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 54,000, paid out in 12 monthly salaries
• A qualified reference will be issued at the end of the internship

The Legal and Compliance Officer 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 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) 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 programme lasts for three years
• It is a permanent position with a guarantee of continued employment on completion of the programme
• The position is located in Bern
• The workload is 100% (42-hour week)
• 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, profile E or M.

Requirements

We expect our apprentices to have very good school grades (Sek. A level at secondary school) and be interested in the dynamics of financial markets. FINMA provides motivated apprentices with a solid foundation for their professional career. We offer our apprentices a structured training programme and close supervision and development in a number of different areas. Our aim is to support successful trainees so that they can take up a permanent position once they have completed their apprenticeship.

Conditions of employment

• Apprenticeship contract for the duration of the apprenticeship (usually 3 years)
• Attendance of vocational baccalaureate classes (profile M only)
• Coverage of the cost of attending these classes (travel costs, materials, language exams)
• The place of work for the duration of the apprenticeship is Bern
• The workload is 100% (42-hour week)
• 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