2009 Financial Planning Internship Program

We are pleased to announce the third year of the UTS Financial Planning Internship Program.

This program has been developed by the School in conjunction with a number of financial planning sector employers.

The program is directed to providing UTS:Business students with an opportunity to access the financial planning sector via short term employment opportunities. This access will further the understanding of students with the overall sector and provides employment opportunities within the sector.

Participation in the Financial Planning Internship Program will not only enhance the learning experience of those students selected, but will facilitate student access to a worthwhile financial planning sector career.

Applications closed

3 July 2009

How to apply

Complete our online application form.

Eligibility

Students who have completed at least 16 of their subjects (including exemptions) of their UTS Undergraduate Bachelor of Business Degree or the Bachelor of Mathematics and Finance Degree at the time of applications being called are eligible to apply for the Financial Planning Internship Program. The applicant must have successfully completed subjects in the School of Finance and Economics, within UTS:Business, with at least a credit grade (65).

Students will be advised by email that the application process has commenced, where an application form may be accessed, the closing date for applications and how the completed application form should be lodged.

Selection process

All applications received by the closing date will be assessed on academic merit. Students with at least a credit grade (65) average in subjects in the School of Finance and Economics within UTS:Business completed to date will be permitted to continue in the selection process. All applicants will be advised of this first stage of assessment.

Successful stage one applicants will be invited to attend an information evening where representatives from UTS, participating employers and previous interns will provide information about the internship program. It is anticipated that this will enable applicants to better understand the program and provide them with an opportunity to ask questions to assist them in their decision.

The next stage will be a technical interview. We anticipate this will be conducted by UTS representatives. It will enable the interviewers and the interviewees to determine their suitability for the internship program.

The final stage will involve inviting the students who we believe most suitable from the previous round of interviews to an interview with the UTS representative and members of the prospective employers. This individual Interview will be held at a UTS Markets Campus venue.

The interview panel will comprise the Internship Program Coordinator as chair, representatives from UTS:Business and participating employers.

Reflecting the fact that the financial planning process involves extensive professional interaction between the professional financial adviser and the retail client, the interview will direct attention to assessing the student?s technical knowledge and oral communication skills. These will form the assessment criteria.

Specific attention will be focused on the student?s ability to apply the knowledge they have gained to date from their engagement within the finance and economics subject areas, and their ability to communicate this knowledge in a relevant and appropriate manner.

Students may bring to the interview examples of relevant prior work, including subject individual assignments which may be used to provide an indication of their written communication skills.

All applicants will be individually advised by email of the outcome of their final interview and will be provided with feedback as to their individual performance.

When will internship offers be made?

Successful applicants may then invited by individual participating employers to engage in discussions regarding an Financial Planning Internship appointment, the duration of that appointment and the conditions of engagement, including remuneration which will apply during the internship.

Students should be aware that on occasions there may be an imbalance between the number of applicants and the number of positions available with participating employers. Students should be aware that satisfactory completion of any part of the selection process does not provide any guarantee that an offer of an internship or subsequent employment may result.

Participating employers

Details of the participating employers will be provided prior to the closing date for stage one applications.

The selection criteria for participating employers in the Internship Program include full compliance with the relevant ASIC Financial Services Licence requirements and the suitability of the proposed supervisory & mentoring resources available to support the Financial Planning Intern placement.

The conditions of engagement and remuneration shall be determined by the Intern and the participating employer. The Internship Program will not participate in any discussions on these aspects and neither warrant nor otherwise guarantee the suitability of these conditions.

Participating employers have agreed that a particular Financial Planning Internship appointment may be terminated by either party at any time, subject to compliance with the relevant conditions of engagement entered into by the Financial Planning Intern and the participating employer.

Employers wanting to participate in the Financial Planning Internship should contact the Program Coordinator, Deborah Cotton.

Duration and conditions of internships

The Financial Planning Internship appointment will be for a minimum of 12 weeks and a maximum of 26 Weeks.

What happens when the internship ends?

The Financial Planning Internship related employment relationship will terminate. Both the former Financial Planning Intern and the participating employer have an absolute discretion to engage in further discussions regarding any new employment relationship.

During the internship, will I be able to continue my UTS Financial Planning Studies?

Yes, all participating employers have indicated they will provide Financial Planning Interns with leave of absence to attend scheduled UTS study commitments including lectures, tutorials and assessment tasks requiring the personal attendance of students.

The financial planning internship program coordinator will liaise with each participating employer on the identification of these commitments. I am a full-time UTS student? Am I still legible to apply for an Financial Planning Internship? Yes, full-time UTS Bachelor of Business and Bachelor or Mathematics and Finance students are encouraged to apply for an Internship. These students should be aware that it is their responsibility to ensure that they are able to complete their UTS study-load commitments during the Financial Planning Internship period.

These students should also be aware of the appropriate UTS processes to be followed, should they wish to vary their enrolment status from full-time to part-time.

Similarly, International students enrolled in UTS are also encouraged to apply for an Financial Planning Internship. These students should be aware that it is their responsibility to ensure that they are permitted to secure employment in Australia under a program such as the UTS Internship Program.

Further information

Bachelor of Business students seeking further information on the Financial Planning Internship Program can contact the Program Coordinator, Deborah Cotton.