Operational Risk Analyst - Undergraduate Programme

RWS Group; Highgate; Hybrid; GBP 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial services firm in the UK is offering a 12-month placement in their Risk Team starting July 2026. Ideal for university students in their penultimate year, this role involves supporting operational risk assessments and policy updates. Candidates should show strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and a proactive approach in their work. Benefits include a competitive salary of £24,800, flexible working arrangements, and opportunities for personal development and wellbeing initiatives.

Benefits

Competitive basic salary

Discretionary performance-related bonus

Generous pension contribution

Flexible benefit allowance

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Health & wellbeing initiatives

Qualifications

• Currently studying towards a relevant degree.
• Strong analytical capabilities to solve technical problems.
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks.

Responsibilities

• Report on Operational Risk incidents as per framework.
• Conduct root cause analysis on incidents.
• Update Risk Policies to align with the company’s needs.

Skills

Strong analytical mindset

Ability to manage multiple tasks

High attention to detail

Interest in risk and regulatory landscape

Education

Currently studying for a degree in business, economics, or finance

Job description

During your placement, you will provide support to subject matter experts within the team as they make key strategic decisions that will shape the future of VCFSUK. You'll contribute significantly to the success and future of the brand by delivering fresh ideas and viewpoints and challenging current assumptions to meet the needs of future customers - so an innovative mindset is essential. We are currently recruiting for an enthusiastic and driven 12‑month placement student within our Risk Team to join us in July 2026. The role will be a mixture of understanding business operations, translating business needs into requirements, assisting in projects from concept to completion, and learning from those around you.

Responsibilities

• Report and provide oversight on Operational Risk Incidents in line with the Operational Risk Framework and Risk Management Framework
• Conduct root cause analysis on Operational Risk Incidents
• Support with reviewing and updating Risk Policies, adapting policies from Santander to ensure that they are relevant to VCFSUK
• Support with the Risk and Controls Self‑Assessment (RCSA) and control testing programme
• Create and publish the Operational Risk and Enterprise‑wide Risk Management pack on a monthly basis
• Track and update following internal risk management forums and formal committees on a monthly basis
• Assist in the provisioning activity which is required on a monthly basis

Qualifications

• Currently studying for a degree in preferably either business, economics or finance
• Possess a strong analytical mindset with an ability to suggest solutions to technical problems
• The ability to manage multiple tasks and to prioritise
• Have high attention to detail
• An interest in risk, knowledge of or interest in regulatory landscape (both UK, European and Global standards), government policy and macro/micro economics would be beneficial
• A self‑starter who can adopt a pro‑active approach and take initiative with minimal supervision

Placement Details

Our placement is open to any university student who is in their penultimate year (those who will be returning to their final year of study after their placement with us). You should be on a sandwich degree. We have a duty of care to our people and wouldn't want you to spend a large amount of time commuting, so we require our undergraduates to be based within a reasonable radius of our Maidenhead office. The hybrid working plan requires you to be in the office a minimum of 3 days per week. Start date: Monday 6th July 2026. Length: 12 months.

Company

Volvo Car Financial Services UK (VCFSUK) is a financial services joint‑venture business, part‑owned by Volvo Cars and Santander Consumer Finance, operating across the UK Volvo retailer network and also supporting Polestar and London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC). Everything we do starts with people. It’s what makes us different from other companies.

Benefits

We offer a competitive basic salary of £24,800, a discretionary performance‑related bonus, generous pension contribution and £500 flexible benefit allowance. Hybrid working allows for greater flexibility and work‑life balance, further enabling us to reduce our environmental impact and support your personal circumstances. We offer flexible working and 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays. Health & wellbeing initiatives, charitable giving days, and continual learning and development opportunities are also available.

How to Apply

If you are a university student looking for a placement year in the tech industry, want to work somewhere where your ideas matter and you can make a real impact, then this is an opportunity for you. Apply now to take the first step in your career at VCFSUK. Locations: Marlow, Manchester, Birmingham, and others.