Policy, Legal and Advice Graduate Program (Feb 2025)

What it does: Regulates the financial services industry
Staff stats: Around 820
The good bits: A job like no other - Unique, Interesting work. Ability to meet top executives across the industry. A role where you can give back, and have a positive impact on the Australian financial system. A rotational program where you can influence your journey. Develop yourself both technically and personally, in a culture that cares. 
The not-so-good bits: We need to be mindful being Government, and reputational risk, so there are a number of meetings before we finalise our work. Potentially not as many ‘perks' as private sector roles.
Hiring grads with degrees in: Commerce, Actuarial, Engineering, Mathematics, STEM, IT & Computer Sciences; Finance, Accounting, Economics & Business Administration; Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences; Law & Legal Studies 

What to expect

The APRA Graduate Program is one of the most in-depth and diverse in the financial services industry.

Our Graduate Program runs for 15 months. During this time you will complete three five-month rotations across a number of our teams including frontline supervision, risk, policy and advice, or data analytics. This program gives you the opportunity to build the core foundations of prudential regulation.

Alongside these rotations, you will be supported by an in-depth learning and development program, including access to an extensive range of in-house training programs. These are designed to support you to grow your technical and personal capabilities and help jump-start your career as a financial professional.

Professional development is ongoing throughout your career with us. In fact, professional development is an integral part of ensuring we maintain our excellence as a regulator. As one of our graduates, you’ll benefit from:

• Being assigned a buddy - who is a graduate from the year before, and is fresh with understanding the challenges of being a graduate at APRA.
• Support from a number of managers – who manage you on each of your rotations, as well as a manager to support you for the duration of the Graduate Program.
• Working as part of an APRA team from the start.

At the end of your Graduate Program, you will remain an employee of APRA and have the opportunity to drive your career in any of APRA's core functions, including specialist areas.

Graduate placements will be available in our Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane offices.

You can watch a series of videos featuring past graduates who share their experience being involved in the APRA Graduate Program.

The Australian Prudential Regulation story

Following the privatisation and deregulation binge of the 1980s and early 1990s, the Federal Government established the Financial System Inquiry in 1996. It was tasked with proposing a regulatory system that would ensure an “efficient, responsive, competitive and flexible financial system to underpin stronger economic performance, consistent with financial stability, prudence, integrity and fairness”. (Previously Australia’s financial services industry was regulated by the Australian Financial Institutions Commission, Insurance and Superannuation Commission and Reserve Bank.)

The Financial System Inquiry recommended a statutory authority of the Federal Government be set up to oversee banks, building societies, credit unions, friendly societies, insurance companies and the superannuation industry.

On July 1 1998, the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (commonly referred to as APRA) was established to do exactly this. Ever since, it has supervised institutions holding assets for Australian bank customers, insurance policyholders and super fund members. With considerable success across two decades, APRA has ensured those entities that make up the financial services industry remain financially sound and able to meet their obligations to their clients.   

Our vision

In order to reflect APRA's forward-looking philosophy, our Vision is focused on two strategic themes: Protected today and prepared for tomorrow.

Our values

Our values underpin the critical role we play in protecting the financial well-being of the Australian community. Our values were selected to help everyone at APRA to achieve the high standards necessary for us to protect the financial well-being of the Australian community. In our work and in our interactions with others, we seek to demonstrate:

• Integrity – we act without bias, are balanced in the use of our powers, and deliver on our commitments.
• Collaboration – we actively seek out and encourage diverse points of view, to produce well-founded decisions
• Accountability – we are open to challenge and scrutiny, and take responsibility for our actions
• Respect – we are always respectful of others, and their opinions and ideas
• Excellence – we maintain high standards of quality and professionalism in all that we do

Working and acting in these ways helps us achieve the high standards necessary for us to protect the financial well-being of the Australian community. Our supervisory approach is forward-looking, primarily risk-based, consultative, consistent and in line with international best practices. This approach also recognises that management and boards of supervised institutions are primarily responsible for financial soundness.

The culture

APRA’s workplace diversity strategy “takes a pro-active and innovative approach in creating a flexible and inclusive employment environment that values and utilises the contribution of people of different backgrounds, experiences, perspectives and abilities”. APRA offers an extensive range of flexible work arrangements to allow staff to meet family and other commitments.

Social contribution

APRA staff play a vital role in protecting the financial well-being of almost every Australian citizen by overseeing around $8 trillion of bank deposits, super contributions and insurance premiums. APRA also has a workplace-giving scheme that allows donations to be taken directly from an employee’s salary. 

The vibe of the place

APRA combines most of the good aspects of the public and private sectors. Staff are well looked after but also get to enjoy a good work-life balance and an enviable degree of job security. While a clear hierarchy exists, those at the top of it are approachable. There are lots of social events and staff often go out for social occasions at the end of the working day.

The recruitment process

APRA recruits graduates who’ve achieved at least a minimum credit average in, but not limited to a discipline. Graduates from the following degrees are generally attracted to apply: actuarial studies, commerce, economics, econometrics, finance, financial modelling, law, mathematics, Engineering, public policy and statistics. Those from other disciplines may be considered if they are high achievers with impressive research and analytical skills. The grad program will be only available at APRA’s Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne offices.

Applications open: March - April Annually, and at times an additional recruitment round can be opened throughout the year. If you are interested to keep in contact, register your interest by clicking the pre-register button below

1. Apply online (March - April)
2. Psychometric assessment (April)
3. Assessment Centre (3 hours) (May)
4. Final interview (In person in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne or virtually) (June)
5. Reference check (June -July)
6. Offer or Merit List (July onwards)

Each year we often see many fabulous graduates, more than we can offer. In this instance, we inform some applicants that they are on a ‘Merit’ list. APRA uses this list should APRA increase the graduate program intake number or a graduate withdraws from the program. We also look to the Merit list before opening up a new recruitment campaign and we will keep you updated for the next 6 months regarding graduate-level opportunities across APRA. 

Remuneration

APRA’s funding is provided by the industry it regulates rather than the taxpayer, and it offers unusually lavish benefits for a public-sector employer. 

APRA's graduate starting salary is $85,000 inclusive of superannuation. APRA is focused on intensively building your capabilities, and through capability growth, on average, graduate salaries have increased 10% annually for the first few years of your career. APRA is dedicated to investing in early talent and reviews salaries comparatively with external and internal salary data. 

Our employees enjoy a range of benefits including working in a flexible, inclusive and diverse environment.

Some benefits offered to employees include:

• Health and well-being checks
• Annual flu vaccinations
• Employee Assistance Program (professional and confidential counselling sessions for employees and their immediate families)
• Wellbeing Ambassador network
• Ergonomic workstations
• Regular social events
• Subsidised corporate team sports, running events and pedometer challenge
• Discounted gym memberships

Career prospects

After finishing the grad program, we will work with you to find a team that you wish to join permanently. In joining that team, you will be promoted to the role of Analyst. APRA promotes employees on capability growth, so your path and progression are your own, following the graduate program.  You do not have to stay in a role level for a period of time before progression. APRA encourages open and honest discussions between the employee and their manager. We have numerous training courses to strengthen your skills, both personally and technically. APRA is focused on encouraging mobility; therefore you can move across teams as opportunities become available, or an opportunity to be seconded to another agency such as the RBA, ASIC, Treasury or the like.