What it does: Regulates the financial services industry
Staff stats: Around 820
The good bits: A job like no other - Unique, Interesting work. Ability to meet top executives across the industry. A role where you can give back, and have a positive impact to the Australian financial system. A rotational program where you can influence your journey. Developyourself both technically and personally, in a culture that cares.
The not so good bits: We need to be mindful being Govenrment, and reputational risk, so there are a number of meetings before we finalise our work. Potentially not as many ‘perks' as private sector roles.
Hiring grads with degrees in: Commerce, Actuaial, Engineering, Mathematics, STEM, IT & Computer Sciences; Finance, Accounting, Economics & Business Administration; Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences; Law & Legal Studies
The APRA Graduate Program is one of the most in-depth and diverse in the financial services industry.
Our Graduate Program runs for 15 months. During this time you will complete three five-month rotations across a number of our teams including frontline supervision, risk, policy and advice, or data analytics. This program gives you the opportunity to build the core foundations of prudential regulation.
Alongside these rotations, you will be supported by an in-depth learning and development program, including access to an extensive range of in-house training programs. These are designed to support you to grow your technical and personal capabilities, and help jump start your career as a financial professional.
Professional development is ongoing throughout your career with us. In fact, professional development is an integral part of ensuring we maintain our excellence as a regulator. As one of our graduates, you’ll benefit from:
At the end of your Graduate Program, you will remain an employee of APRA and have the opportunity to drive your career in any of APRA's core functions, including specialist areas.
Graduate placements are available in our Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane offices.
You can watch a series of videos featuring past graduates who share their experience being involved in the APRA Graduate Program.
Following the privatisation and deregulation binge of the 1980s and early 1990s, the Federal Government established the Financial System Inquiry in 1996. It was tasked with proposing a regulatory system that would ensure an “efficient, responsive, competitive and flexible financial system to underpin stronger economic performance, consistent with financial stability, prudence, integrity and fairness”. (Previously Australia’s financial services industry was regulated by the Australian Financial Institutions Commission, Insurance and Superannuation Commission and Reserve Bank.)
The Financial System Inquiry recommended a statutory authority of the Federal Government be set up to oversee banks, building societies, credit unions, friendly societies, insurance companies and the superannuation industry.
On July 1 1998, the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (commonly referred to as APRA) was established to do exactly this. Ever since, it has supervised institutions holding assets for Australian bank customers, insurance policyholders and super fund members. With considerable success across two decades, APRA has ensured those entities that make up the financial services industry remain financially sound and able to meet their obligations to their clients.
To reflect APRA's forward-looking philosophy, our Vision is focused on two strategic themes: Protected today, prepared for tomorrow.
Our values underpin the critical role we play in protecting the financial well-being of the Australian community. Our values were selected to help everyone at APRA to achieve the high standards necessary for us to protect the financial well-being of the Australian community. In our work and in our interactions with others, we seek to demonstrate:
Working and acting in these ways helps us achieve the high standards necessary for us to protect the financial well-being of the Australian community. Our supervisory approach is forward-looking, primarily risk-based, consultative, consistent and in line with international best practices. This approach also recognises that management and boards of supervised institutions are primarily responsible for financial soundness.
APRA’s workplace diversity strategy “takes a pro-active and innovative approach in creating a flexible and inclusive employment environment that values and utilises the contribution of people of different backgrounds, experiences, perspectives and abilities”. APRA offers an extensive range of flexible work arrangements to allow staff to meet family and other commitments.
APRA staff play a vital role in protecting the financial well-being of almost every Australian citizen by overseeing around $8 trillion of bank deposits, super contributions and insurance premiums. APRA also has a workplace-giving scheme that allows donations to be taken directly from an employee’s salary.
APRA combines most of the good aspects of the public and private sectors. Staff are well looked after but also get to enjoy a good work-life balance and enviable degree of job security. While a clear hierarchy exists, those at the top of it are approachable. There are lots of social events and staff often go out for social occasions at the end of the working day.
APRA offers unparalleled exposure to the world of banking, insurance & superannuation as we work with the executive boards and senior members of the industries we regulate.
Our vision is to be a world-class integrated prudential supervisor recognised for its leadership, professionalism and innovation.
Our core mission is to establish and enforce prudential standards and practices designed to ensure that, under all reasonable circumstances, financial promises made by institutions we supervise are met within a stable, efficient and competitive financial system.
Our values of collaboration, integrity, accountability, foresight and professionalism guide our work and everyday dealings.
APRA requires a range of skillsets from frontline supervisors across banking, insurance and superannuation, statistics/mathematics gurus, policy advisors, legal professionals, and risk specialists in areas such as credit, operational, market and liquidity risk to help deliver our mission.
We offer opportunities to graduates who are passionate about the financial stability of Australia. As one of our graduates, APRA provides you with a structured 12-month training and development program that focuses on building your technical and professional skillset. You will also benefit from a mentoring program, as well as a ‘buddy’ system and the opportunity to rotate to another APRA division in your first year.
For more information and to apply please visit our graduate website."
APRA recruits graduates who’ve achieved at least a minimum credit average in, but not limited to a discipline. Graduates from the following degrees are generally attracted to apply: actuarial studies, commerce, economics, econometrics, finance, financial modelling, law, mathematics, Engineering, public policy and statistics. Those from other disciplines may be considered if they are high achievers with impressive research and analytical skills. The grad program is currently only available at APRA’s Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne offices.
Applications open: March - April Annually, and at times an additional recruitment round can be opened throughout the year. If you are interested to keep in contact, register your interest via GradAustralia, connect with our APRA LinkedIn Profile or email graduatecareers@apra.gov.au
Each year we often see many fabulous graduates, more than we can offer. In this instance we inform some applicants that they are on a ‘Merit’ list. APRA uses this list should APRA increase the graduate program intake number or a graduate withdraws from the prgram. We also look to the Merit list before opening up a new recruitment campaign and we will keep you updated for the next 6 months regarding graduate-level opportunities across APRA.
APRA’s funding is provided by the industry it regulates rather than the taxpayer, and it offers unusually lavish benefits for a public-sector employer.
APRA's graduate starting salary is $85,000 inclusive of superannuation. APRA is focused on intensivly building your capabilities, and through capability growth, on average, graduate salaries have increased 10% annually for the first few years or your career. APRA is dedicated to investing in early talent and reviews salaries comparatively with external and internal salary data.
Our employees enjoy a range of benefits including working in a flexible, inclusive and diverse environment.
Some benefits offered to employees include:
After finishing the grad program, we will work with you to find a team that you wish to join permanently. In joining that team, you will be promoted to the role of Analyst. APRA promotes employees on capability growth, so your path and progression is your own, following the graduate program. You do not have to stay in a role level for a period of time before progression. APRA encourages open and honest discussions between employee and their manager. We have numerous training courses to strengthen your skills, both personally and technically. APRA is focused on encouraging mobility; therefore you can move across teams as opportunities become available, or an opportunity to be seconded to another agency such as the RBA, ASIC, Treasury or the like.
Analyst (Frontline Supervisor) at Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA)
Bachelor of Applied Finance with the degree of Bachelor of Economics at University of Wollongong (UOW)
Analyst, Industry Technical Services at Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA)
Bachelor of Applied Finance with the degree of Bachelor of Economics at Western Sydney University
Graduate Analyst at Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA)
Bachelor of Business at QUT (Queensland University of Technology)
Graduate Analyst at Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA)
Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Commerce at Griffith University
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