Zurich Financial Services graduate jobs

Zurich Financial Services careers and training scheme

Our core business is insurance - General and Life. Our global network focuses on our key markets in North America and Europe.

Back to top

The Company

Zurich Financial Services Group (Zurich) is an insurance-based financial services provider with a global network of subsidiaries and offices in North America and Europe as well as in Asia Pacific, Latin America and other markets. Founded in 1872, the Group is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. It employs approximately 58,000 people serving customers in more than 170 countries.

As a leading financial services organisation, Zurich has a diverse range of businesses and a wide variety of customers. However, one of the things all our businesses have in common is confident and talented people who deliver the best products, service and support.

At Zurich, our approach to what we do is all about sharing goals, pulling in the same direction and working together to achieve collective success. To do that, we’ve worked hard to introduce a consistent, shared culture - and that’s what makes us different from our competitors. Our culture involves a set of values and ‘behaviours’ that we apply to everything we do, which will hopefully encourage people to buy our products and services.

---

Back to top

Live Jobs

Job title	Location	Salary

---

Back to top

Training & Profiles

Think we only insure cars and homes?
Think you’ll just blend into the background?
Think all graduate programmes are the same?
Think again.

The 2 year Voyager Graduate Development Programme –
Actuarial, Business Analysis, Business Change and IT, Claims, Finance, General Management or Underwriting

£24,750 (25,750 for Actuarial) + Flexible Benefits
London, Swindon, Fareham, Farnborough, Leeds or Birmingham

When you join graduate programme you’ll have real responsibility from day one and all the training and development opportunities you’ll need to get your career off to a flying start.

No other financial services organisation offers such a comprehensive, friendly and supportive graduate programme. As well as gaining valuable experience throughout the business, you’ll receive full study support, a mentor and a fantastic group of likeminded graduates to network and socialise with.

The work is diverse and exciting too. As well as the home and car insurance, we also insure Premiership football clubs, hit TV shows, famous London landmarks such as Wembley Stadium and some of the UK’s favourite high street brands.

And when the programme is over, you’ll get together with a senior business leader to discuss where within Zurich’s global organisation (which spans over 170 countries) you see your future.

To see more, please visit Zurich graduates.

---

Back to top

Case Studies

Degree: Actuarial Science
University: City University
Role: Actuary
Joined: September 2006

Why did you choose to become an Actuary?

Given my ability to excel in mathematics during my early education, I knew that my future lay within the financial sector.

I have always been ambitious, seeking new and exciting challenges, and I wanted my career path to follow this trend, for it to be an extension of myself. Striving to become an Actuary offered me this distinct possibly, giving me the platform to show my true potential and be highly regarded amongst my fellow colleagues.

Qualified Actuaries hold significant senior roles within large organisations, and their ability is respected and valued greatly. The examinations are tough and are designed to truly test your grasp of a wide range of topics, giving you the option to specialise in subjects, and branch out into different areas within the financial sector which actuaries occupy.

Actuaries are increasingly becoming fundamental to businesses across a wide range of sectors, and their future prospects coupled with the comparative security of the job were key factors in my decision to pursue a career as an Actuary.

When and why did you join Zurich?

I joined Zurich during September 2006, after the completion of my degree in Actuarial Science from City University, and a well deserved rest!

Zurich’s global presence was a huge driving force in my decision to join them, and their shear financial clout in the industry would provide the platform for me to gain invaluable experience in a wide variety of areas, working with a diverse group of people. Zurich truly cares about its people, be that its staff or its clients, and this was fundamentally important to me. It is structured in such a way as to promote the development of its staff, giving them extensive training and ensuring they are supported.

The Zurich graduate scheme appealed to me, as it not only provided me with the support needed to undertake the examinations, but also gave me the opportunity to meet and interact with other graduates around the country, working in different areas of the business. This has been something I have enjoyed thoroughly, and have taken great pleasure from being involved in.

Tell us about your role - how did you come to be in the position you are now? What does a typical day’s activity involve? Why do you like it?

I currently work within the Actuarial Global Corporate Reserving team in London. I was interviewed for the position both over the phone, and during a one day Assessment Centre in Fareham.

During the recruitment process, Zurich supports you and helps you to get the best out of yourself. They take account of your preferences, both in areas of work and location, and base their offer around this. I was keen to work in London, to be around the buzz that is so addictive, having been entwined in the City all my life, however, the other Zurich offices around the country offer their own distinct character and charm.

Typically, a day is never typical! I could be working on projecting reserves, part of our core work, or any number of ad hoc projects that could be trust upon me. Given the nature of our work, accuracy is fundamental, and you have to have a good eye for detail. Real business problems are never repeated, therefore the Actuary faces a constantly changing environment.

Being heavily involved in fundamental and pivotal business decisions which help shape the face of the company gives me a great sense of pride and satisfaction.

What is the environment like? The team culture? How do you work with your colleagues?

The working environment in London is open plan, allowing freedom of speech and ease of conversation, also enhancing the feeling of space. My team consists of 6 people, 3 qualified Actuaries and 3 student Actuaries, with differing levels of experience and backgrounds.

Having joined the team, my nerves and trepidations were quickly eradicated by the ease at which I was welcomed, and the warmth that was shown towards me. If I have a problem, my colleagues are more than happy to help, and go out of their way to ensure I fully understand the problem, and the steps taken to reach a solution.

Progression & Future Opportunities? - Are these clearly mapped out for you? What role do you hope / expect to move into next?

Graduates are regarded by Zurich as the future of the business, and their progression and development is considered fundamental. Working for such a multinational company, the opportunities open to staff are endless, and it is up to the individual to take advantage of these opportunities.

The future for me is not set in stone. We are given options and choices, and it is up to the individual to choose which path best suits their ambitions and expectations. The key to Zurich is no avenue is closed off, no door firmly closed. The world is your oyster, and it is up to the individual to paint their own picture, with a palette containing all the colours imaginable.

---

Back to top

Information & FAQ

Where will I be based?
The majority of our roles are based in Swindon, Fareham or Farnborough, with a limited number of roles available in London and Birmingham (please visit our website for details). Depending on the functional programme you will join, you might have to change location as part of your rotations.

For the Global Associate Programme a high level of mobility and international travel will be required.

Back to top