BACKGROUND

Since April 1988 i.e. the date the original Financial Services Act 1986 came into force, introducing the first pro-active Financial Services Regulatory Regime in the UK (and one of the first globally), Compliance has long since become established as a career path in its own right (together with related disciplines e.g. Anti Money Laundering).

It is also a relatively well paid & secure profession and offers a variety of challenges & interest on a daily basis unmatched in many other even high level roles. However unlike some other professions it has no definitive guaranteed entry routes which leads to two main issues;

a) How does a future compliance officer gain the first few months experience that can attract a firm to employ them permanently and properly start their career?

b) In comparison to better known careers (e.g. accountancy, front office, law etc) how does an individual who may be unsure of whether they are interested in or suited to this type of work decide whether to commit to a move into the sector?

NB For anyone looking to break into Compliance, we strongly recommend studying for the ICA Certificate in Compliance (see http://www.int-comp.org) both as evidence of commitment to a future employer as well as the benefit of technical knowledge

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this function is to offer a no charge service to help overcome both the above two issues, whether for an individual who is committed to breaking into the sector or alternatively one aware of the attractiveness of a career in the sector (e.g. via a family friend or relative) but with little knowledge of what it involves.

Even if the experience is not built on to develop a full Compliance career, the time spent should be of value in proving to any other future employer that the individual has had some useful work experience in an office based professional discipline.

OVERVIEW

Our aim is to run this as far as possible via the web, administered by our Office Manager Patricia D’Arcy (previously a Temporaries Recruitment Consultant) and overseen by our Managing Director, David Symes FCA. However as we are willing to offer this on a no charge basis, it is important you follow the processes laid out below particularly that we cannot accept phone calls from applicants nor enter into regular email correspondence

HOW – APPLICANTS

Please email only with a basic CV (name, address, daytime contact no/mobile, full details of all education with grades and any previous work experience of any type) together with a covering email outlining;

a) when you would be available (starting date and for how long)

b) why you have an interest in Compliance or AML (and be honest e.g. if from studies, if because of a parent or other relative/friend etc)

c) if you would accept unpaid experience (though some firms may offer to meet fares and/or lunches) or if you need to earn a set amount and what that may be – remember internships are more about experience not maximising short term income thus the more realistic you are the more likely you may find a placement – and of course if it is a full year internship (not just summer vacation) then that would always include a basic salary

Please send through to interns@compliancerecruitment.com stating “Initial Application” in the title line. Sorry – this is a web based no charge service for applicants thus no phone calls can be accepted (although if you have a friend or relative already known to CRS - whether as an experienced candidate, a client or otherwise known to us - then please ask that person to liaise with their usual contact at CRS in the first instance)

HOW - FIRMS/ORGANISATIONS

This whole process is dependant on finding departments or firms willing to offer some experience to individuals. It was generated by the experience over many years both of seeing firms always short of entry level candidates with something relevant or special to offer – and also the higher degree of success enjoyed by those candidates who had gained even a small amount of vacation experience of AML or Compliance (even in a very different type of company they at least understood why the Regulators existed and had some exposure to the broad disciplines & processes involved).

Thus if you feel you can offer some experience in your department (likely minimum of six weeks) then please contact us confirming whether you would be willing to offer experience only (+/- fares & lunch) or some form of paid work and at what rate (NB this should not of course be viewed as an attempt to obtain cheap labour nor to avoid a commercial introduction fee for a real temporary need – however if you employ a genuine intern during their studies then re-employ them after they have completed their full time studies then no fee would due)

In the first instance please email interns@compliancerecruitment.com (or if any queries as an employer call 020 7330 6960 to discuss/explore possibilities further)

DISCLAIMER/STATEMENT OF LIABILITY & RESPONSIBILITY – PLEASE READ

This is a genuine attempt after 20 years in the Compliance sector to offer something back to the current and future Compliance community. However, as this internship service is offered free of charge, we will neither be able to interview applicants nor check their references (whether relating to employment, education, or otherwise) and do not warrant the quality or integrity of either the applicants or the employing organisations.

All liability is excluded to the fullest extent permitted by law in respect of any loss or damage (whether direct, indirect or consequential and including, but not limited to, loss of profits, business interruption, damages, costs, expenses or other claims) arising out of or in connection with use of the internship service or this website.

As with the other services offered on our website, use of this section of the website and of the internship service is subject to our privacy policy and, where appropriate, our standard terms of business, both of which may be amended from time to time. We will not release the names or contact details of applicants to any employing organisation without express prior permission from the applicant.

As this service is offered free of charge, we reserve the right to suspend or cancel the provision of the service to any particular applicant or employing organisation for any reason whatsoever.

This service is orientated towards – though not restricted to – undergraduates. However, we cannot facilitate internships/work experience for people under 18 or those still in full-time secondary education.

By submitting a CV (if you are an applicant) or an offer of work experience (if you are an employing organisation) you agree to be bound by these terms.