Career development and entry level

With only three levels of senior management, FINMA has a relatively flat hierarchy. Our managers are often also specialists in their field. Each level of senior management has specialist functions which are on a par with management functions.

Our career models and staff development tools are always focused on encouraging specialists and managers. In recent years, FINMA has successfully filled more than half of all senior specialist and management positions internally.

It is important for customised career development that managers and staff are aware of each other’s expectations and development plans and can discuss their personal prospects within a suitable framework. FINMA has created the possibility of a perspectives dialogue for this very purpose. Staff or line managers can trigger one of these at any time and carry out a status review and plan development.

In addition to encouraging all staff, FINMA has also set up an internal potential development programme. This ensures there is long-term planning in place for the next generation of specialists and managers. Those taking part in the potential development programme are given a mentor and receive focused encouragement and opportunities with external training, project work and secondments.

Secondments are a special form of professional development. These involve working or training assignments lasting several months within FINMA or at Swiss or international organisations with which FINMA has close ties. Employees gain specialist insights as well as valuable experience outside FINMA.

FINMA regularly offers internships in various divisions to master’s graduates with very good grades; these normally last 9-12 months. Over this time period you can expect varied and challenging activities.

Requirements

• Graduated with very good grades in law and/or economics
• Interested in financial markets
• Able to express yourself well orally and in writing
• Familiar with standard IT software and able to work accurately, independently and with focus

Conditions of employment

• Interns work in Bern or Zurich, depending on where their team is located
• The workload is 100% (42-hour week)
• The annual salary is CHF 55,000, paid out in 12 monthly salaries
• A qualified reference will be issued at the end of the internship

The “Legal and Compliance Officer“ trainee programmes are broadly based and target very well-qualified lawyers who have been admitted to the bar or who hold a doctorate and are looking to raise their profile as generalists in financial market law. Participants in the three-year trainee programme get a real insight into various areas within FINMA. This allows them to deepen their knowledge in the respective areas “on the job”. They take responsibility and help shape the way in which FINMA carries out its supervisory activities.

The Asset Management/Markets (anti-money laundering and financial market infrastructures) trainee programme encompasses institutional asset management, combating money laundering and financial crime, trading venues and post-trading, and investigating authorised and unauthorised activities.

The Asset Management/Banks/Enforcement programme encompasses the licensing of institutions such as securities firms, fund management companies, asset managers and depositories, authorising collective investment schemes and working on bank licensing, legislative amendments and other regulatory projects.

Conditions of employment

• The trainee programme lasts for three years
  
• The position is located in Bern
• The workload is 100% (42-hour week)
• The annual salary is CHF 130'000, paid out in 12 monthly salaries
• A qualified reference will be issued when the employee moves to the next section/division

The newly created “Digital and Analytics” trainee programme is aimed at master’s graduates in computer science, data science, mathematics, physics or similar courses of study from 1 January 2024. It offers a comprehensive and varied practical introduction “on the job” and imparts specialist knowledge from the supervisory areas as well as know-how on digitalisation, automation and data processing. As a trainee, you will contribute your expertise and help FINMA develop its digital strategy. We are looking for highly ambitious graduates and offer you the opportunity to build and deepen your skills and experience in a wide range of financial market topics. The programme provides a solid introduction and is an ideal basis for a further career in the financial sector.

The programme comprises four assignments of nine months each in data-driven supervision. You will work in the areas of asset management, banking, risk management at insurance companies and in the FINMA IT department on the further development of analysis and rating applications.

Conditions of employment

• The trainee programme lasts for three years
• The place of work is Bern or Zurich
• The workload is 100% (42-hour week)
• The annual salary is CHF 110'000, paid out in 12 monthly salaries
• A qualified reference will be issued when the employee moves to the next section/division

We also train apprentices. Every year one trainee starts their training at FINMA for the Federal Certificate of Competence in basic commercial training, either with or without a vocational baccalaureate (BM1).

Requirements

• Very good school grades at secondary level
  
• High willingness to learn at school
  
• Motivation to lay the ideal foundations for a professional career

We offer

• Structured training programme
  
• Close supervision and targeted support in all 6 areas
  
• Permanent employment after successful completion of the apprenticeship is the goal

Conditions of employment

• Apprenticeship contract for the duration of the apprenticeship (3 years)
  
• Attendance of vocational baccalaureate classes (BM1)
  
• Coverage of the cost of attending these classes (travel costs, materials, language exams)
  
• The place of work is Bern
  
• Six weeks’ holiday per calendar year (up to the age of 20)
  
• Annual salary in line with the recommendations of the Swiss Association of Commercial Employees (German)

We look forward to receiving your digital application via FINMA Jobs