Clerical Analyst - Credit Risk Review

I am a clerical analyst within Credit Risk Middle Office. Primarily I am aligned to Treasury Services where we review and help implement the credit requirement and risk associated with new treasury solutions offered to clients. I also assist in running reports to seek approval for the banks exposure. Additionally I help with information gathering, risk stress scenario mapping, and a hotline for traders.

IOC investment operations qualification in process, passed with merit first exam having learnt a brad overview of the investment and financial services sector. Through my role I've gained a comprehensive understanding of treasury services, futures and options, and the wider risk world. I've also learnt skills such as VBA Coding and have been able to improve my data analytics capability.

to put it simply: Thoroughly. My job role is exciting and challenging, and my team are really supportive and flexible, I have the freedom and flexibility to take on new challenges that suit me best, and spend more time on the processes I want to learn more about. Being able to see the improvements and contribution I can have made to historic processes which have remained unchanged is highly rewarding. The apprentice team are incredibly good at getting all apprentices involved in a wide range of activities both across the bank and externally, giving great opportunities to higher management and activities outside of BAU. The company has a great and uplifting culture where contact is open and extra activity is encouraged, making the working week very enjoyable.

My team are incredible supportive and encouraging, not only my manager but also my colleagues who I work with on a same level. They and my manager are keen to promote my abilities and are quick to share their appreciation for my work higher up the management levels. Based off this good work, higher management has scheduled a showcase with my manager and team to show the value we've added to credit risk, here both my team and I get to show our added contributions and successes within the team. they recognize my talent and willingness to learn, allowing me to be part of new processes as they are migrated to my team. Open communication with the apprentice leaders ensures that achievement is always recognized and valued.

The application process was by far the best organized and easiest of those I completed, and with a 2 week off-site induction we all benefited from a breadth of engaging activities helping us to settle in when we moved to our teams. As time goes on the apprentice team maintain regular contact and actively engage with all of us in both our BAU activities and the extra events we partake and help organize. The programme is very well organized and the internal team are excellent at communicating with us and listening to the needs and developments happening across the program, they manage events, exams and everyday life extraordinarily well. Plus they are willing to be firm with our

BPP provide a huge range of content. Weekly online lectures are with knowledgeable and engaged tutors, and we are given (both online and on paper) plenty of BPP material to assist our learning. However, aside from knowledge they are lacking considerably. Almost every practice exam and mock paper has been littered with mistakes. Sometimes this is merely spelling, however it is also missing words or key data, and in a large number of cases they have marked incorrectly and return information which contradicts other content. This has proven both stressful and unnerving when we are faced with the time pressure of learning to pass exams. Furthermore BPP try to blame the students for missed deadlines when the issue has lied with their technology and organization. Fortunately our internal team have been very good at handling all these issues and managing BPP to ensure we are receiving a high quality of training. The apprentice team have been able to listen to apprentices as well as BPP to understand the situation and provide appropriate support. From this BPP should be getting better at proof reading and being honest when they make mistakes.

My manager is keen to support me through training and supporting me as I learn and assist the team, he is flexible and accommodates the needs of myself and my team well to ensure we are enjoying our work as well as performing well. The apprentice team, and greater HR team are very supportive and open to all questions or issues. To the rest of the bank, I am another employee and there is no discrimination based of rank or age, I am treated fairly and supported through any needs I may have. Furthermore there is a culture of support across the bank allowing for us to reach out to practically anyone, and then be able to progress and either solve our problems or host an event. there is a well established mentoring scheme within the bank to assist individuals with any problems, and to help them develop. Locally the apprentice committee supports and encourages apprentices and graduates, helping them progress through the bank and handle different aspects.

Currently I am still living at home as I live locally, so any living costs for me are small, and easily covered by the salary. I drive an electric car so my travel costs are minimal, in total the only fixed cost I have monthly is £50, so everything else from there allows me to enjoy myself, as well as contribute at home. Bournemouth is a great location to live, it is affordable and others an array of leisure activities which I can enjoy to the full thanks to this scheme. Furthermore, thanks to the pension scheme and other benefits I am able to save and prepare for my future efficiently beyond my salary, so I can both enjoy myself now, and be financially stable for my future.

The apprentice team organizes a range of outside events for us, as well as giving us connections to many events the bank runs or has access to. The Bournemouth Goodworks committee has a number of monthly events volunteering for local charities and causes which we can get involved with both on site and off site. Situated next to an expansive leisure Centre the sports offered through the bank and otherwise is brilliant, and being based by the sea in Bournemouth (which has a thriving nightlife) you are never short of things to do.

Yes

It has proven a fantastic opportunity for me to develop myself and improve a whole range of transferrable skills, as well as improving my confidence and satisfaction with life. The jobs you get offer real responsibility and the chance for you to really make your mark, it allowed me to hit the ground running and gave a great kick start to my career. Training alongside you become qualified as well as experienced, and working in such an uplifting and progressive company means you are never limited. Plus, you get paid well for what is a very enjoyable and flexible lifestyle - no student debt is always a positive.

Enthusiasm is key, across all the stages you have to want to do well in order to do well. As long as you have the enthusiasm and determination to do well within the bank then your previous qualifications and experience are not as important. Be organized and prepared, show that you know what you are applying for - but you don't have to know where you want to be in 5 years! The key isn't knowing, it's just being able to show you are willing to work to find out what you can get out of it. RELAX! the application and onboarding process has a lot of fun and social elements, you'll do well if you can relax and be yourself in this environment.