Role: Associate, Banking Specialists Team
I have been with the FSA for about a year and my current role is as a second-year graduate within the Banking Specialists Team. I wanted to work at the FSA as it was the only place where I could see myself getting a really rounded perspective of the financial industry, and having the opportunity to influence it.
As a Banking Specialist, I carry out peer group, business model and quantitative analysis, as well as stress testing. I also support the supervision and monitoring of key trends and risks within the banking sector and I will be looking at the impact of the report on the industry and specific firms. What’s great is that there is no typical day. As a graduate you’re working on lots of different projects simultaneously, with people from all over the organisation. And because the graduate programme is rotation based, throughout your time you can really get a feel for the industry as a whole, as well as the specific sector you’re working on.
The training you receive is excellent. It not only prepares you for the work you’ll be given, it’s also a great opportunity to get to know the other graduates and start to form the networks that are going to support you throughout your time here. If nothing else, you’ll definitely need it to understand the acronyms and jargon for your first projects!
I would thoroughly recommend the scheme to anyone who wanted to learn about the financial industry simply because the FSA can give you insight into so many sectors. I also think that the sponsored study and opportunity for secondment are big plus points for anyone who wants to build a career.
