Risk or Quantitative Analyst Trainee (4 positions)

The application period for OP Financial Group's 2025 Kiitorata Trainee Program is now open! We are looking for approximately 70 open-minded and courageous talents for diverse, challenging, and skill-enhancing roles in various business areas.

Are you a future talent interested in the finance industry, passionate about solving mathematical problems and skilled in quantitative analysis? Do you want to learn more about the industry with guidance from OP's quantitative community?

We are currently seeking four analyst trainees in Helsinki to strengthen OP Group's Risk Management and Markets.

About this position..

As an analyst trainee, your responsibilities will include market and counterparty risks, operational risk, derivative valuation, verification of various quantitative models, and compiling group-level analyses for OP Group's balance sheet. There are several open positions, and the emphasis may vary depending on the team. The tasks include regular reporting, risk analysis, model evaluation, and process development.

Does this sound like you?

You are interested in the finance industry and have quantitative and IT skills. You have completed or are pursuing an advanced degree or scientific postgraduate degree. You can program in at least one programming language (e.g. Python, R, or SQL) and are willing to learn new ones. There are many suitable academic backgrounds for the position. Sufficient mathematical and technical skills, a positive attitude towards learning new things, and the courage to take action are essential. Previous work experience or studies in the finance industry are not required.

Your working style is precise and analytical. The position involves working with several different stakeholders, so good oral and written communication skills are required in English and in some tasks also in Finnish.

About the jobs

Middle Office is a part of OP Group's Markets area and is responsible for reporting and analyzing the results and risks of trading operations, as well as monitoring trading activities. In these areas, Middle Office maintains its own technical reporting process and develops mathematical methods used for valuation. We are looking for a person interested in mathematical modeling or data analysis in financial markets to join our team, who wants to participate in both production and development of our processes.

The Markets and Banking Investments Analysis and Control unit comprehensively monitors the Markets business, such as market risk position and the functionality of business processes. In addition, the unit reports and analyzes the market risk of banking investment. We develop OP's own market and counterparty risk measurement methods and monitor risks using methods provided by regulators. The unit's scope of duties offers job descriptions that allow for in-depth understanding of the Markets business and investment activities typical in banking operations.

The Model Risks and Validation unit is responsible for monitoring and analyzing OP Group's model-related risks and ensuring the functionality of models used for measuring credit risks, predicting customer behavior, and valuing derivatives, among others. We provide statements on model features and recommendations for improving them. In the unit, you will have the opportunity to implement model risk management, extensively examine various models, and develop methods for testing them.

In Group-level Risk Management, we combine a comprehensive view of OP Group's risk profile by considering all business activities. We evaluate capital adequacy and the effectiveness of risk management, among other things, using scenario analysis. We prepare risk management publications for management and provide recommendations for action. Your responsibilities include developing risk measurement, ensuring smooth operational reporting and performance, and explaining risk management observations in a phenomenon-based manner.

Why you should work for us?

We are one of the few workplaces in Finland where you can do classical quantitative analysis. You have the opportunity to learn from industry professionals and receive excellent conditions to develop as a risk management expert. Your growth is supported by our quantitative community.

During the trainee period, you will perform the same tasks as other experts in the teams. Initially, you will work under the guidance of more experienced professionals. The complexity and independence of tasks will increase as you progress.

At OP, you will work on challenging tasks of daily life, and in addition to gaining a vast amount of life skills and new expertise, you will be a part of Finland's leading financial industry player. With your actions and a determined attitude, you can influence your own career path here. We support your personal development and encourage you boldly! You will be employed by OP for a paid six-month contract from March 1 to August 31, 2025, and we offer the same salary to you and all trainee colleagues; €3,000 per month.

To help counterbalance work where you are expected to take a lot of responsibility, we seek to ensure employee wellbeing and to enable forward-looking work arrangements. We offer a stable working environment where you can contribute to our core values: responsibility, people first and succeeding together.

You will enjoy a wide range of staff benefits, including a personnel fund and special terms for employee banking, insurance and loan services. We offer comprehensive occupational health care, extensive medical treatment expenses insurance and a full-time group accident insurance policy. We invest in wellbeing at work by encouraging a good work-life balance, providing flexibility in your daily life, and offering lunch, sport and cultural benefits and opportunities for affordable holidays in OP timeshares. 

 Here's how our application process works:

•    Apply for the positions by October 20, 2024, through OP's career site where you can find job-specific job postings and additional information about the Kiitorata Trainee Program
•    We invite the selected individuals to the Risk Management and Markets presentation and interview day, which will be held on Friday 1st November 2024, at Vallila.
•    Based on the interview day, we will select the candidates who will proceed to the second interview round. Those who participate in the second round will complete a pre-assignment related to the internship topic.
•    Based on the second interview round, we will select the candidates who will participate in a work personality assessment. We will notify the final candidates of our decision by 20th December 2024.
•    The employment contract will be for the period from March 1 to August 31, 2025.

Join our team of future stars!

If you have any questions about the position or working with us, you can get more information from:

•    Middle Office: Mika Louhelainen, p. 010 252 2106
•    Markets and banking investments analysis and control: Kalle Böss, p. 050 599 4180
•    Model risks and validation: Helena Tuhkanen, p. 040 722 6273

Next, we would like to hear more about you, so apply by telling us about your skills and motivation by October 20, 2024, through the Apply Now button. Please attach a cover letter, CV, and transcript of records as PDF files to your application.

We will start processing applications as soon as the application period opens, so explore our diverse trainee positions and send your application to us today!

In the financial sector, our business is founded on trust and accountability, which is why the successful candidate will be checked for credit history and corporate connections and must take a drug test.

OP Financial Group - We have something in common 

We at OP Financial Group highly respect diversity and equity. We want everyone to feel welcome and valued as part of our community. We appreciate diverse people, experiences, and viewpoints and we encourage everyone to apply for a job with us because we all have something in common.

Owned by our customers, we are one of the most appealing employer and the leading financial services group in Finland. OP Financial Group employs over 14,000 professionals and our main task is to promote sustainable financial success, security, and well-being for our owner-customers and our operating region.