RSM is a leading audit, tax and consulting adviser to the middle market, globally. With nearly 5,000 people operating from 30 locations across the UK, we have a culture of understanding what it means to deliver value, and to value what we do.

Our people are our future. It’s their skills, energy and ideas that allow us to achieve our goals and make a change where it matters most.

Financial services regulation and compliance – get the career you want at RSM

Our financial services graduate apprenticeship programme will give you all the skills and support you need to unlock a future that’s packed with opportunities and new experiences. You’ll enjoy a fast-tracked business career that recognises your potential and rewards your ambition.

When you join our team, you’ll enjoy a powerful combination of on-the-job learning and structured training – not to mention an impressive client list to work with. You’ll discover a culture that nurtures individuality and an environment where everyone is supported to reach their potential. With us, you’ll always be moving forward.

What does our financial services regulation and compliance team do?

Our financial services team provide assurance services to a wide range of financial services businesses, including regulatory compliance assessments, risk management development and internal audit. The provision of assurance is an independent and objective activity designed to add value and improve an organisation’s operations. It helps an organisation accomplish its objectives by bringing a systematic, disciplined approach to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of risk management, control and governance.

What can you expect?

At RSM, you’ll be a key member of our team from day one. You’ll get involved in client work very quickly, initially working as part of a larger team before taking on individual responsibility for projects. You will gain knowledge of how different organisations work including banks, building societies, insurance firms, consumer finance provides and investment managers. Having this exposure gives you a great foundation to build your business knowledge.

The role will be part of our large and growing financial services internal audit team, where you will undertake internal audits on behalf of our clients. You will work closely with senior managers, directors and partners throughout the planning and delivery of the audit work and from day one will have exposure to the planning, testing and reporting stages of each piece of work.

We have a varied client base, for which we deliver work either ad-hoc or as part of an annual cycle. We visit our clients to undertake fieldwork which results in documenting controls, testing strategies and our findings. Reports are then written to provide the client with the observations, recommendations for action and overall opinion. You’ll be advising clients on how they can better manage their strategic, financial, operational and regulatory risks as well as helping to identify efficiencies which will help add value to the client’s internal processes. This allows you direct access to senior stakeholders at our clients from early on in your career as you represent RSM as a trusted advisor.

Often, you will travel straight from home to your clients, which can be up to 1 hour 30 minutes away, with the option, depending on the needs of the business and our clients, when not working at client sites to work in your nearest RSM office or from home as appropriate.

RSM’s graduate programme in financial services is infinitely varied, interesting and rewarding. No client is the same so you’ll be constantly challenged. Alongside hands-on experience, you’ll benefit from on-the-job training from more senior members of the team and gain access to our internal training courses that will help you develop in the role. With our support, you’ll become a true trusted adviser to your clients in the future.

When you join this team, you’ll work towards your professional qualifications by completing a 4-year graduate apprenticeship programme. This consists of the CIA qualification (Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors) for the first two years, followed by the CMIIA for the remaining two years.

We do offer a limited number of vacancies to study towards the ACA qualification with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales (ICAEW), or your Chartered Accountancy (CA) qualification with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS) or with Chartered Accountants Ireland (CAI). Please note, only graduates with 112 UCAS points across 3 A Levels (or an equivalent level 3 qualification), or 104 UCAS points across 4 Scottish Highers/Advanced Highers or Irish Leaving Certificate (Higher Level) will be eligible for this and are subject to availability.

Study options will be discussed with you during the assessment process.

What we look for

Members of the financial services team spend a lot of time working independently, so we’re on the lookout for enthusiastic self-starters who are quick to learn and always up for a challenge. You’ll be working on a wide variety of projects, so it’s important that you’re adaptable, highly organised and have great attention to detail. Strong verbal and written communication skills are essential as you’ll be communicating at all levels, often explaining complex information both in meetings and in written reports.

If that sounds like you, we know you’ll enjoy being part of our team.

Entry requirements

At RSM, we don’t just look for good exam results. We think passion, personality and originality are just as important.

You will need:

96 UCAS points across 3 A Levels or an equivalent level 3 qualification, or 104 UCAS points across 4 Scottish Highers/Advanced Highers or Irish Leaving Certificate (Higher Level)

and;

A predicted/obtained honours degree

For all roles outside of Central London, we require successful candidates to have obtained both a full UK driving licence and regular access to a vehicle by the time they come to the end of their 6-month settling in period with RSM. For London roles access to a car is desirable but not essential.

Please note, RSM does not accept General Studies, AS levels or the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ).