DBS Management Associate Programme
Career Portfolio
What is Capital Markets about?
DBS Capital Markets' services cover fund-raising activities in the equity and debt markets as well as the provision of mergers & acquisitions (M&A), financial advisory services and direct investments. DBS has played an instrumental role in helping companies tap equity through initial public offerings (IPOs) on the Singapore Exchange. For the 10-year period from 1999 to 2008, DBS Bank topped the league table for the highest amount raised for IPOs in Singapore, achieving a market share of 17.4% (source: Bloomberg).
DBS is also active in secondary market activities such as share placements and rights issues servicing multinationals, large corporations as well as small and medium enterprises (SMEs). We have strong relationships with many corporate clients in Singapore whom we work with, partnering and advising from inception stages, and in some cases, right up to listing and other post-listing corporate activities. Equity Capital Markets, together with Debt Capital Markets, was instrumental in the introduction of the Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) and Business Trust products into the capital markets by successfully completing the first REIT IPO in 2002. To date, we remain the largest underwriter of REIT and Business Trust equity fund raisings in Singapore, and have the largest market share.
Our M&A team assists our corporate clients in originating, structuring and executing a wide range of public and private transactions, including mergers, joint-ventures, acquisitions, divestments, strategic investor buy-ins, corporate restructuring, spin-offs and leveraged/management buyouts in Asia while our Private Equity team is the principal investment arm of DBS Bank, investing proprietary bank capital in both traditional and technology-related direct equity investments and mezzanine finance opportunities.
What can you look forward to?
With a rotation in Capital Markets, you will be part of an award-winning team that has been at the forefront of a long list of groundbreaking capital market transactions. You will find challenging prospects in deal-making, with the opportunity to help sustain our leadership in regional debt and equity capital markets, private equity as well as mergers and acquisitions deals.
What is Consumer Banking Group about?
Asia's middle class is growing and as the leading bank in Asia, DBS' Consumer Banking (CBG) unit is in a unique position to help our customers realise their dreams and ambitions. As a market leader in the consumer banking business, DBS has a full spectrum of products and services, including deposits, investments, insurance, mortgages, credit cards and personal loans, to meet our customers' needs at every life stage.
As the largest bank in Singapore, we are proud that almost every Singaporean banks with our DBS and POSB franchises. Our largest distribution network of over 80 branches, 950 ATMs, over 600 AXS Stations and POSB FastPay machines, and award winning internet banking service, enables us to provide the level of convenience that is second to none.
With our growing network of branches in Asia and continuous innovation in Internet banking, mobile banking and other remote banking services, we continue to strive to give our customers unparalleled convenience and a differentiated customer experience.
What can you look forward to?
Meet and be part of the team that has introduced many firsts in Singapore in CBG. As a part of CBG, you have the opportunity to shape the dynamic CBG business through marketing or product development. Sharpen your business analytical skills and project coordination skills in portfolio marketing, advertising and development of new financial solutions for retail customer segments. Alternatively, you may cut your teeth in sales and distribution, interfacing directly with clients, and earning your stripes by providing sound advice and wealth management services to customers.
What is DBS Asset Management about?
DBS Asset Management (DBSAM) ranks among the most experienced and best-known fund management companies in Asia. With offices in Singapore and Hong Kong, and associated companies in Malaysia, China, India and Thailand, we manage money for institutional, private and retail investors across Asia. DBSAM delivers effective investment management solutions for Asia-focused clients that cover a wide spectrum of asset classes, with core competency in Asian fixed income and Asian equities. Our vision is to be the preferred long-term partner for clients seeking investment management solutions in Asia. Our focus is on delivering efficient access to markets, identifying new investment opportunities as markets evolve, enhancing performance value-add and responsible risk management.
With a rotation in DBSAM, you will be fully integrated into the business through exposure to challenges and opportunities that will build your foundation in the asset management industry.
What is DBS Vickers Securities?
DBS Vickers Securities is the wholly owned securities and derivatives brokerage arm of DBS Bank. Headquartered in Singapore, we also have a strong presence in Hong Kong, Thailand and Indonesia, as well as offices in USA and the UK, and partnerships and affiliations across the rest of Asia. With our extensive network and market insights together with our expertise and experience, we provide a comprehensive suite of retail, institutional and online broking services and solutions to meet the needs of individuals, corporations and institutions.
With a rotation in DBS Vickers Securities, you can expect to be involved in client advisory, product management and operations in Singapore and the regional capital markets as we are an active player in Asia. Regardless of your role, you will be challenged to exceed customers' expectations and enhance our selection of products and services available to build long-term client relationships.
Institutional Banking Group
What is Institutional Banking Group about? What can you look forward to?
DBS' Institutional Banking Group (IBG) provides a broad range of financial solutions to large corporate and institutional clients, as well as small and medium sized enterprises. With our strong product capabilities and client-focused approach, the Group has established leadership positions in syndicated finance, equipment financing and factoring. Our extensive product range also includes loans, trade finance and cash management services. With a presence in 15 markets, we are committed to delivering a complete suite of financing solutions to help meet our customers' business aspirations across Asia.
IBG encompasses Corporate and Investment Banking, Enterprise Banking and Global Transaction Services.
Corporate and Investment Banking
DBS aims to be the top financial solutions partner of leading corporate and institutional clients in Asia. Our IBG - Corporate & Investment Banking is responsible for driving core advisory relationships to corporate customers across a range of industries. These include telecommunications, media and technology; real estate; energy, chemical and infrastructure; shipping and aviation; financial institutions; manufacturing; multi-industries and commerce and the public sector.
We also have a team that raises debt capital for our customers in the international syndicated loan market. This involves originating, structuring, underwriting, executing and syndicating a wide variety of capital-raising transactions across Asia.
With a rotation in IBG - Corporate and Investment Banking, you can expect exposure to a swathe of challenging tasks. These include providing financial solutions and loan syndications, conducting credit assessment, evaluation, review and structuring. You will also draw up proposals to meet the specific needs of corporate clients through multi-product marketing and the cross-selling of our full range of products and services.
Enterprise Banking
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play a critical role in the economic growth and employment creation of any economy. As an Asia banking specialist with a strong SME banking franchise, our IBG - Enterprise Banking is committed to supporting SMEs in their growth domestically and in their regional expansion. Backed by a team of product specialists, we are well-positioned to deliver a whole suite of enterprising solutions to support local enterprises at each stage of their business life cycle. Our financial products and services range from cash management services to loan facilities, trade financing, business risk protection instruments and capital market instruments.
With a rotation in IBG - Enterprise Banking, you can look forward to working in either frontline positions as Relationship Managers and in Sales support; or in Product Development and Marketing support roles. In your frontline role, you will assist our SME customers in their financial needs and deliver quality service to enhance the level of customer experience with the Bank. In Product Development or Marketing support roles, you will focus on designing new products and improving existing ones through innovative product packaging and partnership tie-ups, and in executing creative marketing initiatives. In whatever capacity, you will be constantly challenged by the opportunities presented to you to help our customers realise their business aspirations, at the same time entrench the leading position of DBS' SME banking franchise.
Global Transaction Services
Global Transaction Services (GTS) comprises Cash & Trade, Securities Services and Fiduciary Services.
In an increasingly borderless world marked by burgeoning trade flows, expertise in trade finance services is an invaluable asset. With cash being the lifeblood of every company, so too, is a good understanding of how to manage these cashflows. Trade Finance, together with Cash Management, is the mainstay of GTS, and is extended to SME and corporate clients for their local and cross-border financial transaction needs.
In Cash & Trade, you will be part of the product management team that provides seamless and cost-effective solutions to customers. Whether it is through conducting market research, or by enhancing a product or system's features to meet customers' needs, you will have every opportunity to shape the business. You will also be exposed to a myriad of Trade and Cash Management products through various marketing campaigns and joint visits with our relationship managers.
In our securities & fiduciary services units, you may be exposed to various aspects of the custody, trust and fiduciary business from product development, sales (meeting clients, assessing their needs and suggesting solutions), new client conversion (documentation negotiation and due diligence) to client servicing and administration.
What is Private Banking?
DBS Private Banking offers our customers a one-stop full-service touch-point for their total banking requirements. We provide the highest level of personalised banking through our team of investment advisors. Our focus lies in identifying opportunities in the various asset classes and the best ways to profit from it, employing the best strategies and product vehicles.
A rotation in Private Banking will put you at the forefront of customising investment advisory solutions for varied profiles of our clients or engaged in product development and engineering. You will also work in partnerships within the DBS network and with global institutions and strive to achieve our business and clients' goals.
Treasury & Liquidity Management
What is Treasury & Liquidity Management about?
Treasury & Liquidity Management is responsible for the management of the Group's structural interest rate, foreign exchange and liquidity risks and investment of the Group's excess liquidity and shareholders' funds. We invest in a broad range of financial market instruments such as fixed income, equities, derivatives, alternative investments and structured products. In addition, we are responsible for the daily management of the bank's overall asset & liability position as well as short to medium-term funding requirements.
What can you look forward to?
If you look forward to watching the financial markets, making the right investment decisions and being constantly challenged in a fast-paced and intense working environment, a rotation in Treasury & Liquidity Management will fit like a glove. MAs can look forward to match their wits in various core areas including macro market risk, credit & equity risk, deal analysis in alternative investments and structured finance.
What is Treasury & Markets about?
DBS Treasury & Markets (T&M) is a leading financial market house in Asia, offering the most comprehensive range of treasury products from foreign exchange, commodities, interest rates, money market and securities trading, to serve corporations' hedging and investment needs with a regional emphasis. With the objective of achieving local dominance and regional leadership in Asia, particularly in Asian currencies, we keep ourselves highly competitive with our extensive industry and market research. We react quickly and decisively to capture any opportunity that arises in the financial market, consistently delivering excellent financial services and strategies that exceed our clients' expectations.
We are a leader in SGD and regional products with an excellent, customer-driven research capability and cutting edge risk management technology and systems. DBS has won many accolades from independent market watchers and publications. Some examples are the Best FX Bank in Singapore and Southeast Asia awarded by Global Finance, Best in Singapore by Structured Products and the House of the Year by Asia Risk.
What can you look forward to?
A fast-paced, intense environment that calls for confident, split-second decision making, no two days are the same in T&M. As an MA rotating in T&M, you will gain invaluable hands-on experience through wide ranging assignments such as research and analysis, structuring and execution and trading. This is also an opportunity for you to make your mark by sustaining our leadership in structured finance, structured credit, interest rates and advisory sales.
What is Group Audit?
Group Audit assists the Board and Executive Management in meeting the strategic and operational objectives of the DBS Group. Through independent appraisals, Group Audit assesses the adequacy and effectiveness of risk management and control processes in operation. Led by a team of much sought-after professionals in the field, the group is committed to excellence and strives to become the best audit function in the financial services industry in Asia-Pacific, as well as the stakeholder's trusted adviser in all matters relating to internal controls.
What can you look forward to?
With a rotation in the Group Audit team, you will perform work that has been designed to provide you with a strong foundation of skills so you can develop a broad understanding of control processes and risk management in a banking environment.
What is Group Finance about?
Group Finance provides insights and analyses on the banking business and product and customer profitability to enable the bank to make sound business decisions. In addition, we provide capital management, business planning, forecasting, tax and accounting advisory services to our businesses.
What can you look forward to?
A rotation in Group Finance offers MAs numerous challenges. Whether it is analysing business performance, preparing financial reports, or maintaining good relations with regulatory bodies, the role will train you to think strategically, and hone your quantitative and communication skills.
What is Group Human Resources about?
In the financial services industry, people are our biggest asset. Group Human Resources (HR) has the important role of attracting, retaining and nurturing talent to ensure that we continue to be a competitive Asia banking specialist. To this end, HR's vision is to differentiate DBS as an employer of choice through strategic partnerships with our business and outstanding people practices.
What can you look forward to?
Sharpen people skills as a MA in HR. As a business partner to your business unit, you will learn how to understand and address 'people' requirements, and also take on the key role of cascading DBS' HR initiatives from functional HR teams to their respective business units. Alternatively, you may choose to be part of functional HR teams, helping to shape talent acquisition, talent development and reward policies.
Group Legal and Compliance
What is Group Legal & Compliance about?
The banking business is founded on trust and integrity. To continue to succeed, we must zealously guard and enhance our reputation and capital. Group Legal & Compliance ensures that our interests are protected, and that we continue to maintain our good standing with regulators, customers, business partners and stakeholders.
What can you look forward to?
With a rotation in this team, you will be involved in bank-wide and group-wide legal, compliance and regulatory-related matters. You will coordinate legal and regulatory dealings, establish standards and procedures to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and conduct compliance review programmes.
What is Group Planning about?
Group Planning performs the function of developing corporate strategy and aligning business strategies to achieve financial targets and strategic objectives. The unit reviews banking trends, market opportunities and structural issues to formulate corporate strategy and priorities. Working closely with other group functions, we enable the execution of the bank's plans through the various units.
What can you look forward to?
With a rotation in Group Planning, you will have the opportunity to join efforts with Group Finance to oversee the process of strategy execution and communicate strategic priorities to the various units and subsidiaries within the DBS Group. You will work hand-in-hand with the units to translate our group-wide strategic priorities into detailed unit-level strategies and operating plans. These need to be comprehensive yet responsive to changes in the competitive environment. As strategy execution involves complex coordination between multiple units across countries and functions, you will ensure that strategies and plans are constructed and executed with joint-ownership and accountability with the units.
Group Strategic Marketing & Communications
What is Group Strategic Marketing & Communications about?
The business of banking is a highly commoditised one and customers today have many choices. Group Strategic Marketing & Communications (GSMC) seeks to build, protect and enhance DBS' corporate reputation and differentiate DBS through a strategic and integrated focus on corporate communications, marketing and research. We are at the forefront of building the DBS brand in the region, inspiring and working closely with all units in the DBS Group to reinforce "Why DBS?" in everything that we do.
What can you look forward to?
As an MA in GSMC, you will be part of a dynamic team with a strong entrepreneurial spirit. You will be involved in numerous fast-paced, real-time assignments, gain invaluable exposure to a diverse range of banking issues, interact with colleagues and senior management from all parts of the bank and acquire life long skills in strategic marketing and communications.
Group Technology and Operations
Group Technology and Operations (T&O) maintains the high quality and efficiency of the bank and its services by managing the bank's operational processes across various delivery channels.
What can you look forward to?
As an MA in Group T&O, you will gain exciting opportunities and exposure to a range of products and services. By working closely with our senior managers and executive committee on regional projects to enhance processes and capabilities, you will have a key role to play in raising our service quality, improving control and achieving cost savings. As you embark on a learning journey with us, you will learn about the multiple banking service delivery channels and play a part in enabling and empowering our Bank.
What is Risk Management Group about?
Taking risk is an inherent part of the financial industry and we make money for our shareholders by taking risk. Risks can materialise in the shape of loss from a client bankruptcy, market movements, or operational errors.
Given that taking risk is core to our business, managing these risks is key to running a successful business. Therefore we invest significantly in skilled people and infrastructure needed to stay ahead of the curve.
Risk Management Group (RMG) works closely with our business partners to manage the bank's risk exposure to maximise returns against an acceptable risk profile. We partner with origination teams to provide financing, investments and hedging opportunities to our customers.
What can you look forward to?
With a rotation in the RMG team, you will join a team of dedicated professionals with excellent financial, analytical and operational skills. You are expected to sustain world class capabilities to help us to continue to improve our work.
Being part of one of the most dynamic and well-regarded risk teams in Asia, you will be given challenging assignments and have to rapidly climb a steep learning curve on products, models, markets and infrastructure. You will be one of the diverse talents from many countries around the world, drawn together by a shared belief that learning never stops.