What a start at Westpac can do for you
It's important we get the right person for the job, but it's equally important you feel that Westpac is the right place for you.
Benefits of the Westpac graduate programme include:
gaining practical business experience with a major corporate organisation- the ability to try different roles and flexibility to explore business areas you might not have considered
- comprehensive orientation, on-the-job training and access to both internal and external training courses to support your career goals
- having a manager who acts as a mentor and ensures you get the training and development support you need
- career development support-you may be able to further your study if you wish
- a competitive income and a number of staff benefits such as preferential banking packages and superannuation scheme
- some graduate positions based in more rural areas or other metropolitan areas other than Auckland, offering some opportunity for travel
- successfully completing the programme could lead to a permanent position
Who are we?
- Westpac has been a proud part of New Zealand history and community since 1861.
- over 1.2 million customers
- around 200 branches and 500 ATMs nationwide
- around 900,000 registered users of our Online Banking service - performing 3 million transactions online (June 2009)
- over 5,500 staff
- committed to social and environmental sustainability and engaging with our local communities and businesses
- supporting New Zealand communities through regional and national sponsorship
Create your journey - Our graduate programmes
Generalist Programme
Get an overview of Banking across a number of core business units across the organisation plus practical experience in core skills to aid professional development.
An exciting new programme where you will get exposure to key business units across the bank and gain real insight into what banking is all about!
At Westpac, our team is made up of around 5,500 professionals. We are all bankers whether we work in the frontline facing customers, or in one of the many functions behind the scenes that support them.
In the Westpac Generalist Programme you will be provided with opportunities that will challenge you and give you the chance to find where your passions lie and the opportunity to follow them through. You will be mentored across your graduate journey by some of the very best in the business and backed by a company with people at the very heart of everything it does.
What does the Programme Encompass:
This 24 month programme is based in Auckland
You’ll receive a broad understanding of the responsibilities, challenges and functions that make Westpac a successful organisation.
The five-six rotation structure over the period could include time in any of the following areas:
- Private Wealth & Insurance
- Risk Management
- Human Resources
- Retail Bank
- Business Banking
- Customer & Technology Services
- Strategy
You will working on key projects, strategies and initiatives and get close to our customers. This 2 year programme will give you the tools and the exposure to really get ahead.
What you will need:
Candidates will need a minimum of a Bachelors Degree – ideally with a finance or commerce focus; however your passion for the industry, customers and Westpac are equally as important. To be eligible you must have graduated no earlier than 2010.
Analytics Programme
Gain an understanding and appreciation of how departments interact in a large organisation using common data to enable organisational growth.
About Analytics in Westpac
Four main areas specialise in producing insight reporting and statistical models to assist the Westpac business nationwide, in developing a greater understanding of customer behaviour and product performance.
- Customer Segments and Strategy
- Product Analytics
- Risk Analytics
- Business Information Group
The analytics teams are instrumental in ensuring that Westpac offers competitive products to customers, through providing insight to our customer behaviours. Information is shared across our product development and marketing and brand teams, enabling our Retail and Business banking divisions to deliver many solutions to Westpac’s diverse customer base. The teams also interact with our Group head office to ensure the sharing of best practices globally.
What does the programme encompass:
- Located in Auckland, the 12 month programme is based on a rotation structure with time in
- Risk Analytics – Risk Management
- Business Information Group - Finance
- Segments and Strategy - Marketing and Brand Experience
In addition to rotations you will be involved with projects throughout the year and required to present key learning’s to the leadership team.
What you’ll need:
A minimum of a Bachelors Degree ideally in Science or Finance with a focus on Computer Science or Statistics
Institutional Bank - Financial Markets Programme
Receive a broad understanding of the responsibilities, challenges and functions within a financial markets business, to assist you in selecting a future career path within our Institutional Bank.
About Westpac Institutional Bank
Westpac Institutional Bank (WIB) services the financial needs of corporations, institutions and government clients based in, or having interests in, Australia and New Zealand.
WIB specialist industry teams work across these industries:
- Large corporates
- Financial institutions
- Health & Government
- Industrials & materials
- Infrastructure & utilities
- Corporate banking
Our dedicated industry teams are supported by specialised expertise in:
- Financial Markets
- Debt Capital Markets
- Corporate Finance
- Transactional Banking
An extensive network of branches and subsidiaries offers our clients support in the many geographical locations where they conduct their business. This extends beyond New Zealand and Australia, into the international markets of New York, London, Tokyo, Singapore and Hong Kong, with further representation in Thailand, Indonesia and China.
Our mission is to be our customers’ first choice by:
- Knowing our customers and anticipating their needs
- Delivering effective and consistently high quality solutions
What does the programme encompass:
You’ll receive experience and insight into our business, through a number of positions rotated throughout the programme:
- The number and nature of rotations will depend on your background and interest
- You’ll be based in Auckland or Wellington on the 12 month programme
Agribusiness Programme
Obtain an overview of banking in the rural sector, along with practical experience in key learning areas such as financial analysis, credit principles and deal structuring.
About Agribusiness
Westpac is committed to the long-term future of the agricultural sector in New Zealand. Our dedicated team of 105 rural specialists based from Whangarei to Invercargill ensures that our 3,500 customers get the best Agribusiness banking solutions.
We offer a full range of farm finance options, services and solutions to the farming industry. Our industry sponsorships and initiatives include:
- Equity partnership workshops
- New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards
- Federated Farmers of New Zealand Inc.
- Mystery Creek field days
- Sheep & beef monitor farms
- Whareroa Research Centre
- Northland Farm Trust
Westpac has strong involvement with leading Agribusiness corporate and the rural service industry, attributing to over 14% market share and $4.2 billion in loans to NZ farmers.
What does the programme encompass:
- You’ll receive exposure to different agricultural disciplines and experts within these areas. In addition to your development objectives you will have an opportunity to work on a rural industry paper for the Agribusiness unit throughout the year.
- Based in provincial locations over the 12 month programme, you may be required to move office or region. (Some location assistance is provided)
What you’ll need:
A minimum of a Bachelors Degree in Applied Science or Commerce with a major in an agricultural field.
For more information and to check out our video on our Graduate Programmes click here
Risk Programme
Westpac has a team of risk specialists dedicated to assisting the business in managing risk across the entire organisation.
About Risk in Westpac
At Westpac, risk is everyone’s business – whether you deal directly with customers or support customer facing roles. The range of decisions is enormous, from advising an employee about managing a project, or deciding whether to provide a customer with a home loan or raise concerns about suspected money laundering.
Whatever the situation, it is vital that every decision is appropriately made, well thought out, and takes into account all relevant factors and information. Not doing this can be costly to the bank both in dollar terms and reputation.
The 12 month programme is located in Auckland and is based on a three rotation structure including time in Risk Analytics, Recoveries and Asset Management, Operational Risk & Compliance and Retail and Business Credit.
What you will need to stand out:
Candidates will need a minimum of a Bachelors Degree - ideally in Finance, Economics or Law as well as strong aptitude in numeric reasoning and analytics.
Private, Wealth & Insurance Programme
The Private, Wealth & Insurance (PWI) business unit includes: Private Bank, Investment Advisory Service (Wealth), BT Funds Management NZ, and Insurance.
This graduate programme is designed to provide a broad understanding of the extensive responsibilities within the PWI business unit including exploring your financial planning skills, gaining a greater understanding of financial markets, developing your analytical skills, and building on your investment and insurance product knowledge.
Private, Wealth & Insurance incorporates three key businesses, they are:
- Investment Advisory Service: this business provides investment advice, Financial Planning, and investment solutions to enhance our customer’s financial future. The five key teams are:
- Investment Advisory: regional based investment specialists
- Operations, Products & Advice: including para-planning, research & development, and market analysis
- BTNZ - specialists in Managed Funds and Superannuation Plans.
- Private Bank: this business provides a relationship managed channel for our high net clients’ personal banking needs. This business also includes ‘Our Bank’, the recently refreshed banking channel for Westpac employees.
- Insurance: Westpac Life is a diverse business which provides actuarial, product management, underwriting claims and services to Westpac customers.
Qualifications:
Candidates will need a minimum of a Bachelors Degree in Finance, Business, or Economics.
Recent Grads
Hayley Sutcliffe – Customer & Technology Services Graduate
I started on the CTS Graduate Programme at the beginning of 2009 after studying a Bachelor of Management Studies (BMS) at the University of Waikato with a double major in Finance and Economics.
A major draw card for the Westpac Grad programme was the opportunity to explore different functions of a bank, and my two years on the CTS Grad programme delivered the variety I was after. In my first year I was part of the Simplification Team (process improvement), Infrastructure Services (the communicators between IT and the business) and the CTS Internal Communications team. I spent my final year of the grad programme on one of Westpac's strategic priority projects, Linc NZ, which gave me exposure to the Project Management world and the importance of Westpac's relationship with the Reserve Bank of New Zealand.
I've found one of the real benefits to the Westpac Grad Programme is the exposure graduates have to senior leaders. Day one on the job I was paired with a mentor who coached and pushed me to be the best. Although I'm no longer a grad the personal development and learning opportunities haven't ceased. Ensuring that the bank has effective future leaders for Westpac is something the bank takes seriously and I've experienced this first hand. I'm involved in a new initiative GENW; a group of 15 young future leaders from across the business pulled together to develop leadership skills and provide fresh ideas and innovative thinking to the way Westpac does banking. We have attended Westpac's strategy conferences, senior leader briefings and have had a leadership session with All Blacks captain Richie McCaw...something to tick off the bucket list!
As cliché as it sounds, the people you work with really makes a difference. The culture in CTS is infectious, I love working in a team who are passionate about delivering a positive experience for our customers. At times the work can be really challenging, so working with people who have the same values and are driven to achieve the same goal is encouraging.
Since finishing the programme I have taken a role as a Project Manager within IT Solutions Delivery. I am still working on Linc NZ, but am involved with other projects such as the annual Westpac Chopper Appeal and Technology Innovation. It's great because the variety offered to me as a graduate hasn't been lost!
Morgan Morris – Business Banking Graduate
I have completed a Bachelor of Management Studies with first class honours and a Bachelor of Law, from the University of Waikato in 2010. I studied an array of subjects including strategic leadership, organisation business management, business ethics, strategic innovation, information technology, economics, corporate law, insolvency, evidential law, corporate mergers and acquisitions.
With a desire to enter into a corporate environment coupled with Westpac’s prestigious graduate programme, applying for a position within the Business Banking division was an easy choice. I began my graduate programme in Business Central in Hamilton in July 2010. I was fortunate to spend the first two months shadowing senior level business managers across different units of the bank (Retail, Agribusiness, Wealth, Business Development, Institutional and Private Bank), meeting with clients and experiencing the day to day activities that are involved in relationship management.
I am currently working in the mid-market division of Business Bank as an analyst. This role requires me to assist with the management of portfolios between 20 and 60 customers. My chosen degrees and papers have proved extremely useful in my career so far, by providing a foundation for new and exciting skills that I am learning everyday.
I have received continuous support from my Westpac mentors, managers and colleagues, with regular meetings and get–togethers to reflect and discuss future learning. Being part of the graduate programme is a highly recognised achievement throughout the organisation, which has given me the opportunity to discuss my future with numerous senior managers who are more than willing to help me attain my goal.
Later in the year I will be completing rotations in the corporate banking division and property finance unit to further enhance and build my skills. I am thoroughly enjoying the graduate programme and am extremely eager and excited about the future opportunities that await me.
Nathyn Flynn – Analytics Graduate
I studied at the University of Auckland and completed a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Science with majors in Finance and Statistics.
Along with a few others I was invited along to one of the Westpac graduate programme assessment centres after applying in my final year of University. Thanks to the friendly people, nerves were quickly overcome and I left the day with a sense that Westpac was a place I was keen to work. The next day I was offered a role, which I accepted on the spot. It was great to be contacted so soon and not have to endure days of waiting.
I began on the Analytics graduate programme in February 2009 with rotations in the Business Information Group, Risk Analytics and Customer Intelligence. Once I found my feet, I got involved in helping out on value adding projects with tangible benefits for the business. In Risk Analytics I took over the Management Reporting and within weeks of being in the team I was providing the banks Executives with insight and information about the quality of our loan portfolios. Given this was at the height of the Global Financial Crisis, the learning was hugely interesting. I also had daily interaction with colleagues from Westpac Group in Sydney. I was also given my own project to run on the side. I worked with multiple parts of the business to gain a better understanding of the risks associated with our small-to-medium sized business customers. It was great to be able to have a piece of work to take ownership of and stamp my name on.
During my rotation in the Customer Intelligence team within Marketing, I was again tasked with a real business problem – profiling a group of over 160,000 customers within the Retail Bank. I used statistical modelling techniques to subset the customers into three distinct groups. This provided the business with a better understanding of their product holdings and general banking behaviour allowing us to provide more suitable and tailored banking solutions to the customers.
At the end of my graduate programme, I was offered a 12 month secondment in the Chief Executive’s Office. This was a fantastic opportunity to work closely with the CEO and Executive Team to really understand how all the parts of the bank fit together. The role was varied and provided huge insight into the banks strategy, financial performance, the workings of senior management, corporate governance, and the responsibilities and thinking that goes along with being a CEO. While at times the role was stressful and the hours long, the learning was immense and valuable especially so early in my career. I also developed a large network of contacts across the bank which has already proven to be an extremely useful resource.
I have recently started a role in Market Risk, which I guess is my first “permanent” role since joining Westpac. I am part of a small team of two based in the dealing room in Auckland. We provide oversight of market risk, liquidity risk and financial market credit risk for Westpac NZ and WIB NZ’s financial market and treasury business. Since studying Finance at University I have been keen to learn more about the financial markets, and this role will help me to do that. It is quite different from my previous role and I once again have a lot to learn, but that is indicative of the variety that an organisation such as Westpac has to offer.
For more information and to check out our Graduate Profiles please visit our website www.westpac.co.nz/gradrecruitment
Westpac's Culture
Westpac has made a public commitment to measuring and improving our impact in far more than just financial performance.
We are heavily involved in the local community, and speak to any Westpac staff member and they will tell you how passionate they are about make a difference.
Westpac gives its people the opportunity to volunteer in their community by providing them with a paid days leave each year to get involved.
We are also national sponsors of the Westpac rescue helicopter services across the country where last year we raised over 1 million dollars through donations and fund-raising initiatives.
We are key sponsors of the Sir Peter Blake Trust which aims to help New Zealanders make a positive difference to the planet and the Halberg Trust which aims to honour sporting excellence and provide opportunities for disabled people to be active.
Westpac is an elite sponsor of Fashion Week, which includes the highly regarded Red Collection, an exclusive fashion show featuring some of New Zealand's best designers.
Here at Westpac we work hard, but there is a fantastic social culture too! There are always a number of events to get involved in from “steam ship idol” to round the bays and a number of local and team events.
Westpac is so much more than a bank – we are a team of passionate and motivated employees making the most out of life.
