General Counsel Graduate Programme 2025 - UK

Who we are:

General Counsel operates as a trusted advisor to all parts of Fidelity International. Our job is to provide high-value advisory and assurance expertise through our specialist teams.

We are aligned to the Fidelity business units, Investment Solutions & Services and Global Platform Solutions, as well as providing support at the Fidelity Group level, and to other corporate enablers, such as technology and human resources.

General Counsel comprises of Legal, Risk, Compliance, Tax, and Corporate Sustainability & Enterprise Relationships, as well as our charitable arm, Fidelity Foundations. When combined with Internal Audit, we provide the 2nd and 3rd Line of Defence to the business, overseeing compliance and risk management, as well as independent assurance activities.

We’re looking for individuals who are interested in joining us on a rotational programme in our General Counsel business and seeking challenging and rewarding work.

What you’ll be doing:

We don’t expect you to come straight in and know everything about what we do.

As a graduate, and whatever you’re studying, we’ll help make sure you get the most out of your career with us.

You’ll have the opportunity to build a great professional network with senior management across the organisation as you work on high profile change and transformation projects.

The General Counsel graduate scheme will include four six-month placements across a number of teams:

• ISS Legal & Compliance

The Investment Solutions and Services Business (ISS) focuses on our core investment activities and expertise as well as our offers to professional clients and financial institutions. The ISS Legal and Compliance Team is supporting the business by providing practical advice and assistance on all relevant legal and regulatory matters as well as conduct rules.

We effectively monitor investment activities of our portfolio managers and step in if investment limits are breached or PM’s need advice. We engage regularly with our many financial regulators all over the world. We analyse new laws and regulations and help with their implementation.

• GPS Legal & Compliance

Fidelity’s Global Platform Soloutions (GPS) provides a platform where retail clients and their advisors can invest their savings in funds and other securities. It also runs the pension schemes of big companies and public sector bodies. In practice, this means GPS interacts with hundreds of thousands of end clients - providing services to them, marketing, dealing with their queries and complaints, and handling difficult issues around vulnerable clients. The GPS Legal and Compliance team supports and advises the business in all these areas.

The rules and requirements around personal investments and pensions are always developing alongside changes in society including the ageing population, increasing focus on saving in a way that is good for society and the environment, and as people need to provide for longer periods of retirement. We need to ensure we meet these standards, and that the people who invest with us can do so with confidence.

• Global Risk

The Global Risk function is responsible for the development of risk frameworks, tools and infrastructure to enable business heads to manage risk aligned to our stated risk appetite. Like many other financial service institutions, Fidelity is exposed to Strategic Risk, Financial, Non-Financial and Investment risk.

The Risk Function oversees and challenges Fidelity’s risk profile via a team of independent risk experts. Our team is highly skilled in quantitative and qualitative risk disciplines and has a deep understanding of the business. We are present around the world, and our involvement spans across all functions.

• Internal Audit

Internal Audit’s mandate is to examine and critically evaluate the effectiveness of the company’s internal controls and governance systems, as well as the adequacy of, and compliance with, regulatory obligations, internal strategies, policies, processes and reporting procedures. In addition, we help management and the Board to fulfil their oversight responsibilities through effective challenge to help them identify, assess and commercially manage the company’s risk.

How you’ll be supported:

You’ll start the graduate programme with a comprehensive induction, where you’ll be introduced to investment management and how it fits into the City and the financial markets. After this, you’ll rotate across different teams to build your skills and knowledge.

Support is part of our culture, so you’ll have a buddy and a mentor to help you whenever you need. And you’ll join a close-knit early careers community, with plenty of social and networking events to help you find your feet and feel at home.

What we’re looking for:

It’s who you are that matters here, rather than what you studied.

We look for graduates who are analytical, eager to learn and ready to take on a challenge. A genuine curiosity and eagerness to learn about investment is vital, as is a keen interest in our work and our industry. Creative thinking and attention to detail are important too.

And, as we’re an international organisation, we’ll need you to speak English.

We’ll also need you to:

• Be graduating in 2025 (Bachelor’s or Master’s degree)
• Have the right to work in the UK by the start of your employment

Our clients come from all walks of life and so do we. We are proud of our inclusive culture and encourage applications from the widest mix of talent, whatever your age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, social background and more.

How to apply

Feeling inspired to start your journey with us? Then take your first step by applying!

This programme is open to students in the final year of undergraduate or master’s programme (Class of 2025 preferred).

Our application window closes on Sunday, 1st December 2024 at 11:55pm BST . You are advised to submit your application as early as possible, as we will be recruiting on a rolling basis.

Please note that there are two online assessments which you’ll need to complete by the time the window closes. They both take around 40 minutes to complete, so make sure you give yourself plenty of time.

All assessment centres will take place in January 2025

As part of our commitment to inclusion, we are a disability-friendly company. As such, we would welcome a conversation with you if you feel you might benefit from any reasonable adjustments to perform to the best of your ability during the recruitment process and beyond.

For any enquiries regarding your application, you can contact us.

Please take into consideration there are more opportunities that could be more aligned to your preference coming soon and you can only apply for one.