Mercer Graduate Schemes

Mercer Graduate Schemes

(see also Mercer interview questions)

The minimum academic requirements for any graduate role at Mercer is a minimum of 300 UCAS points and a predicted/obtained 2.1 (Hons) degree in any discipline, or equivalent.

Graduate Schemes Available

There are a variety of graduate jobs available at Mercer. These include:

• Trainee Pensions Consultants
• Retirement Consultants
• Retirement Consultants (European Retirement Graduate Programme)
• Investment Analysts
• Performance Reporting Team Analysts
• Trainee Analyst (Financial Strategy Group (FSG))

Trainee Pensions Consultants

As part of the HR Services business you will be part of the client service team providing pensions consulting and administration services to clients.

You will be involved in preparing agendas, papers and minutes for trustees' meetings with the consultant or client manager and dealing with queries received from clients, scheme members, third parties and other Mercer business areas and overseeing/assisting with administration services. In the long term, you will become a Client Service Manager.

You will also be able to study towards the Pensions Management Institute (PMI) qualification. Mercer provide financial assistance for employees to pay for this qualification.

Retirement Consultants

When you start, you will join a team whose job it is to support more experienced consultants in all areas of pensions consulting work for both corporate and trustee clients. All work is supervised and trainees will usually be expected to have some direct client contact during their first couple of years.

Graduates are able to gain professional qualifications by studying for either the Pensions Management Institute (PMI) or the Actuarial exams depending on their motivation.

Graduates completing the actuarial exams will perform calculations to support corporate, trustee and individual decision making around retirement choices and pension scheme management, and those graduates who complete their PMI exams will be involved with collecting and interpreting data to develop solutions for both external and internal clients in terms of client reports, meetings and queries.

Governance and Operations - Trainee Pensions Consultants

Governance and Operations is a service that is growing within Mercer and within the pension industry. The role provides an opportunity for you to learn consulting skills and develop a strong pensions technical knowledge.

Graduates will be supported in gaining professional qualifications through the Pensions Management Institute (PMI).

Investment Consulting - Investment Analysts

Investment Analysts study to be either an Actuary or Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). In addition you will study for the Investment Management Certificate (IMC).

On a day-to-day basis, you will work as part of a team providing investment advice to a wide range of institutional clients. Initially, your key duties will include producing and checking performance reports, drafting reports setting out the most suitable investment strategy (i.e. asset mix) and assisting the manager selection exercises and the subsequent implementation of any changes to the investment manager arrangements. You’ll also deal with day-to-day client queries and liaise closely with investment managers and other third parties.

Performance Reporting Team Analysts

As part of Mercer's Investment Consulting business you will work in the project team responsible for centralising our performance reporting service for clients. On a day-to-day basis, you will assist with transitioning data and information form our consulting teams to the performance reporting project team, analyse the data, perform calculations and compile output into client reports.

You will liaise closely with the consulting teams within the business, investment managers and other third parties. You will also provide support to experienced analysts and consultants within the team to improve technologies.

Financial Strategy Group (FSG)

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The Mercer Finacial Strategy Group delivers strategic financial consulting advice to corporate pension sponsors. You will be going into a team working alongside senior consultants with high-level experience in both pensions and investments well placed to provide integrated approach to pension cost and risk management.

As an FSG Analyst you study to be either an Actuary or Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). In addition you will study for the Investment Management Certificate (IMC).

If you join Mercer, you will enter the consulting team, and be involved in a wide range of consultancy projects.

European Retirement Graduate Scheme - European Rotation Scheme

Mercer’s European Retirement Graduate Programme provides an opportunity to qualify as an actuary while working on European pensions assignments. The programme lasts for three years, which you can spend in either France, Germany, the Netherlands or the UK.

The role involves assisting in the completion of consultancy assignments while taking principal responsibility for smaller clients. Through a combination of a structured training programme, hands-on practical experience and a year working in another European Mercer office, you will gain exposure to a variety of international clients and have the opportunity to use your language skills.

Now see - Mercer Interview Questions.