Apprentice L3 Financial Crime Review

The apprenticeship involves three placements over 18 months. Currently just coming to the end of the first placement. As a financial crime analyst I have been working in the name screening department where customers are checked against sanctions lists. This is to ensure that the bank does not breach sanctions that have been put in place by UK, US or EU governments.

I have developed my presentation and communication skills as a result of the missions, or assignments, that the university side of the course requires. These have involved putting together proposals and presentations on topics relevant to the role and then delivering these to the team managers. I have also developed my IT skills as the job requires access of many different systems.

The programme has been enjoyable. The role itself can be repetitive and there are very tight performance targets to achieve but the team I have been on has been very supportive and it helps having other apprentices in the same function so we can support each other and unwind virtually.

The programme has been very well structured. The university provided a schedule at the start which lists the dates of all lectures, assignment deadlines, details of the ICA examinations etc, etc. It has been structured to make sure there is not too much due at the same time. The bank side is also well organised in respect of arranging placements within the different financial crime functions.

The employer has been very supportive. To date they have had no problem with allowing me to have one day a week as a study day to focus on the non-work priorities. In addition to this, when lectures have fallen on days other than my study day I have not had to make up the time. My manager has been very helpful with my assignments, taking the time to discuss what support I might need to help.

The training provider provides a lecture before each of the assignments, part of which is devoted to the assignment and the rest more generally around the learning objectives that the assignment will focus on. They also provide lectures with the ICA to help with the professional study side of the course. The lectures could do with some improvement.

The qualification does help to focus on financial crime. It gives a much wider introduction than you get from performing whatever role you end up in. These are very focussed and you don't tend to see the bigger picture, or get a proper understanding of why we do what we do.

Due to COVID there have been face to face activities during the program. Since I started in October I haven't even been into the office. However there is a Graduate and Apprentice Network who have organised online social events. These have included quiz nights and escape rooms. Once things unlock then there will no doubt be more opportunities.

Yes

The bank is a good place to work. They treat staff wellbeing very highly. Throughout the pandemic they have been focussed on keeping staff safe and informed on what is happening well in advance. The benefits package the bank offers is also excellent. The pension contribution the bank make is very good and their is a wide range of optional benefits. The staff are also very friendly and the atmosphere has always been light but professional.

The application for the apprenticeship was the hardest process I have ever been through for a job. If you have to prepare a presentation my advice is to do plenty of reading around the subject and not focus just on the information provided. Also have a good understanding of what the different functions of the financial crime team so you can speak with confidence.