Prudential Risk Associate Review

Item: Prudential Risk Associate at Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
Rating: 3.5
Author: Anonymous

at Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)

Degree Apprenticeship

Accounting

London

Review Submitted: March 2023

Overall Rating

3.5 /5

The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!

4/5 - Overview of Role

4/5 - Skills Development

3/5 - Structure and Support

Overview of Role

Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:

4/5

A major aspect of my role is to supervise MIFID (Markets in Financial Instruments Directive) firms' capital adequacy and liquidity as well as business model, daily operations and wind-down plans. Authorised firms which classify as a MIFID entity generally mean that they are big enough to cause material harm to consumers and markets if their business was to fail.

To what extent do you enjoy your programme?

4/5

I am thoroughly enjoying this programme as I have not been in a corporate environment like this before and am able to grow as I take on different projects. Comparing to previous roles, I am learning more and focussing on professional development. I also love the work culture because people are supportive and always willing to help.

Skills Development

Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?

4/5

I have learnt new skills relating to prioritisation and productivity, specifically how to use features in Microsoft Outlook and Teams to organise schedules and meetings. In addition to this, I have also developed team-building skills and communication as I am communicating with different teams and stakeholders on a daily basis.

Structure and Support

How well organised/structured is your programme?

3/5

My programme is very well structured and organised in the sense that I can match my progress to a timeline. However, as an apprentice, there was a lot of questions regarding costs and exam bookings which I then had to communicate with different people to find out the right answers.

How much support do you receive from your employer?

4/5

I receive a lot of support from my employer and am comfortable with the fact that I can take any query to my manager and receive the right help. My manager is really supportive and always has my needs at heart when I have a genuine question which needs her attention.

How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?

2/5

I have not had as much support as I would have hoped from my training provider, BPP University. I have heard many stories from others about how they are not supportive. I have had to do a lot of independent study and have been confused with the hub in particular which is not well structured at all.

How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?

3/5

I believe that the qualification I am studying, which is ACCA, will and is helping me to perform better in my role. This is because I look at financial end of year accounts via Companies House when assessing the capital adequacy an profitability of different firms, so ACCA helps me understand better.

Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)

3/5

There are many extra-curricular activities to get involved in. These include football teams, choirs, race and ethnicity networks and more. There are different communities that organise events throughout the year and the message is spread throughout the company on how to apply and what is offered. I think this is really great.

Recommendations & Advice

Would you recommend Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to a friend?

Yes

Why?

I would recommend the FCA to anyone who likes a modern approach to the corporate world and wants to join a company that embraces mental wellbeing. The FCA has adapted to a flexible working approach and encourages employees to take regular breaks throughout the day to not only boost productivity but also aid positive mental health.

What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)?

I would say that what the FCA values the most is integrity and authenticity. When applying, don't feel that you need to oversell yourself - while you should emphasise on what you can bring to the FCA, make it known that you are ambitious and willing to learn and develop further.

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