About ANZ

What it does: One of Australia’s Big Four banks and New Zealand’s largest bank

Staff stats: Around 50,000, mainly based in Australia and New Zealand

The good bits: The professional development and flexible working opportunities

The not so good bits: You may have to endure a boring rotation

Hiring grads with degrees in: Engineering, Maths, IT & Computer Sciences; Finance, Accounting, Economics & Business Administration, Arts & Humanities, Data Science & Analytics, Psychology, Marketing & Sales, Communications, Business & Commerce

The ANZ story

ANZ has a proud heritage of more than 180 years.

We operate in 33 markets globally with representation in Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Pacific, Europe, America and the Middle East. 

ANZ is among the top 4 banks in Australia, the largest banking group in New Zealand and Pacific, and among the top 50 banks in the world.

ANZ world headquarters is located in Melbourne. It first opened as the Bank of Australasia in Sydney in 1835 and in Melbourne from 1838 and our history involves many different banks.

Our Strategy

Our strategy is focused on improving the financial wellbeing of our customers; having the right people who listen, learn and adapt; putting the best tools and insights into their hands; and focusing on those few things that really add value to customers and doing them right the first time.

We believe that the execution of our strategy will deliver decent returns for our shareholders while achieving a balance between growth and return, short and long-term performance and financial and social impact.

While our focus has evolved over the past four years, the strategic imperatives remain the same: creating a simpler, better-balanced bank; focusing our efforts where we can carve out a winning position; building a superior everyday experience to compete in the digital age; and driving a purpose and values-led transformation.

In our Australian and New Zealand businesses, we are: delivering improved customer outcomes, while rationalising our products and services; developing new compelling services and distribution options; and developing new initiatives to enhance our homeowner and small business owner propositions.

Within our Institutional business, we are creating an integrated trade, cash and markets experience while developing and appropriately scaling our capabilities across geographies to deliver connectivity for our customers.

Our strategy has driven significant improvement in our business over the past four years. We have strengthened our balance sheet, improved our culture, simplified the business and rebuilt our people’s capabilities. In doing so we have reduced the costs and risks associated with running the bank.

ANZ's purpose

Our purpose is to shape a world where people and communities thrive. That is why we strive to create a balanced, sustainable economy in which everyone can take part and build a better life.

From our earliest days in the 1830s, financing commerce and facilitating trade, our focus has always been on unlocking opportunity for individuals, families, businesses and communities. With fast-changing technologies, demographic shifts, climate change and globalisation bringing both opportunities and challenges, we now have an important role to play in enabling economic participation and encouraging sustainable growth.

The culture

ANZ believes “in the inherent strength of a vibrant, diverse and inclusive workforce”. It has a comprehensive suite of people systems, processes and policies in place to promote diversity, minimise bullying and make accommodations for staff facing particular challenges.

ANZ is an Employer of Choice for gender equality. It has a Reconciliation Action Plan and employs staff from 200 different cultural and ethnic backgrounds. It has an Accessibility and Inclusion plan to address the needs of both disabled staff and disabled customers. The bank has been recognised as a ‘Gold Tier’ employer for LGBTI people. At the beginning of 2015, it announced an “all roles flexible” initiative that allows staff significant input into when and how they work.    

ANZ is committed to building a workplace that reflects the communities in which we operate.

ANZ was named LGBTIQ+ Employer of the Year in 2017, runner-up LGBTIQ+ Employer of the Year in 2018, and awarded Platinum Employer status in 2019 in the Australian Workplace Equality Index.

Social contribution

ANZ’s corporate sustainability framework has three pillars. These are sustainable growth, social and economic participation and fair and responsible banking. The bank facilitates staff, shareholders and customers donating to charity partners and matches any staff donations. It provides grants of $5,000 - $15,000 to charities and community organisations.

It has developed financial education programs in consultation with community organisations and governments. It encourages staff to volunteer and gives them at least one day of paid leave to do so every year. Following natural disasters, ANZ often offers financial assistance to affected customers and support to affected staff, as well as donating to those organisations providing emergency relief. The bank sponsors a range of artistic, community and sporting events, such as the Australian Open and Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.  

The recruitment process

While ANZ likes applicants to have a credit average, it also believes “university marks aren’t the be-all and end-all”. Its priority is finding people who are comfortable being part of a rapidly changing industry and motivated to “make a difference”.

There are four summer intern programs you can apply to.

The ‘Australia Retail and Commercial’ program runs for 8 weeks and can be completed in Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney or Perth. It has a broad focus and is open to grads from all disciplines so long as they have a commitment to customer service.

The 'Regional Agribusiness Banking' program runs for 8 weeks and can be done Australia wide (typically in regional areas). ANZ is looking for students from diverse educational backgrounds including degrees in Commerce, Agriculture, Engineering and Law.

The ‘Institutional Banking’ program runs for 8 weeks and can be done in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane or Perth. You don’t need a specific degree but it will count in your favour if you can show you’re a well-rounded person who has been involved in extra-curricular activities. You’ll also need to be independently minded but collaborative as well as digitally savvy.

The ‘Technology’ program is 8 weeks long and based in Melbourne or Sydney. For this program, you probably will need a degree in computer science, engineering, information systems or science. However, students of all disciplines with a passion for Technology are encouraged to apply.

We are also hiring for our ‘Australia Business Transformation’ graduate program. The program will run for 18 months and will be based in Melbourne. Students of all disciplines with a passion for design and build amazing experiences for iOS, Android or the web browse are encouraged to apply.

All the programs involve being exposed to diverse people, situations and environments. All provide supportive coaching, peer-to-peer learning, mentoring, training, network and guidance provided by senior leaders.

Remuneration

ANZ pays those in its grad programs generous salaries. Staff get discounts on ANZ banking products as well as having access to discounts on some retail and hospitality purchases. 

Career prospects

Given the size of the business, there are plenty of opportunities for lateral and upward moves. Positions are always advertised internally and managers often alert their team members if an appropriate opportunity for advancement has materialised.

The vibe of the place

Staff are supportive and the culture is a positive, friendly one. You can expect to be invited to lunches, dinners, drinks and parties with your co-workers. It’s not required but many grads opt to join ANZ’s social club.

Graduate satisfaction Rating: 4.1 stars

From the employer:

At ANZ, everything we do boils down to 'why' – our purpose – to shape a world where people and communities thrive. We're just as focused on seeing our people thrive as well as our customers. We'll give you every opportunity to develop your career.

We are responding faster to changing customer requirements, focusing on the things that matter the most, energising our people, eliminating waste and reducing bureaucracy.

A happy workplace is a thriving one. So in order to attract and keep the best talent, and say thanks for the hard work, we make sure all our employees are rewarded.

ANZ recognises the value of an inclusive and diverse work environment. We take pride in the diversity of our people and encourage applications from diverse candidates. Our recruitment decisions are based on the key inherent needs and requirements of each role, and candidates are selected based on their unique strengths and characteristics.

Recruitment

We have simplified our recruitment process to give you the opportunity to show your best self, while having fun getting to know us along the way.

Our application process:

• Online application form (it's really short we promise)
• Game-based assessment (16 games that take about 30 minutes to complete)
• Personality questionnaire (a whole heap of questions about how you like to work)
• Video interview
• Assessment centre

Remuneration

The best part of working in ANZ is having the support of everyone around you. You don't have to know everything and have all the answers, we're all one big team looking at how we can solve some pretty tricky problems.

If you're ready to learn, we're ready to help you develop a successful career at ANZ. You will get 18 months of critical experiences across our businesses including exposure to a diverse range of people, environments and situations. We also provide supportive coaching, peer-to-peer learning, mentoring, training, networking and sponsorship from senior leaders.

Our program streams are the following:

• Agribusiness Graduate Program
• Australia Retail and Commercial Banking
• Institutional Banking
• Technology