About the Financial Services Authority
As the UK’s main financial services regulator, the Financial Services Authority (FSA) tackles regulation from both a prudential and consumer angle – what better starting point for a career in financial services?
Their remit covers five key areas: to maintain market confidence; to raise public awareness of the financial system; to ensure consumers are protected; to contribute to the protection and enhancement of the UK financial system and to target and reduce financial crime.
Working for a world-leading financial regulator means having the remit and the scope to safeguard the interests of consumers, to influence the way financial institutions operate, to facilitate and champion fair and orderly markets and to contribute to the success of the country. A career in regulation will give you an invaluable insight into the complex, diverse and continually evolving financial services sector. There has never been a more exciting time to join the FSA – you will be stretched and challenged constantly.
About the placement
You can only learn so much in a lecture. There’s no substitute for being at the heart of the action, experiencing the responsibility, complexity and buzz of the FSA and the industry it regulates. Over the course of the one year placement, you’ll get invaluable exposure and practical experience necessary to develop your knowledge – both of the way the FSA works as an organisation and the wider industry.
As a placement student, you’ll be given similar responsibilities to the FSA’s graduates, so if you put a lot in, you’ll get plenty out. There are opportunities in a range of areas – you could be involved in the supervision of firms to ensure they are complying with regulatory requirements, the authorisation of firms and individuals to work in the UK or policy development.
Whatever area your placement is in, the FSA’s introductory training course in London will give you the skills and knowledge to make the most of the experience. It will introduce you to the organisation, regulation and the financial services industry, which will help you both during the placement and beyond. You’ll also receive training in IT and key interpersonal skills, such as team-working and presenting. Throughout your placement, an extensive support network will aid your personal and professional development. Your manager will focus on your day-to-day role and performance objectives, and a graduate buddy will offer peer support and work shadowing opportunities. The graduate team will run your placement and give you additional support.
As well as a salary equivalent to £450 per week, you’ll also benefit from the FSA’s subsidised restaurant and in-house gym. We’ll try and get you involved in the culture from day one through our sports and social activities, community affairs work as well as other activities. Based on your performance during the placement, successful students will benefit from securing a graduate job offer, giving you time to focus on your final year of study. As a previous placement student you also have the option to defer your entry so that you can go travelling or undertake a masters.
Requirements
The work placement is aimed at candidates studying a 4 year sandwich degree course, who are required to do a year’s work as part of their degree.
You will need to be available to start this placement from June 2010 for up to a year, till June 2011.
In addition to a predicted 2.1 in any subject, 300 UCAS tariff points and the unrestricted right to work in the UK, you’ll need to be a decisive, results-driven, highly analytical team player with excellent people skills and initiative.
However, if there are extenuating circumstances which may have affected your grades, please state this clearly on the form and/ or contact EmployAbility for further information.
How to apply?
To apply for the FSA EmployAbility Work Placement Programme 2011, please download and complete an application form and send it to applications@employ-ability.org.uk by 4th January 2011
Please submit your application for the Work Placement programme as soon as possible. Places become filled very quickly, so to avoid disappointment ensure you send your application to us as soon as possible.
Don’t wait for the closing date. APPLY NOW!
Please contact Justin Penney on 07776 090 508, info@employ-ability.org.uk should you require the form in an alternative format or have any questions.
Don’t forget to contact EmployAbility should you have any questions or require further information regarding the FSA Work Placement programme. We can provide additional information about this programme and can give you useful advice and tips on how to make a successful application.
