Early Talent
Salary £35,000 (per annum)
Starts September 2025
Duration 2 years
Qualifications required Already obtained or are on course to achieve a 2:1 degree
Our role is to make sure we’re doing the right thing as an organisation – for our people and our customers. Risk management allows us to strike a balance between taking risks and reducing them.
It’s our responsibility to manage risk across the bank, ensuring we have the right culture, strategy and rules in place. We also manage interactions with key regulators, providing trusted advice to the colleagues who are serving our customers.
Every area of our business is different – they each need their own skillsets, their own challenges, their own nuances. What better way to find out what working in a business area is like, than from the people who already work there?
See what Sonia thinks about their experience in Risk.
Text: Tell us about your experience as a Risk Graduate
Sonia Klein, Risk Graduate: Hi, my name is Sonia and I’m from Connecticut in the U.S.. Before I started the Risk Graduate programme and started my career journey at NatWest, I didn’t quite realise how far-reaching the Risk function was, and how many different teams there were within risk – the diversity of different roles and skills that were necessary to be a good Risk Manager. I was quite excited to build the quantitative side, but also a bit nervous about that side of things because it’s not my strength. But actually in Risk, it’s really important that you have a full suite of skills, and they help you build all of those during the Graduate programme, and it’s really encouraging and really great because it means that there’s going to be a place in the bank, especially within Risk, for anybody.
Text: Tell us about the support you’ve received on your Graduate programme?
Sonia: There’s a huge array of people who are in place to help support you, especially in the Graduate programme. You’ve got a grad coach, you’ve got Your graduate manager, and of course you’ve got your graduate buddy, so any problems that you’ve got, or any difficulties you’re having, you’ve always got someone to reach out to no matter big or small. At the end of the day, you’re not going to be running the bank as a graduate, so it’s a really great kind of scot-free opportunity to get stuck in and make mistakes, and learn as much as you can.
Text: Why should I apply for the Graduate programme?
Sonia: The main objective of any graduate program is to teach you and train you. It is for you to take interest and to learn as much as possible. Our colleagues in general are incredibly receptive to change and they’re always looking to make improvements, so just by being your own advocate, or advocating for others, you have the power to really make change and improve things. It gives you a lot of opportunity as a risk employee to to learn and grow, and to learn about how the different areas of the bank function and interact, and how you as a risk employee can help all of those functions to work better and to work more seamlessly, and protect the interests of our customers and the interests of the bank.
There are two routes you can choose to take on our Risk Graduate programme.
Our Risk Management programme will give you a breadth of experience across the Risk function, offering insight and experience in business areas like credit risk, financial crime, strategic risk, operational risk and regulatory compliance to name a few. It would suit someone with a curious mindset who can analyse data, assess risks and advise stakeholders while developing your quantitative and qualitative skills.
On our Risk Model Specialist programme, you’ll be building, testing and monitoring financial models to understand and analyse patterns across our customer lifecycle. You’ll have opportunities to develop your coding and quantitative skills, and see first-hand how the results of your modelling deliverables inform the bank’s strategic decision-making. You’ll also learn about new technology developments, emerging regulations and new strategic risks.
Your go-to person for support and guidance during your first six months. They’ll be readily available to answer questions, provide advice and help you connect with peers.
They’ll be with you across your graduate journey, providing guidance, feedback and support to help you achieve your goals and develop your skills.
They’ll work alongside you to set your goals, offer feedback and support your growth.
Your graduate colleagues are on the journey with you and there will be plenty of opportunities to connect and support each other.
Our Risk Management programme is your chance to build on your critical thinking, influencing and decision-making abilities. You’ll work on your project and change management skills, and gain an understanding of banking regulations and economic market activity.
Our Risk Model Specialist programme is your opportunity to learn the skills it takes to analyse and interpret data, and design, build and validate models that estimate the risk of future losses for us and our customers.
To get an idea of where this programme could lead, previous graduates have gone on to roles such as:
Find a role that’s right for you
A work scenarios assessment
A problem solving, numerical and reasoning skills assessment
Record your response to questions about experience and potential
A full day of virtual activities
Feedback on the outcome of your application
Explore our step by step application guide for top tips and advice to support your success.
Join our Early Talent community, and we’ll let you know when to start applying.
Get on the listWe all bring our own uniqueness to work, and why shouldn’t we. We’re encouraged to do so. Meet our colleagues and find out a little more about the people you could be working with.
