an important choice. The more time and energy you
put into choosing the right course and institution, the better
off youll be in the long run. There is a huge array of
different courses to choose from some lasting for one year,
others for three years and each requires and develops a
different set of skills and abilities in its students. The key to
making the right choice is to think about what you want to
get out of the experience: do you want to gain detailed
knowledge of a specific area of finance, exempt yourself
from professional exams, cross over from another sector, or
get a broad understanding of general business issues?
Whatever the reason, the course you choose should enable
you to meet those needs.
Courses at a glance
Research degrees (PhD)
If you want to know all there is to know about a particular
subject you might want to consider a research degree (PhD)
that will usually last for three years and allow you to work
solely in your area of financial interest. You must be
confident of your love for the subject and have the ideas
and discipline to set out on a solitary path of uncharted,
original research.
MBA (master of business administration)
If youre a non-finance graduate with previous workplace
experience whos looking to gain entry to the finance sector,
an MBA may tick all the right boxes. Do be aware,
however, that youll usually need to have between three and
seven years work experience under your belt to be
considered for an MBA course.
MBA courses and the more internationally focused
equivalent, MEB (master in European business) usually
last between two and three years part time, or one to two
years full time. The MBA covers all aspects of business
including finance, marketing, operations, technology,
accounting, business strategy, organisational behaviour,
economics and entrepreneurship.
Taught masters courses
If youre looking to gain further knowledge of a specific
area of work or cross over into the finance sector with little
work experience, a taught masters course might be more
suitable than a general MBA. Many business schools run
specialist MSc or similar masters programmes that allow
you to focus on specific subjects, many of which can
complement a first degree in a non-finance-related area (but
do check with individual course providers). MSc courses
usually last one year full time or two to three years part
time (or on a distance learning basis) and some programmes
also have close links with employers so you can gain
valuable work experience while you study.
Does an MSc in international securities pique your
interest? Or is actuarial finance more up your alley?
Institutions offer a wide range of courses to suit all tastes.
For instance, London Business Schools MiF (masters in
finance) introduces students to topics such as mergers,
equity and investment, which means exemption from
professional exams is common. You can also tailor courses
to your individual needs and interests through your choice
of supplementary electives so if youre set on finding out
all there is to know about, say, credit risk or entrepreneurial
finance, make sure your course lists this particular option.
Graduate conversion diplomas
If youre worried that the jump between your
undergraduate non-finance degree and a masters in finance
will be too great, never fear. Graduate conversion
programmes are now a growing trend. Birkbeck, University
of London, for example, offers a range of such graduate
diplomas that aim to bridge the gap in your finance,
economics or statistics knowledge and, if you achieve high
marks, guarantee entry onto their MSc in finance.
Be the perfect all-rounder
Employers want to recruit people who have the right mix of
competencies to do the job; theyre not looking for a CV
full of academic qualifications at the expense of work
experience and interpersonal skills. Keep in mind that your
undergraduate degree is seen as the minimum requirement
for your job application to be considered, while any
additional experience is the icing on the cake. Postgraduate
study carries no guarantee of a job youll still need to
demonstrate all those transferable skills that recruiters are
looking for.
POSTGRADUATE STUDY
In general, when choosing courses,
investigate and compare:
the institutions reputation and facilities
its teaching and research ratings
the course content (core and supplementary electives)
and structure
the destinations of previous students
industry links, work experience and networking
opportunities
which courses or institutions employers rate most highly,
particularly if you already have an ideal employer in mind.
Go to targetcourses.co.uk to start comparing courses.
POSTGRADUATE STUDY
Finally
Use the checklist to make sure youve done all your
research, then speak to course directors and, if possible,
prospective employers before accepting a place. And dont
forget to consider issues such as how you are going to fund
your study and where youre going to live early on due to
the popularity of postgraduate qualifications the loan
approval process now takes longer than in previous years,
so apply in good time to guarantee secure financing. Turn to
All about funding on page 121 for more information.
We asked top finance employers what they really think of further study:
In partnership with
STEMinism UK
STEMinism UK is a social initiative to bring female STEM (science,
technology, engineering and mathematics) students and experienced
professionals together as a community and support network to overcome
the challenges they face in male-dominated sectors. The network runs
events that are designed to inspire younger generations of women to follow
a career in STEM-related industries where they can be successful.
TARGETjobs aims to identify ambitious students so they can engage directly
with the best recruiters in the sector.
By joining this members only network as a female studying science,
technology, engineering or mathematics you will gain exclusive invites to our
networking events with key recruiters from your field. Through these you can:
Be inspired to pursue a career in STEM-related industries
Learn the advantage of being a female within the STEM sector
Network with your peers and future colleagues and make lifelong contacts
Build confidence and gain insider insight into the selection process and
how to apply.
As part of the STEMinism UK initiative, TARGETjobs Events runs
Engineer your future and ITs not just for the boys!
Join the network today at STEMinismUK.com
Brought to you by
Masters and PhD students: remember recruiters are looking for a
simple aimactionoutcome format when they ask questions, not
the long-winded more theoretical academic answers you might
be used to.
Candidates with focus impress most. A good academic record is
only a starting point its also important to show you have a
convincing motivation to join the financial world. Wed like to feel
youll stick at it.
Would-be accountants with higher degrees, take note: your
progress may well be accelerated following your initial three
years but you will need to qualify first.
When justifying your study at interview, we prefer hearing honest
motivations. We can easily see through those who did a second
degree solely to fill time or out of panic.
The only postgraduate
study website with a
comprehensive
database of all
the major funding
opportunities in
the UK
Courses and funding
searchable by
subject area,
university, and
location, with the
largest selection of
institutions in the UK
Advice on securing
your postgraduate
place, securing
funding and a job
after university
@targetcourses
targetcourses
targetjobsUK
funding opportunities and UK postgraduate courses
Sign up at targetcourses.co.uk
for information on relevant courses, funding and advice
Apply
MONDAY
26
Deadlines
Take action Search
H
Check the TARGETcourses funding database
at targetcourses.co.uk/funding.
All about funding
If youve decided postgraduate study
is the right choice, make sure you
explore all your funding options early.
T
he cost of completing further study includes
course fees and living expenses. Depending
on where you decide to study these costs
can vary but even the most frugal of
student existences will still need some sort
of financial support. There is help available in the form of
loans or grants and most students now combine a number
of these funding sources to finance their studies. Your main
options are:
Public funding bodies the funding body for this field is
the Economic and Social Research Council
(www.esrc.ac.uk) and it has a variety of scholarships
available.
Institutional funding if you undertake a graduate
teaching assistantship (GTA) or graduate research
assistantship (GRA) you will usually receive either direct
payment or the waiver of your fees. Scholarships offered
by open competition or through a scheme of quota
awards to individual university departments are also
available.
Professional and career development loans these are
bank loans to pay for courses and training. See
www.gov.uk/career-development-loans or call the
National Careers Service on 0800 100 900.
Remember that competition for sponsorship or
institutional funding can be tough, so it really does pay to
do your research and investigate funding sources early in
the final year of your first degree.
Part-time work
Another increasingly popular way to finance your study is to
work part time. If you choose to work while studying your
best bet is probably to take a part-time course, which will
allow you to spend enough time on your assignments.
Although this will mean that youll be studying for longer, it
might be worth the additional time spent studying as you
wont be in so much debt when you graduate and you can
also pick up valuable practical skills and commercial
experience in the workplace helping to set you apart from
your peers.
Useful references
More information can be found at:
targetcourses.co.uk is the UKs most up-to-date source of
funding information. Search it by study level, subject, the
type of funding on offer, and whether the awarding body
is a charity, university or research council. Also, to help
pay for your studies enter the bursary competition at
targetcourses.co.uk/bursarycompetition.
www.mbaworld.com the Association of MBAs website
with a guide to accreditation of courses, scholarships and
loans.
www.gov.uk government website with financial support
information.
www.gov.uk/dwp the Department for Work and
Pensions website with information about housing and
council tax benefits for full- and part-time students.
www.hefce.ac.uk the Higher Education Funding Council
for England gives higher education funding details.
www.britishcouncil.org details scholarships, grants and
awards for overseas students studying in the UK.
www.dfid.gov.uk the Department for International
Developments website with a list of funding sources for
overseas students.
POSTGRADUATE STUDY
@TjobsFinance
Bringing together research and teaching excellence
Available as both full-time and part-time evening study:
Postgraduate Programmes
MSc Economics
MSc Financial Economics
MSc Finance with pathways to Finance and Commodities, Finance and
Accounting, and Banking and Finance
MSc Mathematics
MSc Financial Risk Management
MSc Financial Engineering
MSc Applied Statistics
MSc Applied Statistics and Operational Research
MSc Applied Statistics and Stochastic Modelling
Postgraduate Certicate in Econometrics
Graduate Conversion Programmes
Graduate Diplomas in Economics, Finance and Financial Engineering
Graduate Diploma/Graduate Certicate in Mathematics
Graduate Certicate in Statistics
Graduate Diploma in Statistics
www.ems.bbk.ac.uk
020 7631 6429
Londons evening university
For further details, please
call our admissions ofce on
020 7631 6429 or visit:
www.ems.bbk.ac.uk
Department of Economics,
Mathematics & Statistics
Set in a practical business context - the MSc Global Banking &
Finance provides the knowledge and tools you need to keep up
to date with the latest developments in this industry.

Central London location

12-16 month programme

Start dates in September and January
Contact us to fnd out more
Study global banking
in central London
T 020 7487 7505 E exrel@regents.ac.uk W regents.ac.uk
Banking & investment ......................................125
Accountancy and financial management ........143
Financial services ............................................156
City alternatives ................................................170
BANKING & INVESTMENT EMPLOYERS
We were the best undergraduates last year
Can you be the best this year?
Enter the TARGETjobs Undergraduate of the Year 2014 and win work placements with
leading employers, exclusive overseas trips and the chance to be recognised as the
very best. Choose the award most relevant to you and prove your worth.
undergraduateoftheyear.com
Joe Peissel, Economics,
University of Bath
George Fisher-Wilson, Management
Studies, University of Leicester
Maximilian Feller, Chemistry,
Cardiff University
Joshua Brown, Business Economics,
University of Glasgow
Sarah Leggett, Civil and Structural
Engineering, University of Sheffield
Ella Jakubowska, English Language and
Literature, University of Leeds
Tessa Fowler, Anthropology,
Durham University
Marie Notermans, English and Spanish,
University of Exeter
Jake Tudge, Aerospace Design
Engineering, University of the West of
England, Bristol
Giovanna Sinisgalli, Civil Engineering
with Italian, University of Sheffield
Hassan Qulqass, Computer Science,
Aston University
Stephanie Esuola, Law,
University of Warwick
Employer partners

Index of employers
Baillie Gifford ...................................................126
Bank of America Merrill Lynch........................127
Barclays...........................................................128
Bloomberg........................................................129
Fidelity Worldwide Investment.......................130
Goldman Sachs International .........................131
HSBC.................................................................132
ICAP ..................................................................133
Lazard..............................................................134
LCH.Clearnet ....................................................134
M&G Investments............................................135
Macquarie Group..............................................136
Mitsubishi UFJ Securities ................................137
Morgan Stanley................................................138
Nomura ............................................................139
RBC Capital Markets ........................................140
Socit Gnrale Corporate &
Investment Banking...................................141
banking and investment
QR code
This will take you directly to the online profile, from where you can apply.
Dont miss deadlines
Sign up to targetjobs.co.uk and get news and information on
employers and those all-important deadlines.
Compare employers
Use the jobfinder table on page 172 to compare employers.
MONDAY
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@TjobsFinance
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Get to our web entry
and view all our
latest opportunities
and content
Areas of specialisation
investment/fund management
Salary competitive
Benefits
bonus (discretionary) gym
membership/subsidy life assurance
pension scheme (with company
contribution) days holiday 26
Number of vacancies (UK) 8
Number of employees (worldwide) 760
Internships no
Degree sought
all degree disciplines
Locations Edinburgh
Apply to:
www.bailliegifford.com
0131 275 2000
Calton Square, 1 Greenside Row,
Edinburgh EH1 3AN
Closing date 30/11/13
Type of application accepted
CV & letter online
Partnership defines us.
Since 1908 when Baillie Gifford was founded,
the firm has been wholly owned by its
partners
Through each successive generation of
partners, our singular focus on generating
superior long-term investment results for our
clients has been the bedrock of our own
growth. It allows us to put our clients needs
first. It brings stability and a long-term time
frame to everything that we do in our
business, whether choosing the best
investments for our clients portfolios or
continually investing in the firm and
developing our people.
It also brings independence, allowing us to be
truly active investors. Our portfolios are
shaped by where the best investment
opportunities lie, rather than where the index
dictates. It encourages personal
responsibility, creating a strong culture of
questioning, debate and respectful trust in
which the finest investment minds are
nurtured and thrive.
Do you need to be a maths genius? Theres
no set formula.
We hire graduates from a wide range of
academic disciplines, from finance-related
courses through to Physics, English Literature
and Classics. Well provide you with all the
technical skills you need through the three-
year programme.
Its more important that you have the
enthusiasm and confidence to make an
effective contribution from your first day.
After all, well see you as a full member of your
team from day one, ready to build your
knowledge and undertake investment
research. Youll meet company executives and
contribute to our investment strategy within
the department. Youll research companies,
present to colleagues, as well as have the
opportunity to travel.
For us, its the ultimate investment.
In our experience, graduates benefit most
from on-the-job training. Learning from
experienced investors means that youre
constantly picking up new skills, and
absorbing fresh streams of information and
knowledge. This will be supplemented with
specially-tailored courses and professional
qualifications.
In your first three weeks, youll learn the
basics of investment analysis (accounts
analysis, how to structure your investment
research and different styles of investing);
plus a general introduction to the firm and our
clients.
Youll spend your first year with a single team,
learning about their specialism, before
rotating to another team. During this time,
youll also work towards CFA (Chartered
Financial Analyst) Level 1 and IMC
(Investment Management Certificate)
qualifications with full support from us
(including registration payment, materials
and time to study).
In years two and three youll have the option
to continue with CFA Levels 2 and 3, again
with full support. In addition, youll rotate each
year to a new team, gaining a broad view of
the different investments and geographies we
work in.
Be curious about our world.
As one of our graduates explains: We work
with many experienced investors during the
graduate rotation program and were always
encouraged to voice our opinions. Asking
questions is often more important than
having answers so being inquisitive and open-
minded helps. Learning how to make
decisions in the face of uncertainty is both
challenging and intellectually rewarding.
Baillie Gifford
75% of our partners began their working lives as part
of our investment graduate intake.
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and view all our
and content
corporate banking investment banking
IT/technology markets risk sales,
trading and research HR compliance
Salary Competitive
Benefits
contribution) private healthcare season
ticket loan days holiday 25 flexible
benefits scheme
Number of vacancies (UK) c.400
Number of employees (worldwide)
c.265,000
Internships yes
When summer & off-cycle depending on
business need
Degree sought
Locations Opportunities in London and
Chester, and across Europe, the Middle East
& Africa
Apply to:
baml.com/campusEMEA
Graduate Recruitment Team
020 7996 3528
Closing date Full-time: 31 October 2013,
Internship & Tech: 12 December 2013,
Spring Insight Week: 23 January 2014,
Summer Insight Week: 5 May 2014
online
Bank of America
Merrill Lynch
As a company serving clients in more than
150 countries, and with c. 265,000
employees, Bank of America is one of the
world's largest financial institutions, serving
individual consumers, small- and middle-
market businesses and large corporations
with a full range of banking, investing, asset
management and other financial and risk
management products and services.
Bank of America Merrill Lynch is the
marketing name for the Global Banking and
Global Markets businesses. The company is a
long-established participant in EMEA with a
presence since 1922. With offices in over 30
cities across the region, Bank of America
Merrill Lynch offers an integrated and
comprehensive set of products and services
across Global Corporate & Investment
Banking, Global Markets, Wealth Management
and Consumer Card, serving the needs of
individual, corporate, institutional and
government clients, combining the best of
local knowledge and global expertise.
At Bank of America Merrill Lynch, we
encourage a diverse, inclusive workplace. This
gives us the business advantage of
understanding and meeting the needs of our
diverse clients and shareholders, and
provides fresh ideas and perspectives, which
promote ingenuity. The company respects and
values not only differences related to age,
marital or civil partnership status, ethnicity,
disability, gender, gender identity, race,
religion or belief and sexual orientation, but
also diversity of viewpoint, experience, talents
and ideas. We strive to empower all
employees to excel on the job and reach their
full potential, and reward and recognise
individuals based on performance and results.
By joining Bank of America Merrill Lynch,
youll receive the highest level of training and
mentoring support. Furthermore, our
commitment to improving the quality of life
within the local community and taking care of
the environment means you can get involved
in a number of volunteering initiatives.
Opportunities
Bank of America Merrill Lynch is ideally placed
to offer the scope and opportunities the
cream of graduate talent deserves. Full-time
and internship programmes are available in
the following areas: Global Markets,
Investment Banking, Capital Markets,
Corporate Banking, Global Transaction
Services, Research, Risk, Compliance,
Technology, Quantitative Management and
Human Resources.
Insight Week
For students graduating in 2016, we are
offering one-week insight programmes at our
London offices in both April and September
2014. These programmes will be an
opportunity for you to gain an early insight
into Bank of America Merrill Lynch, and to get
ahead in the race for Summer Internship
positions.
Internships
An internship is an excellent opportunity to
gain an insight into working life at our
company and discover which direction you
would like to take your career. Youll work
alongside our full-time employees performing
real tasks with the potential for measurable
impact on our business. The skill-building and
networking opportunities youll gain with us
can make all the difference after graduation.
Summer Internships
Bank of America Merrill Lynchs Summer
Internship programme is the ideal opportunity
to gain an introduction into the world of
banking. The nine-week programme begins
with an induction week covering core skills
where you will work alongside our full-time
employees to gain valuable work experience
in the financial industry.
Off-Cycle Internships
Off-Cycle Internships are available throughout
the year, varying from 3 to 6 months,
depending on the business need. Locations
vary, but the majority of opportunities are in
London, Frankfurt, Madrid, Moscow and Paris
within the Investment Banking and Global
Markets divisions.
Industrial Placements
6 and 12 month industrial placements are
available within the Technology division. This
programme will provide you with a hands-on
experience within our business and an
opportunity to gain real exposure from day
one.
Graduate opportunities
Graduates will gain a breadth of knowledge
and experience and be positioned for great
career opportunities. Youll learn from the best
and brightest minds in the industry, and will
participate in a comprehensive training
programme that combines instructor-led and
web-based classes with on-the-job training
and networking. Youll have the opportunity to
create a real impact right from the start.
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and view all our
and content
corporate banking investment banking
investment/fund management private
wealth management retail banking
Salary competitive
Number of vacancies (UK) 250+
c. 140,000
Internships Yes. Summer Internships for
penultimate year students and Spring
Insight for first years.
When Summer & Spring
Degree sought
Locations UK, Europe, Asia and the USA.
Apply to:
barclays.com/joinus
online
140,000 people. Over 50 countries. A long
tradition of innovation that remains at the
heart of the business today. These are just a
few of the things that make us a major global
financial services provider. But its our future
ambitions and the actions were taking to
achieve them that truly sets us apart.
Were setting out to shape the future of our
business. Driven by strong values and a clear
direction, were focusing on one core purpose:
Helping people achieve their ambitions in
the right way. This includes our graduates and
interns.
Barclays offers a remarkable breadth of
opportunities for students, undergraduates,
graduates and postgraduates right across our
business. There are openings in Corporate and
Investment Banking, Retail and Business
Banking and Wealth and Investment
Management, as well as a host of crucial
business support functions such as
Technology, HR and Marketing. Applications
are welcome from graduates from all
disciplines.
Every programme presents distinct
challenges and opportunities. But whichever
part of Barclays you join, youll enjoy
immediate responsibility and continued
support. Your development will be tailored to
your needs, from the intensive initial training
through to ongoing professional education
and far beyond the programme. And youll be
empowered to think innovatively and seize
opportunities to inspire progress.
Graduates are playing their part in change
right across Barclays. So as well as a strong
academic record and a commercial outlook,
youll need to be ready to help drive the
business forward. As you do, youll take your
own career forward too.
Barclays
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IT/technology software development
financial sales economics news data
analysis information technology
Salary competitive + benefits
Benefits
ticket loan days holiday 25
15,000+
Internships yes
When summer
Degree sought
Locations London
Apply to:
makeyourmarkatbloomberg.co.uk
Bloomberg Recruitment Team
020 7330 7500
Closing date open
CV & letter online
Make Your Mark. Bloomberg.
What does it mean to work at Bloomberg? At a
company that covers nearly every aspect of
an entire worlds economic, financial and
business activities? Its about becoming part
of something as big as your ambitions. This is
an energetic place to begin your career - or to
propel it forward. If you have a passion to
pioneer, to be first, Bloomberg can help you
achieve more than you thought possible.
Being a crucial part of important decisions
across an entire planet means were growing:
Entering new markets, launching new
ventures, pushing boundaries. This is an
exciting moment for Bloomberg, with major,
worldwide opportunities to be seized. How will
you make your mark?
What We Do Counts.
In a world where fast, accurate, trusted
information is crucial, Bloomberg gives
decision makers in business, finance and
government a competitive edge by
connecting them to a dynamic network of
news, people and ideas. We deliver data, facts
and analytics through constantly evolving
technology quickly and accurately, so our
clients can move first. The Bloomberg
Professional service sits at the core of our
network. With more than 310,000 active
subscribers, we provide unmatched visibility
into global and local financial markets and the
world of business, with a mission to always
be first.
Careers and opportunities.
Global Data.
Analysts are responsible for providing
accurate and timely information, improving
databases in designated market areas and
delivering unparalleled customer service.
Whether you are sourcing market data from
new or existing providers, or processing
complex financial data, your work will play a
pivotal role in delivering timely and accurate
information to our clients on a
worldwide basis.
As a Data Analyst youll be working within all
aspects of Bloomberg. Our Data Teams
include: Fixed Income; Equities; Commodities;
Derivatives; Pricing; FX; Economics Statistics;
Funds; Energy.
Sales and Analytics.
Working in Sales and Analytics means you are
interacting directly with clients, answering
questions and providing rapid solutions to
meet their immediate business needs. Youll
be covering a wide spread of queries too, one
moment youll be dealing with a query from a
hedge funds, the next youll could be liaising
with a major corporation.
Within Sales, you are the primary client
contact, on the ground with them every day.
You will proactively sell and support the
solutions we provide to the professional
community, understanding both the client
business and our solutions comprehensively.
Who we look for.
People focused candidates with a commercial
eye, combined with an intelligent
understanding of the financial markets. Youll
anticipate needs for our clients have the
knack of delivering solutions to clients no
matter what the obstacles. A second language
is preferable but not essential.
Start dates are available throughout the year.
www.makeyourmarkatbloomberg.co.uk
Bloomberg
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investment operations markets risk
sales, trading and research
Salary Market Competitive + pension and
benefits
Benefits
bonus (discretionary) golden hello
life assurance pension scheme (with
company contribution) private healthcare
season ticket loan
Over 6,000
Internships yes
When Summer
Degree sought
Locations UK, Mainland Europe, Asia Pacific
Apply to:
www.fidelityrecruitment.com
Closing date
Investment Graduate Programmes
4th November 2013;
Non-investment Graduate Programmes
31st December 2013
Investment management. Fund management.
Portfolio management. Asset management.
What we do goes by a number of names. But it
all boils down to making intelligent
investment decisions on behalf of our clients.
We apply investment intelligence to our stock
choices, carefully researching everything
about a potential investment to see if its a
good place to invest our clients money. We
delve deep into companies: meeting
managers; exploring the factory floor;
researching suppliers; making comparisons
with competitors. Looking for anything, in
other words, that might tell us whether its a
smart investment.
This is called bottom-up stock picking. Your
time with us will show you exactly what that
means.
We dont expect you to come straight in and
know everything about what we do. Youll
start your internship or graduate programme
with a solid induction, during which youll be
introduced to investment management and
how it fits into the City. After that, there are
many more ways to develop, depending on
which of our programmes you join.
Rest assured, every one of them is a
phenomenal learning opportunity. Much of
what you learn will be on the job, with early
responsibility, client contact and liaison with
senior managers all as part of your work.
Meanwhile, there will be plenty of other ways
to learn about life at Fidelity. We run a regular
series of lunch and learns to help you find
out about the full scope of the Fidelity
business. Plus theres a host of social and
networking events that will give you the
opportunity to speak to all kinds of useful
people at different levels throughout the
business.
Youll also be joining a culture that rewards
hard work and individual contribution. Were a
true meritocracy that will put as much into
your success as you put into ours. So impress
us as an intern and the chances are youll be
offered a place with us after university. On our
graduate programmes, you can look forward
to training thats tailored to your own career
path. Beyond that, youll be the one in charge
of your own development, but well support
you where you need us and provide some
alumni training events as well.
So what do you need to succeed with us? As
well as being on course for a 2:1 or above in
your degree, youll need excellent attention to
detail, strong numerical skills and a talent for
multi-tasking. We want to see your motivation
to work for Fidelity specifically, your ability to
think for yourself, your drive, communication
skills, and, of course, lots of intellectual
curiosity.
Fidelity Worldwide
Investment
BE OUR NEXT INVESTMENT
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corporate banking corporate finance
economics financial accounting
internal audit investment banking
investment operations IT/technology
markets operations private equity
private wealth management regulation
risk sales, trading and research
structured finance
Salary competitive
Benefits
ticket loan childcare and wellness centre
c.30,000
Internships yes
When summer, spring and work placement
internships are available see website for
further details
Degree sought
Locations European opportunities are
available in London, Frankfurt, Paris,
Moscow and Zurich. Opportunities are also
available in other worldwide locations;
please see our website for further
information.
Apply to:
www.goldmansachs.com/careers
Closing date
New Analyst: 3 November 2013
Summer Analyst: 1 December 2013
Work Placement: 1 December 2013
Spring Programme: 5 January 2014
online
About Goldman Sachs
Goldman Sachs is a leading global investment
banking, securities and investment
management firm that provides a wide range
of financial services to a substantial and
diversified client base, including corporations,
financial institutions, governments and high-
net-worth individuals.
Starting your career
At Goldman Sachs, you will have many
opportunities to make an impact. The unique
perspectives that our people bring to the firm
and their shared passion for working on
projects of great global, economic and social
significance, help drive progress and create
results.
From your first day, you will be immersed in a
collaborative environment with people of all
levels who share the firms values. Nearly
everyone from our junior analysts to our
most senior leaders is actively involved in
recruiting talented people from a variety of
backgrounds, because we recognise that a
diverse workforce enables us to serve our
clients most effectively and in the most
innovative ways.
The diversity of talents and educational
backgrounds in our people is crucial to our
performance and business success. To that
end, we are committed to an environment that
values diversity, promotes inclusion and
encourages teamwork.
Whatever your background or area of
academic study, we value the intellect,
personality and integrity of an individual.
While an interest in and appreciation for
finance is important, ones personal qualities
are key.
We offer opportunities in the following
divisions:
Executive Office
Finance
Global Compliance
Global Investment Research
Human Capital Management
Internal Audit
Investment Banking
Investment Management
Legal
Merchant Banking
Operations
Realty Management
Securities
Services
Technology
Available Opportunities:
Spring Programme
The two-week Spring Programme is a great
opportunity for you to understand what a
career in the Investment Banking industry
has to offer, be challenged in a dynamic,
diverse and creative environment, and explore
future Internship opportunities in areas
across the firm. This year, the Spring
Programme in London will be held during the
2014 Easter holidays.
This programme is ideally suited for students
due to graduate in 2016 (typically first-year
students).
Summer Programme
The 10-week Summer Programme offers
division-specific training designed to help you
succeed in your area. Successful Summer
Analysts may be invited back to join our New
Analyst programme in a full-time position.
This programme is ideally suited for students
due to graduate in 2015 (typically
penultimate-year students).
Work Placement Programme
The year-long Work Placement Programme will
help you gain industry experience in one of
our offices. The Technology division also
offers a number of six-month internship
opportunities beginning in the summer.
Successful participants may be invited back
to join our New Analyst programme in a full-
time position.
This programme is ideally suited for third-year
students interested in a one-year long
industry internship as part of their degree.
New Analyst Programme
Our New Analyst Programme will help you
learn about our businesses, develop
important relationships, and build career-
enhancing skills.
This programme is typically suited for those
who have just graduated from university or an
advanced degree programme, but who have
little or no work experience. Applicants should
apply in their final year of study.
Goldman Sachs
International
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hedge fund investment banking
investment operations Islamic finance
IT/technology markets operations
private wealth management risk sales,
trading and research structured finance
Salary industry competitive
Benefits
gym membership/subsidy life
assurance pension scheme (with
season ticket loan days holiday 25
Number of vacancies (UK) 250+
280,000
Internships Yes
When Summer
Degree sought
Locations London, Dubai, Hong Kong,
China, New York, Brazil, Mexico
Apply to:
www.hsbc.com/targetjobs
Closing date
Spring Insight Programme
(1st Year Undergraduate Programme)
31st December 2013
Summer Internship (Penultimate Year
Programme) 12 January 2014
Graduate Analyst Programme
24th November 2013
Please note candidates should apply ASAP
as applications are reviewed on a rolling
basis.
online
HSBC is one of the worlds largest banking and
financial services organisations. HSBC have
280,000 people that operate in 85 countries
and territories, serving a customer base of
around 89 million. They aim to be where the
growth is, connect customers to opportunities
and enable businesses to thrive and
economies prosper.
Once, banks were built for North American and
European finance. But traditional economies
have started to shift while new markets
emerge and old ones slow down. The world is
changing the way it does business and
where it does business. HSBC has always
looked in new directions to create teams,
resources and relationships. With a strong
global network that reaches into emerging
economies and established markets, HSBC is
shaped for the future.
At HSBC, theres always room for difference,
but everyone shares a focus on teamwork, a
feeling of community and mutual respect. Its
a culture focused on doing the right thing
where people take responsibility for their
actions.
By focusing on the long term, HSBC can build
on its achievements; look for new
opportunities and never lose sight of its
heritage. People are proud to be part of an
organisation thats always moving forward
and doing so responsibly. Now, HSBC want
people who share a focus on the bigger
picture and are ready for the global challenges
and opportunities that they offer.
For graduates, that means theres a platform
for talent that offers global experience and
exposure to new markets. The challenges are
real and graduates become integral members
of a network that stretches around the world.
At HSBC, graduates can see past their short
term goals to build long and rewarding
careers.
Our student and graduate programmes touch
almost every aspect of our business, giving
you the opportunity to experience many
different areas and challenges, as well as the
ability to specialise. Youll build your own
network, make connections with colleagues
across the globe and contribute to live
projects that will enable the long-term growth
and success of the bank.
Youll learn many new things, challenge your
own perceptions, discover skills you didn't
even know you had and develop new ones on
your journey.
There are so many opportunities to inspire
and be inspired with HSBC. From summer
internships and student placements, to
graduate programmes, youll have the
opportunity to experience different areas of
our business, contribute to live projects and
connect with people from around the globe.
HSBC
At HSBC, graduates can
see past their short
term goals to build long
and rewarding careers.
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financial accounting inter-dealer broking
risk
Salary competitive
Benefits
private healthcare days holiday 25
Number of vacancies (UK)
See website for details
Number of employees (worldwide) 5,000
Internships yes
When summer/one-year placements/
insight programme see website for details
Degree sought
business studies computer science/IT
engineering mathematics numerate or
semi numerate science
Locations Americas, Asia Pacific, EMEA
Apply to:
www.icap.com/careers
020 7000 5000
online
ICAP is the worlds leading markets operator
and provider of post trade risk mitigation and
information services, connecting buyers and
sellers in the worlds financial markets. Fast-
moving. Innovative. Meritocratic. Its an
exciting business, a growing business, a hub
of innovation. A place where talent and
ambition thrive and where each day brings
another opportunity, another challenge,
another chance to prove your potential.
We are a billion dollar company, with
approximately 5,000 employees in 32
countries. Efficient financial markets are vital
to global and national economies and we
provide market-leading broking services to a
huge variety of clients, including all the major
investment and commercial banks. This
means matching buyers and sellers in the
wholesale markets for interest rates, credit,
commodities, foreign exchange, futures,
equities, equity derivatives and shipping, in
deals worth in excess of US$1.3 trillion a day.
This can be done over the phone and in person
by specialist voice brokers, and also by using
our electronic networks. We also offer a wide
range of post trade risk mitigation and
information services, providing data and
helping organisations reduce operational and
systemic risk in their markets.
Our offer is complex and highly specialised,
our clients expectations high. To keep
delivering, to keep adapting, to keep
improving, we need an ever-more diverse
range of knowledge and personalities from
outstanding brokers to experts in post trade
risk mitigation services, research, accounting,
risk, compliance, operations and human
resources.
Our full-time programmes provide the training
and support you need to make an early
impact and progress quickly in your career.
Whichever division you join, youll find our flat
structure and down-to-earth attitude provides
an unusually high level of exposure to both
senior management and the full breadth of
our business. With access to the full extent of
our business, as well as to senior
management, youll have every chance to
prove your worth, get noticed and rise swiftly
to the top. If you are still at university, our
structured internships and placements allow
you to experience our business and culture
first hand as an active member of our team.
While our industry insight programme
provides a comprehensive overview of ICAP,
as well as the opportunity to meet our people
and start learning the ins and outs of our
business.
All opportunities call for proactive self-starters
with a keen interest in working in global
financial markets. They also call for strong,
resilient, sociable personalities. We are an
extraordinarily ambitious organisation that
thrives on innovative and entrepreneurial
thinking. Were looking for quick thinkers who
have belief in their own ability, and who are
comfortable adapting to change. Were looking
for ambitious characters with a strong desire
to succeed, as well as the determination to
achieve. And were looking for outgoing people
who enjoy building productive working
relationships, with people from a variety of
different backgrounds.
To find out more about ICAP, our global range
of opportunities, the kind of people were
looking for, and to apply, visit
www.icap.com/careers
ICAP
HERES THE DEAL. ICAP is the worlds leading markets
operator, connecting buyers and sellers in the global
financial markets.
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opportunities and content
ccCFDs commodities credit default
swaps derivatives energy equities
fixed income freight foreign exchange
interest rate swaps risk management
Apply to:
www.lchclearnet.com/graduates
+44 (0)20 7426 7000
Internship Yes
When Summer
online
Banks, brokerages and hedge funds arent your
only options if youre looking for a graduate
development programme in finance. Clearing is
a uniquely rewarding career that will take you
to the centre of the global markets.
Why clearing?
Clearing houses are now recognised as
fundamental for market stability and regulators
are requiring that many more asset classes
should pass through clearing. Clearing is the
future of finance.
Why LCH.Clearnet?
LCH.Clearnet is the worlds leading independent
clearing house and a global leader in risk
management. As well as serving a variety of
international exchanges and platforms, we
clear many over-the-counter asset classes.
We are, for example, the worlds no.1 clearer in
interest rate swaps, no.2 in fixed income and
repo, and no.3 in futures and options.
What LCH.Clearnet can do for you
Based at our London offices, our 18-month
structured graduate programme provides you
with three six-month rotations in different parts
of our business such as Risk (with the worlds
best risk management team), SwapClear (the
world leader in clearing interest rate swaps) or
ForexClear (managing risk in the worlds largest
market). This on-the-job learning is
supplemented with formal training and support
for relevant professional qualifications.
Who should apply
Were happy to consider all academic
disciplines, but you need to be numerate and
have a passion for the financial markets. On a
personal level, people who thrive here are team
players, good communicators and self-starters
willing to challenge conventional thinking.
The next step...
Find out more about LCH.Clearnets graduate
and internship programmes at
www.lchclearnet.com/graduates. To apply,
complete the application form at
www.lchclearnet.com/graduates before
20 December 2013.
We recruit on a rolling basis, so early
application is strongly advised.
LCH.Clearnet
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Apply to:
www.lazard.com
Internship yes
When Summer 2014
online
Who we are
Lazard, one of the worlds preeminent
financial advisory and asset management
firms, operates from 40 cities across 26
countries in North America, Europe, Asia,
Australia, Central and South America. With
origins dating back to 1848, the firm provides
advice on mergers and acquisitions, strategic
matters, restructuring and capital structure,
capital raising and corporate finance, as well
as asset management services to
corporations, partnerships, institutions,
governments and individuals.
We are an independent firm, free of the
conflicts that can arise at other financial
institutions, and we maintain long-standing
relationships with business leaders and
decision makers around the world. Our
intellectual capital is our strongest asset. The
superior intellect, enterprise and commitment
to excellence of our team guide everything we
do.
Who we are looking for
We are recruiting approximately 20 full-time
M&A Graduate Analysts and approximately 20
M&A Summer Interns to start in 2014. You will
possess a passion for business and a genuine
interest in investment banking, along with
well-developed interpersonal skills and a
sense of individualism and identity. A strong
academic track record is a must. Most
importantly, we want individuals with the
commitment and flair to succeed within our
organisation.
Application Deadlines:
Analyst Applications: 31 October 2013
Intern Applications (penultimate year
students only): 18 November 2013
Lazard
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Salary Competitive
Benefits
season ticket loan share options days
holiday 25 days
Internships yes
When Summer
Degree sought
Locations All graduates will be based at our
head office in London
Apply to:
www.mandg.co.uk/graduates
Closing date Please see website for details
online
Who is M&G?
M&G is one of Europes leading asset
management firms. We are responsible for
investing over 238 billion* worth of assets
on behalf of retail and institutional clients
based in the UK, Europe and Asia. Our
expertise is built on more than 80 years of
investment experience, dating back to the
launch of the UKs first unit trust in 1931.
As part of the Prudential Group, M&G is an
autonomous business investing in a wide
range of asset classes including equities,
fixed income and property throughout the
world. We are also experts in a number of
specialist investment areas including hybrid
securities, leveraged finance, structured
credit products and infrastructure finance.
M&Gs reputation
M&G has a strong track record of investment
performance across a diverse range of funds
that span both the retail and institutional
market places. M&G also has a strong
reputation with our clients and uniquely
combines strength and experience with flair
and originality.
The following describes the key attributes that
define M&G:
Performance driven an investment-led
organisation that is driven by the need to
generate outstanding long-term returns for
our investors.
Trustee partners at the core of our
approach to client servicing is integrity we
strive to deliver excellent service which
meets the needs of our customers,
investors and intermediaries, both now and
over the longer term.
Original thinking we apply an innovative
and creative approach to the way we work
and the way in which we develop and
manage funds.
About our Graduate Schemes
We have run our Graduate Schemes for many
years, continuously improving their
effectiveness. During that time, we have been
very successful in identifying and developing
high calibre graduates, who have
subsequently taken on demanding and
important roles.
A Graduate Scheme is an excellent way to
start a career at a company that values its
people. M&G endeavours to support and
encourage personal development in an
environment that rewards individuals who
display ambition, independent thinking and
professionalism.
Throughout the Scheme, Graduates have a
vast support network and are given
comprehensive training, including:
An opportunity to buddy previous
graduates
A 5 week introductory training course
The opportunity to complete industry
qualifications
A variety of training courses to develop your
interpersonal skills
How can you apply?
To obtain more information about M&G
Investments you can visit our web site at
www.mandg.co.uk/graduates
M&G is an equal opportunities employer and
welcomes applications from all candidates
regardless of sex, race, age, disability, religion
or belief.
* As at 30 March 2013
M&G Investments
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financial accounting investment banking
private equity risk sales, trading and
research structured finance
Salary Competitive
Benefits
bonus (discretionary) life assurance
ticket loan days holiday 25
Internships Yes
When Summer
Degree sought
Locations Offices in 28 countries worldwide
European HQ in London
Apply to:
www.macquarie.com/mgl/com/global-
careers/emea/gradrecruitment
emeagraduaterecruitment@macquarie.com
0203 037 2266
Ropemaker Place
28 Ropemaker Street
London EC2Y 9HD
CV & letter online
Macquarie Group
Macquarie Group (Macquarie) is a global
financial services provider. Our diverse range
of services includes corporate finance and
advisory, equities research and broking,
funds and asset management, foreign
exchange, fixed income and commodities
trading, lending and leasing and private
wealth management.
The diversity of our operations is a core
strength and our reputation for spotting
extraordinary opportunities and developing
people into outstanding business leaders has
led to a highly successful business.
Founded in 1969, Macquarie employs more
than 13,600 people in 28 countries. We
combine leading market positions as a global
specialist in a wide range of sectors, including
resources, agriculture and commodities,
energy and infrastructure, with a deep
knowledge of Asia-Pacific financial markets.
Our philosophy
Key to Macquaries success is a unique
structure and management style that enables
businesses to exercise significant operating
freedom balanced by limits on risk and
observance of the highest professional
standards.
This philosophy encourages a sense of
ownership and entrepreneurial endeavour
among our people and has produced a stream
of major financial innovations throughout
Macquaries history.
Our philanthropic arm, the Macquarie Group
Foundation, is very active around the world,
ensuring Macquarie contributes meaningfully
in the communities in which our staff live and
work. Together with Macquarie staff, the
Foundation has contributed more than
$US165 million to approximately 1,300
community organisations since 1985.
Opportunities
Graduate Programme: In joining Macquarie,
you work in a specific business group and will
be an integral member of the team from the
start. Your career starts with a comprehensive
orientation and training programme before
joining your team and gaining real hands-on
experience, learning and developing from
those around you, including senior
management. Your development continues
throughout your career and is tailored to your
needs to ensure you reach your full potential.
Summer Intern Programme: This is an exciting
opportunity to get exposure to the financial
services sector. You will work full-time over
the summer, gaining valuable experience and
an excellent insight into your chosen
business group.
There are opportunities in the following
business groups:
Macquarie Capital (Investment Banking)
Fixed Income, Currencies and Commodities
(Sales & Trading)
Macquarie Funds Group (Asset & Fund
Management)
Corporate and Asset Finance (Lending &
Leasing)
Risk Management Group
Market Operations & Technology
We look for people who want to drive their own
success high performing, motivated
individuals from diverse backgrounds who
can demonstrate flexibility and think
creatively. At Macquarie youll have the
freedom to find your own career path and be
successfully different.
Macquarie Group
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internal audit investment banking
IT/technology operations risk sales,
Salary Competitive
Benefits
Number of vacancies (UK) 1015 Graduate
Opportunities & 1012 Intern Opportunities
Number of employees (worldwide) c.600
Internships Yes
When Summer
Degree sought
Locations 25 Ropemaker Street,
London EC2Y 9AJ
Apply to:
muscampus.com
Closing date November 2013 for Graduate
Applications. January 2014 for Summer
Intern Applications. Please visit our website
for confirmation of dates.
online
MUS Graduate & Internship Opportunities
2014
Mitsubishi UFJ Securities is uniquely
positioned within the Financial Services
industry. Headquartered in London, were the
European capital markets hub of Mitsubishi
UFJ Financial Group, one of the worlds largest
financial institutions. Our network is global.
And with the stability and support of Asias
biggest lender behind us, were pushing
forward with our international expansion.
The financial strength of Mitsubishi UFJ
Financial Group offers real certainty and
stability within the industry. Yet MUS itself is
small enough to be agile, entrepreneurial, and
specialist. Its a rare blend of insight and
integrity one that defines our positive
culture and allows us to offer a genuinely
different, and uniquely inclusive, graduate
programme.
Our relatively small graduate intake means
that you wont get lost here. In fact, youll find
the exact opposite. Youll be involved and an
integral part of the team from your first day.
Senior colleagues will know who you are, and
theyll see the work you do. Whats more,
theyll be happy to provide support and advice
when you need it.
Our commitment to your development wont
stop there. You will also be provided with:
a tailored training programme that will be
yours to shape
early exposure and responsibility
the opportunity to make an immediate and
valuable contribution
Put simply, well want you to succeed. And
youll be recognised and rewarded when you
do.
Mitsubishi UFJ Securities
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Our business
Morgan Stanley is more than a leading
financial services firm. With 1,200 offices
spanning 43 countries and talented,
passionate people bringing excellence and
integrity to everything we do, the firm is truly
global. Throughout the firms history, diverse
and talented individuals have worked together
to develop our new ideas and groundbreaking
financial products.
Our successes
Morgan Stanley has maintained its leadership
position in the industry for many years. The
firm's investment banking franchise regularly
features at the top of the league tables for
Mergers & Acquisitions and IPOs. Our
research, strategy, and economics teams are
consistently ranked highly in investor
surveys. Our Sales & Trading, Prime
Brokerage, Wealth Management and Asset
Management businesses have won multiple
awards over the years and Morgan Stanley's
commitment to diversity and equality has
also received accolades.
Our people
There is no typical person at Morgan Stanley.
Our people come from a wide variety of
backgrounds and interests but they are all
high achievers who share integrity,
intellectual curiosity and the desire to work in
a collegial environment. Individuality is prized
and people are encouraged to be themselves.
What you are interested in and how you
approach the world will determine your
individual career path at Morgan Stanley.
Our expectations
Our success is built on a history of providing
the very best advice and solutions tailored to
our clients needs. Its one of the things that
sets us apart, and we want to work with and
develop students and graduates who share
that commitment to providing first-class
service. Attitude is therefore just as important
as aptitude, which is why we accept
academically excellent applicants from all
degree disciplines.
Our interns
We all know and recognise the value add of
work-experience and we, therefore, offer
internships that give promising penultimate-
year students the chance to experience one of
our nine key business areas in an enjoyable
and intellectually challenging way. In addition
to our 10-week summer programmes, we also
run industrial placements and off-cycle
internships, plus give you the opportunity to
join us for a look behind the scenes at one of
our insight events. While allowing you to
experience Morgan Stanley and our culture
first hand, internships and industrial
placements also serve as the #1 pipeline for
our full time programmes.
Our graduates
Like our Internships, the Morgan Stanley
Graduate Programme is open to students who
demonstrate the entrepreneurial drive, team
working and communication skills needed to
take our business forward. The structured
programme is designed to hone your
negotiation and networking abilities as well as
equip you with specialist knowledge of your
chosen area.
Our future
Morgan Stanleys leadership success rests on
the talents of our people, so our future lies in
enabling them to be the best they can be.
Which is why whether you join us as an
intern or a graduate you can expect world-
class training and development. Depending on
the area that you join, you will learn how to
manipulate analytical tools, cutting-edge
technology and data resources. However,
classroom-based and on-the-job training and
workshops are just one aspect of your
development. You will also receive regular
mentoring and coaching as well as be invited
to networking events and senior management
presentations for you to know our culture,
understand our core values and key products
as well as build a network of contacts all
necessary foundations for a truly exceptional
and rewarding career.
Morgan Stanley
and view all our
and content.
Recruitment areas
Equity Research, Finance, Global Capital
Markets, Human Resources, Investment
Banking, IT/Technology, Operations, Prime
Brokerage, Real Estate Investing, Risk
Management, Sales and Trading, Stats &
Modelling.
Salary Competitive + benefits
Internships We offer summer and off-cycle
internships, industrial placements as well as
a 1-week insight programme for first years.
Internship positions for 2014
350400 across our European locations.
Applications deadline for internships
The closing date will vary by internship
programme. Please check our website.
Duration of internships From 10 weeks up
to 12 months.
Degree sought We welcome applications
from all degree disciplines. Please check our
website for an overview of the different
skills and competencies we seek by division
and programme.
EMEA locations Amsterdam, Athens,
Budapest, Dubai, Dublin, Frankfurt, Geneva,
Glasgow, Istanbul, Johannesburg, London,
Luxembourg, Madrid, Milan, Moscow,
Munich, Paris, Stockholm, Tel Aviv, Warsaw
and Zurich.
Apply to:
www.morganstanley.com/careers
Online (CV and cover letter) at
www.morganstanley.com/careers. You will
be required to complete a set of online
psychometric tests as part of your
application.
Closing date Varies by division and
programme. Please check our website.
Enquiries: graduaterecruitmenteurope@
morganstanley.com
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corporate finance investment banking
IT/technology management accounting
markets operations risk sales,
Salary Competitive
Benefits
Number of vacancies (UK) determined by
business demand
approx. 28,000
Internships yes
When Summer (10 weeks), Winter
(6 months), Spring (10 weeks or 6 months)
in London and Off-cycle internships
(36 months) in our regional offices
Degree sought
Locations based in Tokyo with regional
headquarters in London, Hong Kong and
New York
Apply to:
www.nomura.com/careers
Contact Graduate Recruitment
020 7102 9303
Recruitment queries only:
eurrecruitingevents-eu@nomura.com
Closing date Please refer to website
CV & letter online
Nomura is a leading financial services group
and the preeminent Asia-based investment
bank with worldwide reach. Nomura provides a
broad range of innovative solutions tailored to
the specific requirements of individual,
institutional, corporate and government
clients through an international network in
over 30 countries. Based in Tokyo and with
regional headquarters in Hong Kong, London,
and New York, Nomura has a unique
understanding of Asia that enables the
company to make a difference for clients
through three business divisions: retail, asset
management, and wholesale (global markets
and investment banking).
Nomura offers a range of graduate and
internship programmes across three key
areas, investment banking, global markets
and corporate infrastructure. We also offer
36 month internships in our regional offices.
Internships are the perfect preparation for a
subsequent full time role. Nomura will extend
full time offers to strong performers to return
to the company the following year. To apply for
an internship position with Nomura in 2014,
candidates should be available for full time
employment in July 2015.
To apply for a full time position within the
investment banking, global markets and
corporate infrastructure divisions, candidates
should be available for full time employment
in July 2014.
The recruitment process for the graduate
programme consists of three first round
interviews (two sessions on competency and
one case study) with junior representatives. If
you are applying to internships, you will
attend two first round interviews (one
competency and one case study). If
successful, the final round interviews for both
full-time and internships will consist of four
competency based interviews with senior
representatives.
At Nomura our goal is to attract and develop
exceptionally talented people who share our
passion for individual excellence and our
commitment to teamwork. We recruit
graduates with a high level of academic and
extra-curricular achievement, who will be able
to withstand the rigours of a rapidly changing,
demanding but ultimately rewarding
environment. Fluency in English is essential
and fluency in other languages is
advantageous.
We assess candidates using a range of key
competencies which include; problem solving,
analytical skills, teamwork, leadership,
communication skills, professional presence
and initiative. All of these competencies are
equally weighted and we look for evidence of
these in your CV, cover letter and throughout
the interview process. We will also need to be
convinced of your interest and commitment
to the financial services industry and to
Nomura in particular.
For further information about Nomura, please
visit: www.nomura.com/careers.
Nomura
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investment banking IT/technology
markets operations risk sales,
trading and research
Salary competitive
Benefits
contribution) private healthcare
season ticket loan share options
Royal Bank of Canada: c.80,000;
RBC Capital Markets, London: c.1,150
Internships yes
When summer
Degree sought
Locations HQ: Toronto.
Main centres: London, Hong Kong, New York,
Sydney, Tokyo
Apply to:
www.campus.rbccm.com
Closing date see website
online
RBC Capital Markets is a premier investment
bank that provides a focused set of products
and services to institutions, corporations,
governments and high net worth clients in
over 100 countries. We are the investment
banking arm of Royal Bank of Canada.
We understand that the first steps in any
career in finance are critical. With that in
mind, we have the right formula to provide you
with the opportunities and professional
development you need to turn those first
steps into a rewarding career.
Youll be part of a company with a superior
financial track record, credit rating and
reputation. In fact, we maintained a high credit
rating throughout the recent financial crisis.
Working at one of the worlds leading
investment banks means you will benefit
from the breadth of opportunity, depth of
resources and quality of training that comes
from our size, experience and strength. It will
also give you the chance to work regularly
with world-class clients and colleagues.
In short, we provide the essential components
to get your career off to a great start.
The following opportunities are available for
2014:
Global Markets
Global Investment Banking
Risk Management
Finance
Operations
Information Technology
We are not prescriptive on the subject of your
degree, however, we will be looking for a
minimum 2.1 degree (expected). Whether
youre a philosophy student or an engineer,
were more interested in an agile intellect,
strong numerical and analytical skills, an
awareness of global economic issues and a
genuine interest in the international financial
markets. Creativity, logic, interpersonal skills
and inner drive all come into the equation.
Any additional languages, especially
European, are a strong advantage but by no
means a pre-requisite when applying.
For further details on our programmes and
how to apply, please visit our website:
www.campus.rbccm.com
RBC Capital Markets
(Royal Bank of Canada)
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investment banking investment/fund
management IT/technology markets
operations sales, trading and research
structured finance
Salary Competitive
Benefits
bonus (discretionary) pension scheme
(with company contribution) private
healthcare share options days holiday
25
Number of vacancies (UK) Numerous
155,000
Internships Yes
Degree sought
Locations Paris, London, Hong Kong,
New York, Frankfurt, Madrid, Milan
Apply to:
for more details, please visit:
www.sgcib.com/graduates
To search our opportunities and apply
online, please visit: www.sgcib.gtios.com
Closing date Please see website for details
online
Do you see yourself as someone who stands
out? Or someone outstanding? People join for
the impact they can have on us. They stay for
the impact we have on them. A flatter
structure offers visibility and exposure
beyond that of our competitors, so you know
our names, and we know yours. Its
personable, human, and inspires success
through passion. By encouraging open
mindedness and a willingness to share ideas,
we have adapted to market changes and
thrived through innovation. Bringing words
like hard work and dedication together with
community and respect has enabled us to
work collaboratively and build our future
together. We call this Team Spirit and its what
makes us different. Its what makes you
different.
Societe Generale is one of Europes largest
financial services organisations serving 32
million customers in 76 countries; our
155,000 employees provide a comprehensive
range of financial services to customers all
around the world.
Societe Generale Corporate & Investment
Banking represents one of the core business
pillars of the Group and is present in all major
markets, with close to 12,000 employees in
more than 34 countries across Europe, the
Americas and Asia-Pacific. In the UK we are
mainly concentrated in the City of London
with around 2400 employees offering a range
of services tailored to institutional, corporate
and private clients.
Our Graduate Programme in Corporate &
Investment Banking
Our commitment to delivering excellence to
our clients demands cuttingedge skills and
top talent. If you are highly ambitious, have an
analytical mind and excellent communication
skills you may be just the candidate we are
looking for. We can offer you strong
development opportunities combined with
broad exposure to our business operations.
Find out more at www.sgcib.com/graduates
Summer internships & long-term internships
Combining comprehensive training, extensive
networking opportunities and hands-on
experience, our internships provide you with
the opportunity to broaden your industry
knowledge and develop your skills set. This
could be your passport for entry into the
financial industry.
Why join us?
Broad visibility and exposure throughout the
organisation
Comprehensive tailored training programme
Unique offering with a variety of
opportunities to suit everyone
International career development
Real responsibility and autonomy from day
one
Comprehensive reward package
Customised career development for you
Societe Generale strives to enhance the value
of its human capital and provides career
guidance by encouraging the creativity and
autonomy of each employee. We have a
unique offering that will develop your skills
with a comprehensive training programme
combined with international opportunities.
Join us to build a career that is tailored to you!
Societe Generale Corporate
& Investment Banking
The best possible start to your career
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Index of employers
ACCA .................................................................144
AkzoNobel ........................................................145
BG Group ..........................................................146
H W Fisher & Company....................................147
ICAEW...............................................................148
ICAS ..................................................................149
Kerry Group......................................................150
National Grid ....................................................151
PwC ..................................................................152
RSM Tenon........................................................153
Smith & Williamson.........................................154
UHY Hacker Young ...........................................155
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Members and Students
ACCA has over 432,000 students and
154,000 members in 170 countries
Available courses
ACCA Qualification
Entry requirements
All degree disciplines are acceptable. If you
have a relevant degree you could be eligible
for exemptions
Exam deadlines
You can register at any time of the year. The
easiest and quickest way to apply is online
Locations
Global Over 80 offices worldwide
Contact details
2 Central Quay
89 Hydepark Street
Glasgow G3 8BW
+44 (0)141 582 2000
students@accaglobal.com
www.accaglobal.com/ukgraduates
Whether your career takes you into the
fashion industry or forensic accounting,
whether you work in the UK or abroad, the
ACCA Qualification is flexible, robust and
respected by employers around the world.
Accountants are always in demand, even in a
recession, and ACCA (the Association of
Chartered Certified Accountants) sets a
syllabus that ensures you get a solid
grounding in all areas of finance before
specialising at the end. Our flexible approach
puts you in charge of your future, and ACCA is
the only professional body to offer option
modules, allowing you to steer your career in
the direction you want.
I was able to cover lots of topics, like law, tax,
audit, financial reporting, professional
ethics... they are all covered by the ACCA
Qualification. I knew I would gain the skills I
needed to be successful at Mercedes-Benz.
Olaitan Fanimokun, Team leader Financial
Accounts, Mercedes-Benz
ACCA has over 432,000 students and 154,000
members in 170 countries. We work through a
network of over 80 offices and centres and
8,400 Approved Employers worldwide, who
provide high standards of employee learning
and development.
With the ACCA Qualification, you can become a
complete finance professional, and employers
know that you will have the skills to be a
future leader.
Whilst at University I explored all of the
qualifications open to me and the ACCA one
stood out as being progressive and giving the
most rounded view of accountancy. It did not
appear to pigeonhole to a specific sector,
membership numbers were on the up and I
liked the look of the curriculum. For example, I
completed my ACCA qualification as an
auditor in the Private Sector but I now apply
my skills within the Public Sector.
Chris Ellison, Divisional finance manager
medicine Wrightington, Wigan & Leigh NHS
Foundation Trust
Work in any sector, in any industry,
anywhere in the world
The breadth and depth of the ACCA
Qualification makes it the perfect platform to
launch any business career, and you will have
the opportunity to become the finance
professional that employers are now
demanding. ACCAs combination of technical
exams, practical hands-on experience and
ethics gives you everything you need to begin
your journey.
Start your journey today, with ACCA.
ACCA
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Apply to:
www.akzonobel.com/graduates
AkzoNobel
Graduate Recruitment
Wexham Road
Slough
Berkshire SL2 5DS
E-mail:
grad.recruitment@ akzonobel.com
www.akzonobel.com/graduates
Closing date see website for details
Internship yes
When all year
online
AkzoNobel is a leading global paints and
coatings company and a major producer of
specialty chemicals, with leading market
positions and brands in countries around the
world. We operate in a number of important
market segments ranging from buildings and
infrastructure to transport, industrial and
consumer goods. Were also the sector leader
in sustainability and are number one in the
renowned Dow Jones Sustainability Index.
You cant make a great impact like this
without having great people. We want to be
the best to use our leading market positions
to deliver a leading performance and for
that, we need the best.
Were looking for graduates from every type of
background who want to work in a
competitive, international environment.
Graduates who want to grow and develop, and
work as part of a team looking for the answers
to the big challenges facing the world.
Your initial three years will be spent gaining
experience in different areas of finance and
you will be supported to study for the CIMA or
ACCA qualification. AkzoNobel has been
accredited as a CIMA Training Quality Partner
for its Finance Graduate Development
Programme. You will be exposed to a variety of
activities on a series of placements across
different groups within the finance. The
function is structured into three core groups:
Accounting & Compliance, Financial Planning
& Analysis, and Decision Support. You will also
enjoy training and development modules to
increase your general business and personal
abilities. This tailored programme is designed
to help prepare you for your future as a
business manager.
To join us you will need at least at 2:1 or
equivalent in any degree discipline (ideally
business related) and a minimum 300 UCAS
points or equivalent.
AkzoNobel
Sign up at targetjobs.co.uk or simply search TARGETjobs
The largest choice
of graduate jobs,
internships
and
placements
Employer
information,
including impartial
how to get hired
tips from our
experts
Career advice
on getting into
top graduate
professions
Apply
MONDAY
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Deadlines
Take action Search
@targetjobsUK
targetjobs
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TARGETjobs
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energy oil & gas
Salary 30,000 - 36,000
Benefits
contribution) private healthcare share
options days holiday 28 Relocation
package
Number of vacancies (UK) c. 90
Internships Summer
Degree sought
Locations
BG Group Headquarters,
Thames Valley Park, Reading
BG Group plc
100 Thames Valley Park Drive
Reading RG6 1PT
Apply to:
www.bg-group.com/graduates
Closing date Graduate Programme and
Summer Internships December 2013
online
BG Group
My first year has flown by, Ive enjoyed the mix of
different projects and working in different
countries.
International Graduate Development
Programme
Global opportunities
At BG Group, we face some of the most
complex and fascinating projects in the
energy sector. From developing the first ever
LNG plant to be fed by coal seam gas reserves
to managing one of the worlds largest
privately owned LNG fleets, producing oil from
the ultra deepwater Lula field in Brazil to
exploring potential in offshore Tanzania, we
have plenty of exciting opportunities on the
go. But its not just the work thats
extraordinary, our people are too.
Our graduates around the globe push
themselves every single day as they drive the
future of our industry. Along with constant
challenges and valuable training and
development from industry-leading technical
experts, our graduates have the opportunity
to experience an international placement. Plus
the chance to establish social and
professional networks that they can build on
far into the future. For those with drive and
ambition, its a fantastic opportunity to realise
their potential and start their career.
With us, the opportunities are broad,
responsibility comes early and career
development never stops. So our two-year
International Graduate Development
Programme is a fantastic start to a career in
the energy sector. And the opportunities begin
on day one, when we bring together all our
graduates for a comprehensive induction
thats designed to help them settle in and
build valuable networks.
Our graduate programme covers nine
different areas of our business:
Commercial
Contracts & Procurement
Engineering & Operations
Geology & Geophysics
Petroleum Engineering
Well Engineering
Economics
Finance
Energy Marketing and Trading
If youd like to take part and
develop a truly global career, visit
www.bg-group.com/graduates
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assurance corporate finance
financial accounting forensic accounting
management accounting tax
management consulting
Salary not less than 25,000
Benefits
life assurance overtime season ticket
loan days holiday 20 Cycle to work
scheme
Internships no
Degree sought
Locations London
Apply to:
www.hwfisher.co.uk
Stephen Clarke/Sarah Hope
020 7874 7982/0207 874 1158
Closing date open
online
About us
H W Fisher & Company is an independent,
progressive, mid-tier firm, providing a range
and quality of services normally found only in
the largest international practices, combined
with a flexibility and dedication to personal
service usually associated with much smaller
organisations.
We are at the heart of the Fisher organisation,
a multi-faceted group dedicated to providing
our clients with a wide range of professional
services ranging from financial planning and
advice to website design and e-commerce
solutions.
The role
We are looking for talented individuals who
can help us maintain our ethos of creativity,
enthusiasm, energy and vision.
Based in the audit department, you will have
the opportunity to work with a wide variety of
clients, from large international companies to
small owner-managed businesses. Our
specialist groups provide expertise in trade
unions, charities, media and entertainment,
property, and many other sectors, and you
can expect to be involved with clients in most
of these areas.
We believe it is important that you have a
diverse range of tasks to stretch your
capabilities and provide you with a stimulating
and varied environment. We therefore aim to
maximise your potential and give you
responsibility as soon as possible. The audit
department also looks after our clients tax
affairs and you will be involved in corporate
tax as well as liaising with our tax department
on personal tax issues.
Although we accept applications all year
round, we recruit for two intakes (September
and January) in roughly equal numbers. A
strong academic background is important but,
above all, we are looking for people with
outstanding personal qualities, flair, and a real
determination to succeed.
HW Fisher &
Company
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Entry requirements
Most of our authorised training employers
accept applicants with at least a 2:1 (2.2 in
some cases) and upwards of 260 UCAS
points.
Application procedure
For graduate positions, summer internships
and placements, apply directly to our
authorised training employers via
icaew.com/careers and click on Training
Vacancies.
Deadline for applications
ACA vacancies are on-going. Typical start
dates are September and January.
Number of members
ICAEW has over 140,000 ICAEW members in
more than 160 countries around the world.
Qualifications available
The ACA is a premier professional
accountancy, finance and business
qualification. ICAEW Certificate in Finance,
Accounting and Business (ICAEW CFAB) is a
stand-alone qualification. To find out more
go to icaew.com/careers
Contact details
ICAEW
Student Support
Metropolitan House
321 Avebury Boulevard
Milton Keynes MK9 2FZ
+44 (0)1908 248 250
careers@icaew.com
facebook.com/icaewcareers
icaew.com/careers
Did you know that 81% of FTSE 100
companies have at least one ICAEW
Chartered Accountant on their board?
Train for the ACA qualification from ICAEW and
you could join them.
The ACA can help you achieve your career
aspirations in accountancy, finance and
business. Its the vehicle that will drive your
progression, opening doors to a global career.
Thats why 98% of the Best Global Green
Brands employ ICAEW Chartered Accountants.
To become an ICAEW Chartered Accountant
youll need to secure a training agreement
with one of our authorised training employers.
We work with over 2,850 globally, so there are
plenty to choose from.
The training agreement typically takes
between 3-5 years to complete. During this
time youll earn a great salary, study and
complete modules, learn business ethics and
undertake professional development.
Youll get to build your professional
experience with a huge variety of clients from
high profile multinational organisations to
niche local businesses. Our authorised
training employers will develop you as a
highly skilled professional and also provide
you with an experienced mentor to assist
your progress.
You also get support from ICAEW with regional
student networks, social media, webinars and
expert guidance.
Want to travel and explore the world?
The ACA is recognised internationally so you
can take your chartered status with you. You
can also train for the ACA around the world.
This is your future. Achieving the ACA widens
your horizons, increasing your professional
abilities and career mobility. Youll have
responsibility sooner, get promoted quicker
and have many more opportunities in
accountancy, finance and business.
Want to get a taste of the ACA?
ICAEW Certificate in Finance, Accountancy
and Business (ICAEW CFAB) is a stand-alone
qualification that fits around your studies. As
well as boosting your CV, you can get a taste
of the first 6 modules of the ACA.
You can find out more about the ACA
qualification and ICAEW CFAB by visiting
icaew.com/careers
Find your ACA training vacancy, year-
placement or internship with one of our
authorised training employers, by going to
icaew.com/careers
ICAEW
and view all our
and content
Entry requirements
A good UK degree in any subject or overseas
equivalent. ICAS awards exemptions from
the first level of exams for certain degrees.
To find out the exemptions you may be
entitled to, visit icas.org.uk/exemptions
Training
A training contract comprising a mixture of
practical work experience with an ICAS
authorised employer and classroom study.
Locations
UK-wide and the Channel Islands
Application procedure
Apply at icas.org.uk/becomeaca
Deadline
Varies by employer
Contact details
ICAS
CA House
21 Haymarket Yards
Edinburgh
EH12 5BH
T: +44 (0) 131 347 0186
F: +44 (0) 131 347 0108
E: catraining@icas.org.uk
icas.org.uk/becomeaca
Theres never been a better time to train as a
Chartered Accountant (CA). The services of a
CA are always in demand and you can look
forward to an interesting and varied career
with great job prospects. Whats more, you
dont need to have studied a degree in
accountancy. What is important is that youre
a good communicator, ambitious and ready to
enjoy the opportunities and financial rewards
that come with having the prestigious CA
qualification.
CAs world class business professionals
ICAS is a professional body for over 19,000
world class business professionals who work
in the UK and in more than 100 countries
around the world. Our members have all
achieved the internationally recognised and
respected CA qualification, with many working
in the most powerful positions in business.
As an ICAS trained Chartered Accountant youll
have a lot to offer potential employers. Youll
benefit from a stable and defined career path,
as well as opportunities for international
travel. You can choose to train throughout the
UK and the Channel Islands in a public
practice accountancy firm. And through the
Training Outwith Public Practice scheme
(TOPPs) theres a wide range of employers to
train with, including Aggreko, Aviva, RBS and
Standard Life. There are also opportunities to
train as a CA in the public sector.
All-round training
You dont just need a head for figures. Whats
more important are strong business,
communication and leadership skills, because
you wont be spending all day sifting through
spreadsheets.
ICAS is the only UK body to both train and
examine all of its students and our lecturers
are all qualified accountants.
What does this mean for you? That employers
all over the world recognise that the CA
qualification stands for consistency and high
standards. In fact, its understood that being
ICAS trained means having the all-round
business acumen thats needed in todays
global business environment.
Its easy to apply
To become a CA, you need to apply for a
training contract with an organisation thats
authorised to train CA students.
You can apply online at the ICAS website and
search through over a thousand training
vacancies with ICAS authorised employers
who are recruiting now for their 2014 intake.
Visit icas.org.uk/becomeaca to find out more.
ICAS
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financial accounting management
accounting tax
Salary competitive
Number of vacancies (UK) tbc
worldwide
Internships no
Degree sought
business studies numerate or semi
numerate
Locations UK, Ireland, EMEA
Apply to:
www.kerrygraduates.com
+44 (0) 20 07061 1937
www.kerrygraduates.gtios.com
online
Kerry Group is a world leader in food
ingredients and a leading supplier of
consumer foods serving both developed and
developing markets. As one of the largest and
most technologically advanced
manufacturers of ingredients and flavours in
the world, we supply over 15,000 food
ingredients and flavours products to many of
the worlds biggest foods names. This means
that every day millions of people worldwide
consume food or beverage products
containing Kerry Ingredients and Flavours.
Kerry Group is also a leading producer of
chilled consumer foods. Our brands are
market leaders and include brand names such
as Cheestrings, Low Low, Walls and
Mattesons.
We are now recruiting for our next generation
of global leaders. Kerry Group offers
exceptional opportunities for individuals with
the drive and vision to fast track their careers
in a dynamic environment.
Kerry Graduate Programme
Our newly designed Global Graduate
Programme provides an accelerated path to
leadership roles whilst working in an
innovative, energetic and global environment.
Our intensive two year programme offers:
Early access to senior leaders,
Global secondments and assignments,
Residential off-site training,
Innovative project work and presentations to
senior leaders.
At Kerry, graduates are offered real roles with
real responsibility. We recognise potential and
reward great performance
Kerry Group
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corporate treasury economics financial
accounting insurance internal audit
IT/technology management accounting
markets regulation risk structured
finance tax
Salary 25,600 Bachelors 26,600 Masters
Benefits
share options days holiday 25 days
per annum
over 22,000 UK/US
Internships yes
When Summer
Degree sought
Locations (HQ The Strand, London)
(Operational HQ Warwick)
Apply to:
www.nationalgridcareers.com/
Development-Opportunities
www.nationalgridcareers.com/
Development-Opportunities
online
The Company
National Grids job is to connect people to the
energy they use, safely. We are at the heart of
one of the greatest challenges facing our
societydelivering clean energy to support
our world long into the future.
National Grid holds a vital position at the
centre of the energy system. We join
everything up. We own and manage the grids
that connect the energy sources to the people
that use it. Were the largest utility in the UK,
running systems that deliver gas and
electricity across the entire country,
connecting people to the energy they use. In
the North East US, we provide power directly
to millions of customers.
We all rely on having energy at our finger tips:
our society is built on it. From the warmth and
light we rely on at home, and the power which
keeps our factories and offices going, to the
mobile communications and other
technologies that are essential parts of our
modern lifestyle.
Growing Our Own
At National Grid were passionate about our
grow our own strategy and our suite of GCSE
to degree level career path development
programmes. Its little wonder that they are
recognised for excellence and innovation -
after all, weve been running some for well
over 23 years - so they are some of the best
you will find anywhere.
Our Student Programmes
We offer 12 month Industrial Placements and
12 week Summer Internships for individuals in
their penultimate year of their degree.
If you deliver excellent performance during
your placement you will be invited to attend
an early Assessment Centre for our Graduate
Development Programme at the start of your
final year, leaving you free to concentrate on
achieving that all important grade.
Our Finance Graduate Programme
Offers you a fantastic insight into our finance
function giving you the opportunity to
experience a range of placements across our
various finance teams within National Grid
that are crucial to its future success. Your
accelerated development journey will begin on
day 1 of our programme and will equip you
with just the right blend of skills and
experience for your future career in finance as
well as full study support for your CIMA
qualification.
Our support network is one of a kind with
access to a mentor, buddy and membership to
our network for new starters - Newnet,
ensuring you are ready and prepared for your
first post after 36 months.
The training is a great blend of technical
specialism combined with business and
commercial insight and fast enhancement of
your behavioural, personal and managerial
capabilities. Typically the sort of training you
would only experience after a few years with
an organisation. We believe that by investing
in you now it will provide greater returns in the
future.
National Grid
National Grid are investing around 30 billion over
the next 8 years to develop and renew the UKs
energy infrastructure, leading the way on renewable
energy.
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actuarial assurance corporate finance
corporate recovery economics
financial accounting forensic accounting
insurance internal audit investment
operations IT/technology life assurance
management accounting private equity
public sector risk tax consulting
economic consulting law management
consulting
Salary Competitive plus personally tailored
benefits package
Benefits
car/allowance gym membership/
subsidy life assurance pension scheme
healthcare season ticket loan days
holiday 25
Number of vacancies (UK)
1,200 (across all of our business areas)
c.17,000 in the UK
Internships Yes
When Summer
Degree sought
Locations Offices across the UK
Apply to:
www.pwc.com/uk/careers
+44 (0)808 100 1500
Closing date Deadlines apply in some of our
areas. Please visit our website for details
and apply now to avoid disappointment
online
Your career is just that; yours. You choose it.
You live it. You make it happen. To get the best
from it, you need the best opportunities.
Thats why opportunities are at the heart of a
career with us. Opportunities to grow as an
individual, to build lasting relationships and
make an impact in a place where people,
quality and value mean everything. And were
proud, based on the opportunity we offer, that
students have voted us the number one
Graduate Employer in The Times Top 100
Graduate Employers survey for the last ten
years.
What we do
We help our clients create the value they
want, from public and private companies, to
governments and charities. We help to
measure, protect and enhance the things that
matter most to them.
Our offer to you
To be part of the worlds leading professional
services network and enjoy the benefits
that come with that.
Work directly with big name clients where
youll get to grips with the value theyre
looking for by getting into the detail.
Provide an environment where youll be able
to explore new opportunities, to help you
grow and find your niche.
Give you access to the best learning and
development around. Every graduate enjoys
a structured career programme, and many
join career paths that involve study towards
a professional qualification.
Where you could work
There are many areas of our business you can
choose to work:
Assurance
Actuarial
Consulting
Deals
Tax
Technology
What you need to bring to us
Your intellect, willingness to learn, ability to
build relationships, put yourself in others
shoes, while always making a positive impact
with our clients and each other. For most of
our programmes we take any degree subject.
The PwC deal
No matter which area of the business you
choose to join, all routes offer the same deal.
The opportunity to grow as an individual, to
meet new people, and build lasting
relationships that will stay with you for life.
Your hard work will be rewarded with a
competitive salary and a personally tailored
benefits package.
Ways you can gain work experience
No matter what year youre in at University,
we have many ways you can learn more about
us, but most importantly, more about you. You
can learn where your skills, interests and
career goals would best fit by spending as
little as 1 day with us, on an Insight Day, or if
youre looking to make a longer time
investment, you could attend a 6-week paid
internship, or perhaps an 11-month paid work
placement.
How to apply
We know that the skills and experiences you
develop with us will stay with you throughout
your career. So join PwC. Well help you reach
your full potential.
Take the opportunity of a lifetime.
www.pwc.com/uk/careers
www.facebook.com/PwCCareersUK
PwC
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Apply to:
www.rsmtenon.com
Were looking for enthusiastic 2.1 calibre
graduates with a minimum of 280 UCAS
points, who are quick to learn, driven and
dedicated. If this sounds like you, please
apply online from September 2013 at
www.rsmtenon.com/careers
Closing date Early application is advisable
Internship Yes
When Summer/ Year Long
CV & letter online
What do you want from your career? Its a big
question and you might not yet have the
answer. You have lots of opportunity in front of
you and choices to make.
For exceptional people who are talented,
ambitious and have aspirations to build a
successful career in our industry, we want to
help you make that choice.
RSM Tenon is one of the most progressive and
entrepreneurial professional services firms in
the UK with over 2,400 people across 38
offices. As the 7th largest accountancy firm,
we are big enough to be noticed, and our
service range is comprehensive, covering
virtually every area of professional practice.
From the very start you will make valuable
contributions, including direct contact with
owners, stakeholders and decision makers.
You will quickly find yourself working with
clients, who are relying on you to understand
their business, and to give practical support
and informed advice. We offer opportunities
across all of our service lines in Audit,
Accounts, Outsourcing, Tax, Corporate
Finance, Restructuring and Risk Advisory.
The quality of your professional training will
be your first consideration and it should be.
Alongside the professional training you will be
given, you will be supported by the RSM Tenon
Academy. The Academy team help people be
the best they can be. For trainees we actively
support professional qualifications, through a
mix of internal courses, external training and
active mentoring.
The Academys trainee programme will
complement your experiential learning with
the key technical skills, commercial
awareness and personal development
required in current and future roles.
Once qualified, the sky is the limit. RSM Tenon
offers you a career full of opportunities,
challenges and rewards, including the
opportunity of rapid progression internally
and secondments abroad.
RSM Tenon
Sign up at targetjobs.co.uk and choose your sectors of interest
At TARGETjobs, we break down our career advice by sector to help you get hired in your chosen profession. Our career sector experts regularly
publish new and timely advice on securing a role in that profession plus you will find plenty of relevant jobs and work experience opportunities.
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targetjobs
targetjobsUK
TARGETjobs
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assurance investment/fund
management tax
Salary Competitive
Benefits 23 days holiday, interest free
season ticket loan, permanent health
insurance, flexible benefits scheme
Number of vacancies (UK) circa. 40
Internships Yes
When Summer
Degree sought
Locations Birmingham, Bristol, Guildford,
London, Salisbury, Southampton
Apply to:
www.smith.williamson.co.uk/trainees
0207 131 4478
All applications must be made online
Closing date Open
online
Smith & Williamson is a leading independent
financial services firm combining an
accountancy practice, investment
management arm and a private bank.
What makes us different
We provide award-winning services to
individuals, corporates, professional practices
and non-profit organisations. The breadth of
services we offer as a firm is unparalleled and
makes us unique in the industry. However, our
hallmark is the integrity and the commitment
we give to our client relationships.
These are the values that have been at the
core of Smith & Williamson since it was
founded over 100 years ago. These values
allow us to continue to provide the kinds of
bespoke solutions to our clients that really
make a difference.
To provide the service our clients expect we
know our trusted business advisers need an
empowering and supportive work
environment. With 11 UK offices and global
reach through membership of Nexia
International, were big enough to be
competitive. Yet our size means youll be part
of a friendly, enthusiastic team and get to
know colleagues across the firm.
Your career is our future. Thats why we are
committed to developing trusted business
advisers who can really fulfil our clients
potential. Join us and youll see just why the
difference is clear at Smith & Williamson.
Opportunities
We offer a number of entry routes to start
your professional training, including graduate
trainee, higher apprentice and summer
internships. Opportunities are available in the
following areas:
Assurance and Business Services
Corporate Tax
Private Client Tax
Investment Management
Graduate Trainees joining departments across
assurance & business services, corporate tax
and private client tax services pursue one or
more of the following qualifications: Associate
Chartered Accountant (ACA), Association of
Tax Technicians (ATT) and Chartered Tax
Adviser (CTA). Our investment management
trainees work towards the Investment Advice
Diploma (IAD) and the Masters in Wealth
Management (CISI).
What we look for
Graduate trainee roles in Investment
Management require a minimum B grade in
GCSE Maths and English Language, 320 UCAS
points in your top three A-levels (excluding
General Studies) and a minimum 2:1
undergraduate degree.
Graduate trainee roles and summer
internships in Assurance & Business
Services, Corporate Tax and Private Client Tax
Services require a minimum B grade in GCSE
Maths and English Language, 300 UCAS points
in your top three A-levels (excluding General
Studies) and a minimum 2:2 undergraduate
degree.
However, joining us is not just about the
academic qualifications. We know youre
bright, but were looking for something extra:
the difference that you can make to our team.
Discover more about what we look for in you
and the support and experience we will
provide in return on our trainee website.
Smith & Williamson
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assurance corporate finance
corporate recovery financial accounting
management accounting private wealth
management tax
Salary Competitive
Benefits
company contribution) season ticket loan
days holiday 20 Private medical and
dental cover at discounted rates, The ability
to purchase up to 5 extra days leave in
salary sacrifice, Childcare vouchers
Number of employees (worldwide) c.7,100
Internships no
Degree sought
Locations London, Birmingham, Brighton,
Letchworth, Newport, Nottingham,
Manchester, Sheffield, Sunderland, Scotland
(with Campbell Dallas)
Apply to:
www.uhy-graduate.com
0207 216 4600
Please apply via the Online Application Form
online
About us
UHY Hacker Young is a top 20 national
accountancy organisation but were still small
by comparison to the Big Four. As a result, our
trainees get a lot more autonomy and early
responsibility which we think is a real
positive.
Our trainees deal with a serious variety of
work. From the very small companies,
through to what we call the dynamic mid-
market businesses and all the way up to
large, fully listed public entities.
The work we do
We offer all of the services you would expect
from a firm of our size and a few you might
not expect:
Audit, accounting, payroll and bookkeeping
Corporation and personal tax
Corporate finance services such as strategic
Advice on family matters, including
inheritance tax, trusts and other tax
planning
Specialist services such as VAT, litigation
support, corporate restructuring and
recovery, international tax planning
Company secretarial services.
The opportunity
We generally recruit small numbers of
graduates into each office and so we are as
keen for you to succeed as you are. The
scheme is a mixture of on-the-job training and
classroom based study and we assign
mentors and counselling partners to make
sure everythings going well and that youre
happy.
Your training and development
Training does vary slightly from office to
office but there are opportunities in all
assignments to apply and develop your
knowledge and to learn more by dealing with
real business situations.
Throughout your training we are interested in
you as an individual what your interests are,
what motivates you and how we can help you
to meet your professional objectives.
About you
We look for a mixture of academic ability and
commercial acumen; training to become an
accountant is difficult and so we look for past
academic success as a measure of your
ability to study and pass exams
Typically, youll have 280 UCAS points (or
equivalent) and a 2.1 degree. At the same
time we also have an eye out for the partners
of the future and so we want you to prove that
you can sell yourself, that you understand
business and that you can build strong
relationships.
If you think that sounds like you then wed
love to hear from you.
UHY Hacker Young
We recruit small numbers of graduates into each
office and so we are as keen for you to succeed as
you are.
Index of employers
American Express............................................157
Aon ...................................................................158
Capital One.......................................................159
Catlin Group Limited........................................160
CII .....................................................................161
Institute and Faculty of Actuaries..................162
Lane Clark & Peacock LLP...............................163
Mercer ..............................................................164
Oliver Wyman...................................................165
SEO London......................................................166
Swiss Re...........................................................167
Thomson Reuters ............................................168
Willis.................................................................169
financial services
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FINANCIAL SERVICES EMPLOYERS
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corporate finance IT/technology
operations risk sales tax travel
consulting client management
marketing procurement
Salary Competitive
Benefits
free fitness classes in major office
locations
Number of vacancies (UK) Up to 50
60,000+ globally
Internships Yes
When Summer
Degree sought
Locations London and Brighton
Apply to:
americanexpress.com/campus
Closing date
Consulting 05/11/13
Full time 01/12/13
Placement 01/12/13
Internship 15/12/13
online
American Express is a global service
company, providing customers with
exceptional access to products, insights and
experiences that enrich lives and build
business success.
We employ more than 60,000 people across
four continents and are proud to be
recognised as one of the best places to work.
Our impressive scale demonstrates that you
can take your career in any direction. This is
where innovative thinkers become
extraordinary leaders.
Each day, American Express makes it easier,
safer and more rewarding for consumers and
businesses to purchase the things they need
and for merchants to sell their goods and
services. An engine of commerce, American
Express provides innovative payment, travel
and expense management solutions for
individuals and businesses of all sizes. Most
of all, we help our customers realize their
dreams and aspirations through industry-
leading benefits, access to unique
experiences, business-building insights, and
global customer care. We enable our
customers to do and achieve more.
What we offer
As a summer intern, an industrial placement
student or a graduate at American Express,
youll be encouraged to push yourself,
generate new ideas, take calculated risks and
collaborate across business lines. And you
wont be alonewell support you with the
right combination of on-the-job experience,
professional mentoring and formal training so
you can strengthen your business expertise
and enhance your leadership skills.
We offer innovative and world-class
programmes for students who want to
develop a career in Financial Services. Our full-
time and internship positions are designed to
strengthen your skills, hone your natural
talents and advance your career journey.
Our 10 week Summer Internship Programme
and 12 month Industrial Placement
Programme offer a combination of training,
networking and mentoring that help you
develop both personally and professionally.
Interns work on meaningful projects that link
to our key business priorities, attend our
Executive speaker series and participate in
numerous exciting social activities. Both
programmes act as a pipeline to our Full Time
Graduate Programme.
The Full Time Graduate Programme for
undergraduate and masters students starts
in September. Its designed to expand your
business expertise while helping you to
accelerate your career from day one.
Depending on the business area, you will
experience an 18/24/36 month programme
which offers real responsibility, challenging
assignments, access to senior management,
networking, buddy and mentoring initiatives.
What we look for
We look for creative and analytical graduates
with the ability to build strong networks and
the potential for future leadership. And those
who share our values of trust, security,
integrity, quality, good citizenship, respect
and commitment to our customers.
www.americanexpress.com/campus
www.facebook.com/americanexpressuk
www.linkedin.com/company/american-
express
American Express
I was first attracted to
an internship here
because of American
Express strong global
brand presence. The
work environment is
what enticed me to join
full-time.
Taehun, American Express
Summer Intern
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actuarial insurance risk consulting
Salary competitive
Benefits
contribution) private healthcare access
to flexible benefits which allows you to
choose the benefits that are important to
you.
Internships yes 40 placements
When over June, July and August
Degree sought
Locations opportunities UK-wide,
depending on your chosen Stream
Apply to:
www.aon.co.uk/graduates
Closing date please see our website for
further details
online
Few things are certain in life. Economic
upheaval, political crises, natural disasters
and plenty more besides all mean the world
can be full of surprises. At Aon, we draw on the
expertise of 65,000 people to help the biggest
names in business plan for every eventuality
be it in pensions; general insurance;
insurance, reinsurance and risk management;
investment consulting or health & benefits
broking and consulting. We are the worlds #1
insurance broker, #1 provider of reinsurance
and #1 in human resource consulting. Our
size, global network and emphasis on
innovation mean where we lead, the industry
follows.
Weve recently moved our global headquarters
to the UK. Here we rely on 6,500 employees
across 30 offices to uphold our hard-won
reputation for excellence, insight and
outstanding service delivery, so its certainly
an exciting time to join us.
We recruit the brightest and best talent into
six streams: pensions; general insurance;
insurance, reinsurance and risk management;
investment consulting; captives and health &
benefits broking and consulting.
Our programmes have been designed to
identify and develop the future stars of our
business. With this in mind, well give you the
early responsibility and client exposure you
need to become a technical specialist in your
area not to mention the training, support
and networking opportunities to help you
develop.
You can join us via two routes: our UK
Graduate Programme or, for those of you
whod like to get a head start, our Summer
Internships Schemes would be ideal.
Its the skills, knowledge and attitude of our
people that help us do what we do best. So, if
youre looking for a sure-fire way to start your
career, and have a 2:1 degree or higher, wed
like you to join them.
Aon
The success of our business is down to the combination
of the skills, knowledge and attitude of our people.
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economics IT/technology operations
retail banking risk consulting
economic consulting management
consulting
Salary 2932,000 + 5,000 signing on
bonus
Benefits
season ticket loan share options days
holiday 25 Buy and sell holiday scheme
Internships No
Degree sought
Locations Nottingham HQ
Apply to:
www.capitalonecareers.co.uk/graduates
online
We are Capital One.
Were one of the UKs top 10 credit card
companies and are one of the largest financial
services companies in the world with over 50
million customers globally.
Since we started in the UK, weve changed the
credit card market forever. Our vision is
simple; we want to make our customers lives
better. A bold statement, but thats the kind of
company we are.
We are a Great Place to Work (its official).
In 2013, Great Places to Work ranked us the
#1 workplace in both the UK and Europe and
we beat a host of famous names in the
process.
We reckon our office and culture really set us
apart from other companies; from our free on-
site gym and award-winning restaurant to our
fully equipped music room and the beach hut
work spaces, its open plan and dynamic with
plenty of innovative spaces for you to work
and play.
Were headquartered in vibrant Nottingham,
the UKs fastest-growing city, brimming with
history and buzzing with nightlife. You wont
get weighed down by London prices here as
the cost of living is much lower, so youll
easily be able to afford a nice place in the city
centre.
Our people make us who we are.
New people, fresh ideas and big thinking all
keep our business ticking over. So finding new
talent is one of our top priorities and were
always on the lookout for the very best
graduates to join our team.
We look for clever clogs and curious minds,
creative thinkers who like to do things
differently and chatty people with heaps of
personality. You dont need to know about
credit cards, but you do need to enjoy
challenging work so whether you are curious,
clever, chatty or creative or all four rolled
into one big bundle of tremendous talent
wed like to get to know you better.
With graduate schemes in Marketing &
Analytics and IT, youll be at the forefront of
our company from day one in a position where
your ideas really count.
Getting Started
Wherever you join us, youll kick start your
career with the highly regarded Graduate
Development Programme delivered by our in
house Capital One University to help you
develop world-class analytical skills and
business intuition.
Within a couple of weeks you will be working
on real projects, but youll never be on your
own. We do everything we can to support our
graduates on their path as our future leaders.
From day one your manager and a recent
joiner will act as your mentors.
Capital One
Capital One were ranked 1st in both the UK and
Europe in 2013 in the Great Places to Work awards!
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actuarial financial accounting
insurance IT/technology management
accounting risk
Salary Competitive
Benefits
ticket loan days holiday 24 additional
days holiday for birthday
Internships Yes
When Summer
Degree sought
Locations London
Apply to:
www.catlin.com/graduate
Closing date Please go to
www.catlin.com/graduate for details.
online
Who we are?
Catlin Group Limited is an global specialist
property/casualty insurer and reinsurer
underwriting more than 30 classes of
business including kidnap & ransom,
terrorism, energy and aerospace. We work
closely with our brokers and their clients to
provide imaginative and effective risk
management solutions.
Headquartered in Bermuda and with a team of
over 2,200 employees globally we have a
presence in every major insurance market
including London, Europe, Bermuda, the
United States & Latin America, Asia Pacific and
Canada.
Whilst our industry and company may not be
as well-known as many other banking and
finance institutions, we can guarantee that if
you take the time to find out more, our
proposition will be every bit as compelling.
Our graduate opportunities
The Catlin Development Programme is a global
graduate development programme that
combines on-the-job learning, structured
development, support for professional
qualifications and rotations into a variety of
business areas.
We offer our graduates meaningful roles.
When you join us, youll have a real job with
genuine responsibility from an early stage. We
think this is the best way for you to learn
about and help shape our business.
In 2014, we have graduate opportunities in the
following areas:
Actuarial
Business management
Catastrophe risk management
Claims
Enterprise risk management
Finance and accountancy
Underwriting
Our summer internship programme
The Catlin Summer Internship Programme is
an exciting opportunity for you to spend 8
weeks with us to gain an invaluable insight
into our business as well as the insurance
industry.
Open to undergraduates going into their
penultimate year at university, the
programme combines on-the job learning and
formal development and has been designed to
enable successful candidates to gain valuable
work experience and transferable skills which
will help inform future career decisions.
In 2014, we have Summer internship
opportunities in the following areas:
Business management
Catastrophe risk management
Claims
Enterprise risk management
Finance and accountancy
Human resources
Underwriting
Find out more
To find out more about shaping your future
with Catlin, please visit
www.catlin.com/graduate.
Catlin Group Limited
We offer our graduates meaningful roles. When you
join us, youll have a real job with genuine
responsibility from an early stage. We think this is
the best way for you to learn about and help shape
our business.
and view all our
and content
Contact details
www.discoverrisk.co.uk
Discover Risk
The CII is the worlds largest professional body
for risk, insurance and financial services.
We have more than 110,000 members in over
150 countries. We work with small local and
large global companies to build
professionalism for the benefit of the
business and consumers.
How can the CII help me find a job?
Our award-winning website
www.discoverrisk.co.uk brings together the
major sector employers in one interactive
area. The site also has jobs, case studies,
interview tips and key news.
Our low-cost Discover membership offer is
exclusively for students at UK universities.
This gives you access to local and regional
employer events, so you can build your
network early and secure placements. It also
plugs you in to market data and soft copies of
member communications. Our Linkedin group
features graduate recruiters as well as
students. Email discover@cii.co.uk for more.
What is a career in risk?
Varied! It covers a huge range of areas, from
actuarial to underwriting, broking to claims,
marketing to catastrophe modelling. It is at
the heart of everyday life.
You could find yourself on the other side of the
world, using your skills in negotiating with
lawyers or doctors about their professional
risks or advising local businesses on their risk
exposure. Truly, no two days are the same.
Our profession is open to graduates in any
subject. Your soft skills including
communication and problem-solving are more
important than your degree subject. You gain
your technical knowledge once in post.
Find out what its like by browsing the range
of case studies on the Discover Risk site.
How will I develop?
Whatever route you decide to take, you will
receive excellent support, structured learning
and globally-recognised professional
qualifications such as ACII. In many cases,
completion of ACII will earn you a bonus on top
of your increased salary.
What are the prospects?
Strong, robust and exciting. Our
understanding of risk has played a major part
in this.
With experience and professional
qualifications, you could soon find yourself
playing a key role in the success of other
businesses, while developing your personal
brand. Ours is a meritocratic sector if youre
good at what you do, you will get on.
So, if you are after a career that can literally
take you places, reward you for how good you
are, and still give you time to have a life,
discover the world of risk.
To find out about jobs in our sector visit:
www.discoverrisk.co.uk or email discover@cii.co.uk
CII
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Actuarial skills are in high demand both
locally and abroad - having an actuarial
qualification allows you to work anywhere in
the world.
Contact details
Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA)
www.actuaries.org.uk/becoming-actuary
careers@actuaries.org.uk
http://www.actuaries.org.uk/becoming-
actuary
Who is the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries
(IFoA)?
The IFoA is the UKs only chartered
professional body dedicated to educating,
developing and regulating actuaries based
both in the UK and internationally.
What do actuaries do?
Actuaries are experts in risk management.
They use their mathematical skills to help
measure the probability and risk of future
events. This information is useful to many
industries, including healthcare, pensions,
insurance, banking and investments, where a
single decision can have a major financial
impact. An actuarial career can be one of the
most diverse, exciting and rewarding in the
world.
Where do actuaries work?
Actuaries provide commercial and financial
advice on the management of assets and
liabilities - especially where long term
management and planning are key. Actuaries
work in many areas such as finance and
investment, risk management, general and
life insurance, pensions and healthcare.
Every area of business is subject to risks so
an actuarial career offers many options. From
working in risk, to retail banks, pension and
investment firms there are no limitations to
where an actuary can go; they can even be
employed in the marketing and development
of sophisticated financial products.
What is the salary like?
Salaries and benefit packages are excellent.
Trainees earn between 25,000 and 35,000
a year and newly qualified actuaries can earn
up to 55,000. In later years senior actuaries
can earn six figure salaries.
Who should become an actuary?
A graduate typically with a 2:1 in a numerate
subject (others may be suitable)
Loves logic and problem solving
Good communicator
Excellent business acumen
How do you become an actuary?
Studying to become an actuary normally
takes around 3 to 6 years. The exam
programme is flexible, so you can study at
your own pace while working for an actuarial
employer many employers give you time off
to study. In addition to passing the profession
exams, youll work with your employer to
meet the practical work-based skills
requirement.
Where can you find out more information?
Visit: www.actuaries.org.uk/becoming-
actuary.
Email: careers@actuaries.org.uk
International Actuarial Careers Network
IACN
The IACN is a global online community hosted
on the IFoAs website. Students are able to join
together to discuss industry topics, network
with students and employers and find out
firsthand what employers and the industry
want from them. It is an opportunity to join
like minded people to raise your profile within
the IFoA and amongst employers to help you
gain relevant industry knowledge and help
you in your job search. To find out more about
this opportunity see the IACN website
www.actuaries.org.uk/iacn
The thing I love about my job is that every day I am experiencing
and learning something new. I didnt appreciate how huge the
subject of actuarial science can be. Even now I am still
discovering new and exciting fields to work in.
David Alison, KPMG
Institute and Faculty of
Actuaries (IFoA)
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actuarial
Salary competitive
Benefits
contribution) season ticket loan days
holiday up to 5 weeks depending on
seniority Cycle to work scheme
Internships yes
When summer
Degree sought
Locations London and Winchester
Apply to:
www.lcp.uk.com/graduatecareers
Graduate Recruitment Coordinator
020 7439 2266
graduatecareers@lcp.uk.com
95 Wigmore Street,
London W1U 1DQ
online
History
LCP is a specialist actuarial consulting firm
with over 85 partners and over 400
personnel, including approximately 100
qualified actuaries and 70 actuarial students.
The firm originated from a sole practice
founded in 1947 and in 1962 began to trade
under the name Lane Clark & Peacock.
We set ourselves high professional standards,
reflected in the fact that we have won the
European Pensions Consultancy of the Year in
2012 and a host of other awards. So whether
you join our Pensions, Investment or
Insurance team, you can be sure youll be
working with some of the very best and
brightest in their field.
LCP offers a full range of actuarial and related
employee benefit advice to employers and
pension scheme trustees of various sizes and
in many industries as well as to individuals,
especially directors and expatriates. Specialist
departments also provide pension
administration services, investment
consulting and general insurance advice. Our
depth of resource and experience means that
we can undertake almost any assignment
related to pensions and general insurance.
The work encompasses traditional actuarial
valuations, investment strategy and
performance measurement, benefit design,
communicating with members, advising on
the pension implications of mergers and
acquisitions, international advice, and
accounting for pension costs.
The work of the actuarial student
One of the great benefits of working for LCP is
the variety of projects youll be working on
and the range of tasks involved in completing
them. For example, you could be helping with
pension scheme valuations, monitoring
investment manager performance or
assessing the impact of unlikely events. You
could be building a spreadsheet model, using
our own software, drafting letters to clients or
writing full reports. There are also plenty of
opportunities for client contact, right from
early on in your career.
Minimum academic requirements
We welcome graduates from a wide range of
disciplines who are prepared for the high level
of mathematical content the actuarial training
and profession delivers. Ideal graduates would
have at least a 2.1 honours degree (or
equivalent) and an A grade in A-level
mathematics (or equivalent). We also require
good A-level grades in other subjects equating
to a total of 320 UCAS points.
Professional development
LCP sets great store by students passing their
exams and qualifying as quickly as possible;
the firm also has a major programme of in-
house training. After an intense introductory
course, regular training sessions are held
throughout the first three years, covering
every aspect of the business. Senior staff also
receive training to keep their technical
knowledge up to date and to improve their
managerial and presentation skills. We
provide comprehensive support for the
actuarial exams, including payment of tuition,
tutorial, and examination fees and generous
study leave.
Lane Clark & Peacock LLP
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Apply to:
www.mercer.com/ukgrads
02071787192
graduates@mercer.com
Internship yes
When Summer
online
As the worlds leading global provider of talent,
health, retirement and investments services,
we specialise in helping global organisations
stay one step ahead.
Operating in over 180 cities and 41 countries
were providing expert advice to over 60 per
cent of FTSE 100 companies, on everything
from pension schemes and investments to
salaries, rewards and benefits.
Our graduate roles encompass actuarial,
retirement, investment consulting, fiduciary
management and human capital analysis. To
succeed, you must be highly perceptive,
communicative, proactive and organised.
Youll be looking to be challenged by genuine
responsibility, intellectual stimulation and
ever-changing client priorities.
Mercer offers an extremely attractive rewards
package, including a company pension and an
innovative flexible benefits scheme. Youll also
enjoy a working culture that recognises talent
and understands the importance of balancing
work, life and leisure.
Our 18-month graduate development
programme includes a comprehensive
induction and a focus on equipping you with a
range of skills you need to become an
exceptional consultant.
Most of our graduate roles will see you study
towards a professional qualification
Actuarial, the Investment Management
Certificate (IMC) and Chartered Financial
Analyst (CFA), the Advanced Diploma in
Retirement Provision or the Chartered
Institute of Professional Development.
Whatever you choose to study, were here to
support you. Well pay for your tuition fees,
study materials, and give you a generous
study leave package.
Mercer
Five events across the country that provide you
with the opportunity to meet course providers and
funding experts from the UK, Europe and beyond.
targetcourses.co.uk/fairs
All events are FREE to attend
Meet representatives from leading universities seeking to
fill their postgraduate course places for 2014/15
Get individual expert advice on how you can fund your
postgraduate study
Exclusive seminars on a wide range of postgraduate study
topics
Check website for details targetcourses.co.uk/fairs
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birminghAm
19 FEBRUARY 2014
CARDIFF
6 FEBRUARY 2014
LONDON
27 NOVEMBER 2013
NOVEMBER 2013 - MARCH 2014
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actuarial corporate banking corporate
finance corporate recovery insurance
investment banking investment/fund
management IT/technology life
assurance markets operations private
equity regulation retail banking risk
sales, trading and research consulting
economic consulting management
consulting
Salary highly competitive
Benefits
Number of vacancies (UK) no fixed quota
Internships yes
When Summer
Degree sought
Locations London and other locations
across the Americas, Asia, Australia and
Europe
Apply to:
www.oliverwyman.com/careers
Gemma Porter
020 7333 8333
Closing date 10/11/13 for December 2013
offers or 15/12/13 for February 2014 offers
CV & letter online
About Us
Oliver Wyman is a global leader in
management consulting. With offices in 50+
cities across 25 countries, Oliver Wyman
combines deep industry knowledge with
specialised expertise in strategy, operations,
risk management, and organisation
transformation. Our 3,000 professionals help
clients optimise their business, improve their
operations and risk profile, and accelerate
their organisational performance to seize the
most attractive opportunities.
Oliver Wymans thought leadership is evident
in our agenda-setting books, white papers,
research reports, and articles in the business
press. To that end, the Oliver Wyman Institute
connects the firm with prominent leaders of
the academic community for joint research on
frontier issues. The firms Global Risk Centre
analyses the increasingly complex risks that
are reshaping industries, governments, and
societies.
The firms capabilities and intellectual capital
are enhanced by our deep industry expertise,
geographic range, analytical rigour, and
hands-on, collaborative approach. Our
professionals see what others dont, challenge
conventional thinking, and consistently
deliver innovative, customised solutions. We
also work side by side with senior executives
to accelerate execution through a blend of
behavioural and management approaches. As
a result, we have a tangible impact on clients
top and bottom lines. Oliver Wyman is a
wholly owned subsidiary of Marsh &
McLennan Companies (NYSE: MMC).
Why Join Us?
Our work is marked by exceptional impact for
our clients. By consistently producing results,
we have earned a reputation for quality work
and attractive career opportunities.
A growing, entrepreneurial firm with
exceptional economics; global reach with
revenues exceeding $1.5 billion in 2012
More client exposure on Day One and
significant international opportunities
A meritocratic ecosystem that provides for
rapid advancement to Partner without an
MBA
Specialisation at your own pace, with an
opportunity for breadth and depth
Attractive compensation for performance
A company that is committed to work-life
balance and having fun
Extensive opportunities to allow career
flexibility including: corporate externships,
10/11-month work years or sabbaticals, non-
profit fellowships, and international staffing
opportunities
The Role
Our challenging Consultant position offers
exceptional career growth and opportunity to
motivated and hardworking graduates. As a
Consultant you will:
Work in teams to solve high level business
problems facing Global 1000 clients
Structure and carry out essential research
and analysis
Lead complex quantitative, strategic and
financial analyses of corporations and
businesses
Receive support to rapidly develop
leadership and client management skills
Receive broad exposure to a variety of
industries including: Automotive, Aviation,
Communications, Financial Services,
Energy, Health & Life Sciences, Media,
Retail, Surface Transportation and
Technology.
Qualifications
We look for initiative, intuition and creativity
with a strong background in problem solving
and analytics. We do not require a specific
academic major or industry experience. One of
the best things we can do for our clients and
ourselves is to recruit a diverse group of
people who bring a broad range of strengths
and backgrounds to their roles.
Oliver Wyman
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assurance corporate banking
corporate finance corporate treasury
forensic accounting hedge fund
insurance inter-dealer broking internal
audit investment banking
investment operations IT/technology
management accounting markets
operations private equity private
wealth management regulation retail
banking risk sales, trading and research
structured finance tax consulting
law management consulting
pharmaceuticals advertising &
marketing film journalism performing
arts publishing radio TV
Salary competitive
Benefits
Number of vacancies (UK) 1,000
see website
Internships yes and graduate roles
When mainly summer, but also some year
long and off cycle opportunities
Degree sought
Locations Mainly London but also other
main UK cities
Apply to:
www.seo-london.com
0845 450 7830
info@seo-london.org
http://www.seo-london.com/apply-now/
online
SEO London
Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO)
London is a charity that provides access,
training and mentoring for outstanding young
people from under-represented and under-
served communities.
SEO has traditionally focused on helping
students from under represented Black and
other minority ethnic (BME) communities to
secure places on some of the most rewarding
and competitive internship and graduate
programmes in the UK. We also provide
students with a comprehensive training and
mentoring platform to ensure their long term
success.
Since 2000 more than 80% of the 3,400 BME
students we have supported have gone on to
secure graduate roles with our partner firms.
In 2014 we will be placing students with more
than 100 of the UKs most prestigious
employers.
SEO has programmes for students in every
year of study at university. One application to
SEO can provide access to a huge range of
exciting industries including - investment
banking, management consulting, corporate
law, technology, accounting as well as more
creative industries including advertising, film,
television, publishing and journalism. More
than 1,000 internships are available in 2013-
14.
A full list of firms SEO partners with, and
students that apply through SEO can access,
is detailed below.
SEO partner firms (selected):
Investments Banks (including Technology)
Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Barclays
Capital, BP Integrated Supply & Trading, Citi,
Goldman Sachs, HSBC GB&M, J.P. Morgan,
Macquarie Capital, Morgan Stanley, Nomura.
Corporate Law Firms Ashurst, Barclays
Legal & Compliance, Berwin Leighton Paisner,
Goldman Sachs Legal & Compliance, Herbert
Smith, HSBC Compliance, Jones Day, K&L
Gates, Kirkland & Ellis, Latham & Watkins,
Linklaters, Freshfields, Macfarlanes, Mayer
Brown, Macquarie Compliance, Morgan
Stanley Legal & Compliance, Norton Rose
Fulbright, Simmons & Simmons, Weil, Gotshal
& Manges, Winston & Strawn, Withers, CMS
Cameron McKenna, Addleshaw Goddard, DLA
Piper.
Audit, Tax & Management Consulting PwC,
KPMG, Deloitte, EY, Mazars, Factset, BDO.
Corporates FactSet, Marex Spectron,
Novartis.
Creative Industries SEO partners with both
Creative Access and Institute of Practitioners
in Advertising to provide students with access
to internships and graduate roles with firms
including Sky, Freud Communications, ITV,
Channel 4, Harper Collins and Random House.
Make sure you apply online asap!
SEO London
Great experience. The training, access to senior management, mentoring and
support are invaluable. I would recommend the programme to anyone.
Danielle Lawrence, SEO Intern, Goldman Sachs
I was initially eager to join the SEO programme because of its exceptional
reputation for providing unrivalled opportunities at top City firms to capable
students from under-represented backgrounds and its high success rate in
helping candidates convert placements into job offers.
But, having now gone through the programme, perhaps what makes SEO unique is
the commitment it employs in nurturing its candidates. During my placement, I
was provided with a strong support unit in the form of a buddy and a mentor,
which helped make the whole experience much less intimidating. This, combined
with the comprehensive training SEO offered throughout the summer, equipped
me with the skills set and self-esteem needed to tackle my placement with
confidence.
Thanks to SEO, not only have I been fortunate enough to secure a training
contract with a prestigious law firm, but to top it off I have had an unforgettable
summer and met some truly inspirational people along the way.
Nnamdi Emelifeonwu, SEO Vacation Scheme Student, Freshfields & Ashurst
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actuarial assurance corporate finance
corporate treasury economics financial
accounting insurance internal audit
IT/technology life assurance
management accounting markets
operations private equity public sector
regulation risk tax economic
consulting law property
Salary competitive
Benefits
contribution) private healthcare
season ticket loan share options
days holiday 25
Number of vacancies Globally: 50
10,000+
Internships yes
When all year
Degree sought
Locations Armonk, Bejing, Hong Kong,
London, Munich, Zurich (HQ)
Apply to:
www.swissre.com/graduates
graduates@swissre.com
30 St Mary Axe
London
EC3A 8EP
Closing date January 2014
CV & letter
About us
Founded in 1863, Swiss Re is a leading and
highly diversified global reinsurer operating
through offices in more than 30 countries. The
companys traditional reinsurance products
and related services for property and casualty
as well as the life and health business are
complemented by insurance-based corporate
finance solutions and supplementary
services for comprehensive risk
management. Swiss Re combines
professional resources and skills with
customer focus to deliver economic profile
growth.
Graduate opportunities
The graduates@swissre programme provides
talented individuals with an excellent
opportunity to discover the business world
from Swiss Res perspective in an increasingly
demanding market environment and to meet
and interact with people from many different
cultures and business areas.
The success of the programme depends on
the commitment of both Swiss Re and our
graduates. Swiss Re will provide access to the
knowledge and experience individuals need to
advance in our company. From our graduates,
we expect continued dedication to personal
and professional development while
demonstrating a commitment to our firm and
delivering a strong performance.
What graduates can expect from the
programme
The opportunity to work for a truly global
financial services organisation
Exposure to issues and topics that impact
the world on a daily basis
The opportunity to work with bright and
highly skilled people from all over the world
The chance to network with other graduates
from around the globe right from day one of
the programme
Multifaceted training in a specialised
financial services organisation
Candidate profile
We accept candidates with BA/MA degrees as
well as PhD students.
The programme targets graduates who have
just earned their degree and have little or no
work experience.
The programme elements
We recruit graduates for a position in one of
our core business functions where a line
manager will be appointed to be responsible
for you.
During the 18 month programme you will
receive on-the-job training in your respective
position as well as participate in four
classroom-based training blocks which focus
mainly on technical training. Three of these
blocks are common and encompass the
general minimum required business training
for graduates combining general business
learning modules and technical modules. The
fourth training block is specialised and
focuses on your specific training needs
according to your functional allocation.
Additionally, all graduates will have the
opportunity to go on a 1620 week job rotation
and will have a mentor allocated to them.
Swiss Re
The graduates@swissre programme provides
talented individuals with an excellent opportunity to
discover the business world from Swiss Res
perspective...
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IT/technology markets risk
sales, trading and research
Salary Competitive
Benefits
membership/subsidy pension scheme
healthcare share options days holiday
25
Internships Yes
When Summer
Degree sought
Locations New York (HQ), London,
Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan
Apply to:
www.thomsonreuters.com
students.thomsonreuters.com
online
Knowledge drives the world forward. More
than 20 million professionals around the
world rely on Thomson Reuters for the
intelligent information they need to make
critical decisions that are shaping the
knowledge economy.
Talented people make that possible. We
employ approximately 60,000 people in more
than 100 countries . The scope and scale of
our business serving decision makers in the
fields of finance, law, tax and accounting,
intellectual property, science, and media,
enables our graduates to take their career in
an amazing array of directions, limited only
by their own initiative, talents and goals. A
career without boundaries.
We are looking for graduates who are
performance-driven, collaborative and
adaptable. Our Graduate Career Programs
provide a training framework that enables
them to choose their own development. With a
global graduate community, alumni network,
mentoring programs and volunteer days, we
offer graduates the opportunity to collaborate
in their learning and develop professional
skills which will underpin their career.
CHOOSE YOUR PATH
SALES
Solving complex customer challenges with
innovative solutions is incredibly rewarding.
Our Sales path offers graduates with
demonstrated sales potential the opportunity
to make a real impact.
FINANCE
If you are wanting a career in finance this
path lets you build a solid commercial
foundation across all of our businesses
including the opportunity to earn CIMA
qualification.
BUSINESS
This path offers opportunities within our
Finance and Risk organization in the areas of
Product Management or Strategy and
Business Development. If you have a keen
interest in the global financial services sector,
this is an ideal way to start your business
career.
TECHNOLOGY
Start your career in a technology-driven
company developing solutions used by
professionals worldwide. Created by
technologists you will work in a key
technology group, contributing to our
innovation.
SUMMER INTERNSHIPS
The companys summer internship
programme lets undergraduates gain insight
into working life in Thomson Reuters
businesses. With a comprehensive weekly
training plan, networking sessions and skills
training, our interns are given a chance to put
forward their ideas and make a real impact.
Thomson Reuters
The variety of countries and sectors that Thomson Reuters
operates in brings a fantastic breadth of functions and roles for
Graduates to experience, I still feel very fresh and energised
after 16 years in Thomson Reuters because of this variety allied
with the pace of change of the markets we operate in.
Rob ex Technology Graduate now VP Shared Services
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actuarial insurance life assurance
markets operations regulation risk
reinsurance
Salary Competitive
Benefits
ticket loan days holiday 23 increase to
25 after 2 years Flexible benefit package
Number of vacancies (UK) 40 across
Europe
17,000
Internships Yes
When Summer
Degree sought
Locations Europe, China, US, Australia,
Latin America
Apply to:
www.willis.com/Careers/Graduate_Careers/
Closing date 2nd December 2013
online
Looking a Risk from a Different Perspective
The Willis Graduate Programme
If you are reading this, its because you want
to know what makes Willis tick. Because you
want to understand what makes us different.
Willis Group Holdings plc is a leading global
insurance broker, developing and delivering
professional insurance, reinsurance, risk
management, financial and human resource
consulting and actuarial services to
corporations, public entities and institutions
around the world.
Willis has more than 400 offices in nearly 120
countries, with a global team of approximately
17,000 employees serving clients in virtually
every part of the world.
If you are in your final year at University and
looking for an exciting, challenging and
potentially international career then look no
further than Willis. We have opportunities for
intelligent, ambitious and talented Graduates
across several aspects of our international
business, including:
Broking
Actuarial
Analytics
Account Handling
Control & Risk
Operations
Client Relationship Management
Claim Advocacy
Willis. Whats In It For You?
At Willis we strive to develop motivated
graduates who will confront new challenges
head-on and will embrace our companys
performance culture and passion for excellent
client service.
In return we are committed to taking on
talented individuals with unique skills, and
channelling and developing this talent,
helping them to help us grow our business. By
attracting a diverse workforce we create an
environment where differences are respected
and valued. In turn, this creates inclusion,
inspiration and innovation in how we work.
Willis is rich in culture and backgrounds, from
our global workforce to our clients and
suppliers.
Willis currently has established campus
programs across Europe, the United States,
China and Australia. By sourcing our talent
from an international pool, we have created a
global campus network with opportunities for
intellectual and cultural exchange. You will
have the opportunity to meet and network
with your international colleagues and gain
the initial skills that you will need to
contribute immediately to your teams
success.
You will work as an integral member of the
team combining professional, technical and
personal development with on-the-job
training. Willis sponsors you and provides you
with the skills and support to successfully
complete your professional qualification with
the Chartered Insurance Institute (the CII).
We will provide you with a mentor and buddy
to provide you with day to day support and
guidance and also structured revision
sessions to ensure that you know exactly
what to expect when you sit your exams.
Willis
The great range of work the company offers, and the
locations where this work is performed, is vast,
providing great opportunities to explore and grow
within the company.
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view all our latest
Apply to:
www.teachfirst.org.uk/graduates
4 More London Riverside
London
SE1 2AU
Closing date Year-round applications, early
submission recommended as subjects close
as they are filled
Internship Yes
online
In the UK, the link between income and
success at school is stronger than almost
anywhere in the developed world. We can
change this.
Teach First is an influential charity training
and supporting people with leadership
potential to become inspirational teachers in
schools in low income communities across
the UK. Our vision is that no childs
educational success is limited by their socio-
economic background. Since 2002 we have
placed over 5000 graduates in schools across
England and Wales, and helped change the
lives of thousands of young people.
The Teach First journey begins with an
exceptional Leadership Development
Programme. This personalised programme
encompasses high-quality training,
supportive coaching, work experience and a
PGCE qualification. The skills and experience
gained can be taken forward into any career.
Thats why over 80 high-profile businesses
from all sectors recognise Teach Firsts ability
to effect change and develop leaders for the
future. Put simply, they know that graduates
who can engage, stimulate and inspire in the
classroom can handle pretty much any
situation in any organisation.
We continue to work with Teach First
because its participants and ambassadors
are more than exceptional graduates they
consistently form one of our most valuable
talent pools having developed their
professional ability through the Teach First
programme and beyond. PwC
As well placing inspirational teachers in the
classroom, we tackle educational
disadvantage through our network of
ambassadors people who have completed
the Leadership Development Programme and
gone on to achieve influential leadership
positions in education, business and beyond.
Some people join us knowing they want to
stay in education; some are sure that they
dont; and others are uncertain about their
plans. All of them find the experience of Teach
First to be powerful, rewarding and
enlightening. And all are changed by it.
Change their lives. Change yours.
Teach First.
Teach First
CITY ALTERNATIVES EMPLOYERS
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MONDAY
26
Index of employers
FTI Consulting ..................................................171
Teach First........................................................170
F
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and view all our
and content
corporate finance economics forensic
accounting IT/technology regulation
tax consulting economic consulting
management consulting
Salary competitive
Benefits
life assurance income protection
pension (company contribution)
25 days holiday private healthcare
season ticket loan cycle to work scheme
Number of vacancies (UK) up to 35
More than 4,000
Internships Opportunities available see
website
Degree sought
all degree disciplines numerate or semi
numerate
Locations We are looking for people to join
our European team in London and Paris.
Apply to:
www.fticonsulting.co.uk/graduates
Davidson Building
5 Southampton Street
Covent Garden
London
WC2E 7HA
Holborn Gate
26 Southampton Buildings
London
WC2A 1PB
online
About FTI Consulting
It is the talent and expertise of our people that
makes FTI Consulting a global thought leader
in business advisory services and consulting.
We provide our clients with clear analysis of
complex economic and financial issues for
use in legal and regulatory proceedings and
strategic decision making. Our clients include
leading law firms, corporations and
government agencies.
Our business is growing and we are looking
for bright, motivated people to contribute to
our success in each of our five practice areas:
Economic and Financial Consulting
Forensic and Litigation Consulting
Strategic Communications
Technology
Corporate Finance (including Tax)
If you have, or are expecting a first or upper-
second class degree from a top university and
are looking for a career that will fulfil you at a
firm that will give you the opportunities to
succeed, then we encourage you to apply.
Economic and Financial Consulting
We bring clear and focused economic analysis
to unstructured problems in economics and
finance. Our work is interesting, challenging
and varied and involves:
Business and Intellectual Property Valuation
Claims and Disputes
Competition Policy
International Arbitration
Regulated Industries
You will work on a wide range of assignments,
addressing business issues that have real-life
implications.
Forensic and Litigation Consulting
We provide multidisciplinary, independent
dispute advisory, investigative, data
acquisition/analysis and forensic accounting
services to the global business and legal
community. Our team supports clients facing
high-stakes litigation, arbitration and
compliance investigations and regulatory
scrutiny.
Strategic Communications
We help our clients use their communications
assets to protect, enhance, develop and
defend their enterprise value no matter what
they are going through or where they are in
the world.
Technology
Our clients rely on our software, services and
expertise for matters ranging from internal
investigations to large-scale litigation with
global e-discovery requirements. Because
requirements vary from matter to matter, we
collaborate with our clients to develop and
implement strategic, not reactive, solutions.
Tax (part of Corporate Finance)
We offer innovative solutions to help solve
complex problems faced by companies in all
industries. Our services develop efficient and
cost-effective tax structures which assist our
wide range of clients, including a number of
FTSE 100 organisations, to maximise their
return on investment and minimise their tax
burden.
Find out more
Our graduate programmes provide the
opportunity to develop your career through
further training and challenging projects.
To find out more and apply, visit
www.fticonsulting.co.uk/graduates where
you can also download our brochure.
FTI Consulting
FTI handles some of the most interesting and
challenging problems in the world today. If youre
interested in learning more about how the world
really works, this is the place to be.
CITY ALTERNATIVES EMPLOYERS
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EMPLOYERS
172 | City & Finance 2014 Sign up for specialist jobs and advice at
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Key: IFC = inside front cover, IBC = inside back cover, OBC = outside back cover.
- Baillie Gifford www.bailliegifford.com 760 126
- Bank of America Merrill Lynch baml.com/campusEMEA c.265,000 127
OBC Barclays barclays.com/joinus c. 140,000 128
- Bloomberg makeyourmarkatbloomberg.co.uk 15,000+ 129
- Fidelity Worldwide Investment www.fidelityrecruitment.com Over 6,000 130
- Goldman Sachs International www.goldmansachs.com/careers c.30,000 131
- HSBC www.hsbc.com/targetjobs 280,000 132
- ICAP www.icap.com/careers 5000 133
- Lazard www.lazard.com 2513 134
- M&G Investments www.mandg.co.uk/graduates 1,500 135
- Macquarie Group www.macquarie.com/mgl/com/global-careers/emea/gradrecruitment 13,600 136
- Mitsubishi UFJ Securities muscampus.com c.600 137
- Morgan Stanley www.morganstanley.com/careers 138
- Nomura www.nomura.com/careers approx. 28,000 139
- RBC Capital Markets (Royal Bank of Canada) www.campus.rbccm.com
Royal Bank of Canada: c.80,000;
RBC Capital Markets, London: c.1,150
140
16 Societe Generale Corporate & Investment Bankingwww.sgcib.com/graduates 155,000 141
Accountancy and financial management
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HW Fisher & Company www.hwfisher.co.uk 300 - 147
Kerry Group www.kerrygraduates.com 24,000 worldwide 62 150
PwC www.pwc.com/uk/careers c.17,000 in the UK 54 152
RSM Tenon www.rsmtenon.com 2,400 - 153
Smith & Williamson www.smith.williamson.co.uk/trainees 1,500 - 154
UHY Hacker Young www.uhy-graduate.com c.7,100 - 155
Additional advertisers: ACCA (page 144); ICAEW (inside front cover, pages 56 and 148); ICAS (page 149).
BG Group www.bg-group.com/graduates 6,000 - 146
National Grid www.nationalgridcareers.com/Development-Opportunities over 22,000 UK/US - 151
- LCH.Clearnet www.lchclearnet.com/graduates c. 1000 134
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competitive 3,000 8 8 30/11/13 2.1 26
competitive c.400 31/10/13 12/12/13 2.1 25
competitive 250+ 15/11/13
Summer 31/12/2013
Spring Week: 31/01/14
strong academic
background

competitive + benefits 250 open March 2014 25
market competitive + pension and benefits c. 4,500 25 25
Inv Grad Prog 4/11/13;
Non-inv Grad Prog 31/12/13
Invest Intern 31/12/13;
Non-invest Intern 31/01/13
competitive c.300 c.300
NewAnalyst:
3 November 2013
Placement: 1/12/13
Spring Programme: 5/01/14

industry competitive 320 c.15,000 250+ 250+ 24/11/13 31/01/14 2.1 25
competitive See web 24/11/13 26/01/14 2.1 25
competitive AAB 18 20 31/10/13 18/11/13 2.1
competitive 20 see website 25
competitive c.30 04/11/13 06/01/14 2.1 25
competitive c.800 20 10-15 11/2013 03/01/14 2.1 25
competitive varies by division varies by division
2.1 23
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determined by
business demand
see web see web 2.1 26
competitive 40-60 see website see web 2.1
competitive
UK 20+,
globally 100+
numerous
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for details
please see website
for details
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30,000 - 36,000 c. 90 Dec 2013 28
25,600 Bachelors 26,600 Masters
5 5 31/01/14 31/01/14
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competitive 320 10 10 20/12/13 20/12/13 2.1
EMPLOYERS
174 | City & Finance 2014 Sign up for specialist jobs and advice at
Financial services
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competitive 320 Up to 50 01/12/13
Placement 01/12/13
Internship 15 /12/13
2.1 22
competitive 50
please see our website for
further details
2.1
2932,000+5,000signingonbonus 1,500 15 15 15/12/2014 25
competitive Varies 18 see website see website 2.2 24
competitive 320 21 21 15/11/12 mid March 2.1
up to
5 weeks
competitive 300 3,500 45 50 31/12/13 31/01/14 2.1 25
highly competitive 340
no fixed quota
10/11/13for Dec 13offers or
15/12/13for Feb 14offers
19/01/14 2.1 23
competitive see website 6,000 800+ 1,000 see website see website
working towards
2.1

competitive Globally: 50 January 2014 ongoing 2.2 25
competitive 50 31/12/2013 31/12/13 25
competitive 29 40 02/12/13 14/03/14 2.1 23
competitive 1,000 15 up to 35 17/11/13 open 2.1 25
competitive 300 8,000 1,290 1,550 Year-round 2.1 65

Property
@targetjobsUK
targetjobs
internships &career advice
targetjobsUK
TARGETjobs
M
a
r
k
e
t
i
n
g
Sign up at targetjobs.co.uk and
choose your sectors of interest
At TARGETjobs, we break down our careers advice by sector to help you get
hired in your chosen profession. Our career sector experts regularly publish
new and timely advice on securing a role in that profession plus you will
find plenty of relevant jobs and work experience opportunities.
Graduate recruiters: whos most popular?
Over 23,000 students voted for their favourite graduate recruiter in Europes largest
graduate careers survey. Here are the top 8 firms in investment banking and investment,
accounting and financial management, and banking, insurance and financial services.
Rob Brydon presents the Goldman Sachs, PwC and HM Revenue & Customs teams with their TARGETjobs National Graduate Recruitment Awards 2013.
1 Goldman Sachs
2 J.P. Morgan
3 Barclays
4 HSBC Global
Banking and Markets
5 Morgan Stanley
6 Deutsche Bank
7 Credit Suisse
8 Bank of America
Merrill Lynch
1 PwC
2 Deloitte
3 EY
4 KPMG
5 Grant Thornton
6 National Audit Office
7 BDO
8 GE FMP (Financial
Management Programme)
1 HM Revenue &
Customs
2 HSBC Bank plc
3 The Bank of England
4 Lloyds Banking
Group
= 5 Bloomberg
= 5 The Royal Bank of
Scotland Group
7 Lloyds (of London)
8 Santander
Investment banking
and investment
Accounting and financial
management
Banking, insurance and
financial services TOP8
TOP8
TOP8
EMPLOYERS
See ad on
page 131
See ad on
page 128
See ad on
page 132
See ad on
page 138
See ad on
page 127
See ads on pages
54 and 152
See ad on
page 129
See ad on
page 132
@TjobsFinance
The votes in the UK trendence Graduate Barometer survey decided the winners of the TARGETjobs
National Graduate Recruitment Awards 2014 and the composition of The Guardian UK 300.
Make yourself heard
Vote for your favourite employer at www.trendence-gradbarometer.co.uk
between October and early January.
Our MSc courses are more
than just another qualication.
All of our MSc programmes are accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). Many are
also accredited by respective professional bodies such as CIM, CIPR and CIPD. These close links are
just one of the reasons why BPPs MSc students are so employable. We deliver the practical skills
and industry insight that you need, to build your career and succeed in business. You also have the
opportunity to add a six month work placement and 12 months of personal development coaching to
your programme, enhancing your CV and demonstrating your skills to potential employers.
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Hospitality and MSc International Marketing.
Study centres at:
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Start dates
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& September
Call us now
020 3131 2801
Or visit us at www.bpp.com/pgbusiness
Barclays Bank PLC is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.
Barclays Bank PLC is registered in England. Registered number 1026167. Registered Ofce: 1 Churchill Place, London E14 5HP.
Begin a journey
dened by you.
Graduate & Internship Opportunities
As we set out to shape the future of Barclays, were
looking to our graduates to be a driving force. Your
readiness to explore new ways to make things better
will help us move forward. And our support will make
sure that you progress too.
Whichever part of Barclays you join, youll be in control
of your future. The journey you take will broaden your
horizons, and youll learn like never before. And it all
starts today.
barclays.com/joinus

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City & Finance

written and oral communication client-facing skills

analytical and problem solving

time management and organisation

an affinity for numbers but not necessarily a numerate

Step one: Read employers AZ profiles in this publication

Step two: Meet employers. Your careers service should

Step three: Remember the names of the people you meet

Step four: Get yourself some work experience to

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