The Role
The Operations Graduate role involves rotations across various divisions, focusing on investment operations, client service, technology, and business management while providing comprehensive training and mentorship over a two-year contract.
Summary Generated by Built In
Job Description Summary Job Description Additional Job DescriptionEqual Opportunity Employer:
Operations Graduate
24 month FTC
Location: Edinburgh (hybrid 3 days per week in office)
Salary: £33,000
Closing date: 14th May 2026
Aegon Asset Management (Aegon AM) is a leading global investor. Our 385 investment professionals manage and advise on assets of US $384 billion for a global client base of pension plans, public funds, insurance companies, banks, wealth managers, family offices and foundations. We organise our firm around four investment platforms: fixed income, real assets, equities and multi-asset & solutions, which includes a fiduciary and multi-manager business. Each investment platform has dedicated teams with deep asset-class expertise, organized globally and committed to maximizing client benefit from their specialist areas. We are an international business: Our 1,160 employees work from 13 locations across Europe, the Americas and Asia.
The Opportunity
Are you curious, driven and ready to shape your future in Investment Management? At Aegon AM, our NextGen Traineeship is your opportunity to build a strong foundation and grow into a well‑rounded asset management professional.
Through hands‑on experience, on our two year fixed term contract you will gain exposure to different areas of the business and close collaboration with industry experts, you’ll develop the skills, insight and confidence to thrive in a fast‑moving environment. From day one, you’ll make a real contribution to our ambition of becoming a leading asset manager, whilst building a career you can truly be proud of.
Our NextGen Traineeship is a unique opportunity designed to develop the next generation of all-round specialists. Over the course of two years, you will gain experience through multiple rotations. When graduating the program, the knowledge and network you will build during the program will help you decide in what role you’d like to continue within your career.
The Chief Operating Office (COO) function at Aegon Asset Management plays a central role in enabling the firm to operate efficiently, safely and at scale. Through a series of structured programme rotations, the function supports investment operations, client delivery, technology, transformation and governance, providing critical oversight and insight that underpins the firm’s strategic and commercial objectives.
This role provides:
- Diverse Rotations: Engage in a number of rotations across various divisions relating to the scheme you have joined. Each placement is tailored to broaden your skill set and deepen your industry knowledge.
- Comprehensive Training: Benefit from structured training programs that cover essential topics and advanced concepts in asset management. Not only will you focus on behavioural skills such as personal branding and relationship management, but also technical skills such as AI and Excel.
- Capstone Projects: Work on real-world projects that will challenge you and enhance your practical investment skills.
- Mentorship and Support: Receive guidance from experienced professionals who are dedicated to your growth and success.
What will you be doing?
Investment Operations & Oversight
- Support trade lifecycle activities, operational oversight of outsourced providers, reconciliations, issue management and control frameworks across the investment operations function.
- Develop an understanding of investment operations processes and the importance of robust risk and control environments.
Client & Commercial Operations
- Support the delivery of high‑quality client service through reporting, data management, onboarding activities and operational support.
- Develop an understanding of client requirements and how operational teams support client relationships and commercial outcomes.
Change, Transformation & Delivery
- Support business change initiatives, including regulatory programmes, process improvement and technology‑enabled transformation projects.
- Build knowledge of project delivery, change management and continuous improvement within a regulated environment.
Technology
- Support the delivery of secure, resilient and modern technology services across engineering, service management, architecture and data enablement.
- Develop awareness of how technology platforms support investment, operational and client outcomes.
Information Security
- Support information security processes, governance and risk management activities.
- Develop understanding of the firm’s approach to data protection, cyber risk and creating a strong culture of security awareness.
Global Client Experience
- Support global and business unit growth ambitions through the provision of industry, market and client data insights.
- Contribute to improving client experience through informed analysis and operational support.
Business Management & Reporting
- Support the COO function to operate strategically and effectively by providing leadership with clear insight, strong governance and coordinated business management support.
- Assist with reporting, planning and operational oversight activities to ensure the function operates efficiently and safely.
We’d love to hear from you:
- Have recently graduated (or nearing completion) with a Degree in a relevant discipline, such as Business, Finance, Economics, Engineering, Mathematics, or another subject aligned to a technical or financial services environment.
- Demonstrate a clear interest in Investments, Finance, and Operations, with a genuine desire to pursue a long-term career in this space. This may be evidenced through internships, placements, project work, or relevant extracurricular activities.
- Bring a proactive, can-do mindset, showing initiative and ownership in everything you do. You’re comfortable tackling new challenges, eager to learn, and able to adapt in a fast paced, evolving environment.
- Have the ability to build strong working relationships and collaborate effectively with stakeholders across different teams and geographies.
- Possess excellent verbal and written communication skills, and hs the confidence to articulate ideas clearly, present information effectively and engage with colleagues at all levels of the business.
What’s in it for you?
- A competitive salary, depending on the experience you can bring
- A non-contributory pension between 9%-13%
- A discretionary bonus, depending on personal and company performance
- 27 days leave per year (plus bank holidays, pro-rated for part-time)
We also offer private medical cover, life assurance, critical illness cover, enhanced parental leave and a variety of lifestyle benefits to help our staff live their best lives, including retail discount vouchers, cycle2work scheme, subsidised restaurant and online GP appointments.
Ready to take the next step?
If you think you have what it takes to join our NextGen Traineeship, we’d love to hear from you. Simply submit your CV and cover letter and take the first step towards an exciting future with us.
Our selection process is designed to help us get to know you better. As a first step, you’ll be invited by email to complete a short series of interactive games and tasks that explore your skills and behaviors. These are delivered by our assessment partner, Arctic Shores (so look out for an email from them!).
At Aegon Asset Management, we are committed to fostering a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. We are more than a global Asset Management firm – we are a people business, and we recognise that delivering excellent client outcomes, comes from embracing diverse perspectives. We value diversity in the full range of human uniqueness without limitation including race, gender, ability, language, culture, beliefs, age, origin, background, perspectives and experiences.
We serve a diverse, ever-changing world. It's tough, but we work tirelessly to leave things better than we find them. If that sounds like the sort of place you'd like to work, hit the "Apply" button.
The legal bits
We’ll need you to confirm you have the right to work in the UK. If we offer you a job and you accept, there are some checks we need to complete before you can start with us. This will include a credit and criminal record check, as well as providing satisfactory references.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age
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The Company
What We Do
We help people achieve a lifetime of financial security and to enjoy a meaningful life – both now and in retirement. Not only do we offer products and services to achieve this but we also focus on financial wellbeing. When we talk about financial wellbeing this is how you feel about the control you have over your financial future – and your relationship with money. It’s about focusing on the things that make their life enjoyable and meaningful – both now and in retirement. We want you to feel confident and empowered when managing your money and know that it’s possible to improve your situation in some way. Aegon's products and services range from life, critical illness and disability insurance, to pensions, annuities, long-term savings and investments. We also offer mortgages, and car, household and travel insurance in some markets. In the US, we’re known as Transamerica, one of the best-known names in the North American financial services industry. Globally over 22,000 Aegon employees help almost 30 million customers take responsibility for their financial future.
