Risk
Be part of cultivating Westpac's competitive edge in the market by striking the right balance between protecting and optimising business.
What we do for our customers
We deliver a superior customer experience by being Trusted Partners, offering leadership and oversight in sound risk management.
As Fast Enablers, we collaborate widely to make Westpac the preferred bank. We build trusted relationships and drive innovation to deliver the best solutions for our customers.
We support a sustainable business by fostering a strong risk culture and delivering the best outcomes through collaboration, smart risk-taking, and constructive challenge.
Important information
As a graduate in our Risk Division, you'll rotate through different teams, gaining an understanding of risk management. You'll work alongside experienced professionals in teams collaborating on risk matters such as:
Compliance: Ensuring adherence to regulatory requirements and internal policies.
Cyber Risk: Safeguarding our systems and information from cyber threats.
Data Risk: Managing and protecting the integrity and confidentiality of our data assets.
Credit Risk: Analysing and managing the risk of lending to individuals and businesses.
Market Risk: Monitoring and mitigating risks related to market fluctuations and financial instruments.
Operational Risk: Identifying and addressing risks arising from internal processes, systems, and external events.
Financial Crime: Helping to safeguard the bank and our customers by identifying, mitigating and managing threats such as bribery, corruption, terrorism and money-laundering.
You’ll experience a holistic learning journey as all rotations are fully supported with on-the-job training, impactful project work, practical development workshops, and keynote events. Elevate your risk knowledge, capabilities, and skills across all facets of our program.
12-month program with 3 x 4-month rotations
Immerse yourself in a 12-month program with rotations designed to provide diverse experiences and insights to inform your Risk career.
We believe in empowering our graduates to shape their career paths. You’ll have the opportunity to customise the experience by submitting your preference for a rotation within our dynamic Risk teams.
Sydney, NSW Based Program.
We’re looking for graduates who are:
- Continually learning: Committed to being at the forefront of skills development.
- Technologically savvy: Comfortable adopting the latest tools and technologies.
- Data literate: Skilled in analyzing and interpreting data to make informed decisions.
- Compliance aware: Knowledgeable about regulatory requirements and committed to upholding them.
- Cyber-smart: Interested in identifying and mitigating cyber risks.
- Difference makers: Passionate about stepping up, making a positive impact in the world of risk management.
- Strategic and innovative: Able to think ahead, bring fresh ideas to the table and challenge solvers.
- Demonstrating leadership qualities: Taking the initiative to lead, inspire and actively contribute to meaningful outcomes.
Graduates from all disciplines are welcome to apply. If you're ready to make a significant impact and grow your career in a dynamic environment, we want to hear from you.
There’s ample opportunities for learning and growth to optimise your role performance and career progression, supported by Risk Business Champions, experienced leaders, and mentors. You’ll benefit from:
- Comprehensive training: Receive on the job training and mentorship from industry experts. You’ll have the option to achieve a qualification to develop crucial acumen and strengthen your ability to add value. ethically and professionally throughout your career.
- Diverse experiences: Work on real projects across various risk domains.
- Career growth: Fast-track your career with opportunities within the bank.
- Collaborative environment: Join a team that values innovation, integrity, and teamwork.
Our dedicated Risk Learning team will streamline your professional development. From enhancing your people skills and effectively collaborating in teams, to acquiring deep technical knowledge and skills in Risk, you’ll have access to a comprehensive learning suite designed to ensure your success in the Risk function.
A career in Risk could lead to roles such as:
- Business Analyst
- Modeller
- Risk Manager
- Risk/Quantitative Analyst
You will be fully supported by the colleagues and mentors you've connected with throughout your graduate experience to help you discover and achieve your career goals.
Eligibility and how to apply
We’re looking to fill our programs with original thinkers and innovators from all degrees of study. We embrace diversity, recognising the value people bring to us with their individual differences, qualities, ideas and insights.
To apply for our graduate program:
- You must be in your final year of study of a university degree.
- You must have completed an undergraduate or postgraduate degree within the past three years.
- You also need to be an Australian or New Zealand Citizen or an Australian Permanent Resident when you apply.
What you can expect
When you start
You’ll start with us as a permanent employee in February each year. Your program will vary based on the business area where you choose to work.
Throughout the program
We’ll provide loads of learning and support to help you make the most of the experience. The program is structured to help you identify your focus areas. Tailored training sessions build and strengthen your technical and soft skills - accelerating your personal and professional career development.
Day-to-day
You’ll complete a rotational program to help you to learn about different parts of your business area. It’s packed full of different roles, teams and project experiences. At the end of your program, you’ll be supported to find a role that best suits your capabilities and interests.
Expect to contribute from day one and have an impact on the business.
Expect plenty of opportunities to get involved in grad life where you can build your networks and friendships with those you work with, including business leaders, project leads and program sponsors.
Expect to be able to give back. Join numerous communities, volunteering and sustainability initiatives - rounding out your whole work life experience.
What our graduates have to say
“Joining the Westpac Risk Graduate Program has been the most rewarding experience of my early career. After studying a Bachelor of Actuarial Studies at UNSW, I applied for the Risk Grad Program at Westpac after learning about the bank, its dedication to keeping our society safe and secure, and after reading this very page that you are on now!
The 3x4 month rotations was a fantastic exposure to teams that a quant Risk Grad like me could excel in, by helping me gain new skills from modelling to key analytical insights in the treasury space and non-financial risk. This allowed me to discover how Risk is a part of everyone’s role and the impacts felt throughout the bank.
What stood out to me most was the culture – everyone from senior leaders to fellow grads, genuinely cared about my development and pushed me to achieve my “wins”.
Since rolling off the program…
I now work in the Market Risk team in WIB & Treasury risk.
Whilst I didn’t have a rotation in this team, the skills I had acquired through my rotations – banking and balance sheet insights in liquidity, modelling and coding skills in model risk, and a forward-looking risk mindset in non-financial risk – made me feel confident to join this team!”
Katherine, Risk Graduate.
“I completed a bachelor’s degree in business at the University of Technology Sydney, majoring in Finance and sub-majoring in Accounting and Business Law.
In the final year of my degree, I really wasn’t sure which career path I wanted to take. That is, until I heard about graduate programs – particularly the Westpac Risk Graduate Program.
Through my connections, I became aware of the world of risk at Westpac, so I immediately applied and after the interview process, received an offer to join one of the top programs in Australia.
The program and all the wonderful people involved, were very helpful from well before my first day at the bank. Holding meet-and-greets with my fellow risk grads and the wider graduate cohort helped me to settle in and avoid anxiety I might have had without these connections.
The program itself was very well-balanced. I completed 3 rotations and whilst being diverse was part tailored to my preference. I made many connections that will serve me well during my career, and it ultimately led to a role which inspired me, a feeling I hadn’t genuinely experienced since applying for uni.
Since rolling off the program…
I joined the Financial Crime Transaction Monitoring team and had the privilege of rotating in this team during the grad program. On a broader scale found the career path I wanted to take – the one I was seeking during my uni days.
Looking back at the graduate experience, it contributed immensely to my own personal growth and really helped me transition to the corporate world.
I encourage interested students to apply for the Westpac graduate program. The bank cares deeply about the development of grads and the skills you’ll obtain during the program are invaluable.”
Dean, Risk Graduate.
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