Trading and Asset Origination

Application deadline:  8th November 2026

Programme start date: June 2027

Eligibility:  Penultimate year students graduating in Summer 2028

Who we are:

Rothesay is the UK’s largest pensions insurance specialist, purpose-built to protect pension schemes and their members’ pensions. With over £74 billion of assets under management, we secure the pensions of nearly one million people and pay out, on average, approximately £355 million in pension payments each month.

Rothesay is dedicated to providing excellence in customer service alongside prudent underwriting, a conservative investment strategy and the careful management of risk. We are trusted by the pension schemes of some of the UK’s best known companies to provide pension solutions, including British Airways, Cadbury’s, the Civil Aviation Authority, the Co-Operative Group, National Grid, NatWest, Morrisons and Telent.

At Rothesay, we are striving to transform our industry. We believe deeply in creating real security for the future and our leadership in finding new and better ways to do that is the key to our success. To do that, we need the very brightest original thinkers to bring creativity as well as rigour. Rothesay is a rewarding place to work, where quality people can thrive and prosper. We pride ourselves on the connections our people build, many of whom have been with us for over ten years.

Internship Programme:

Our internship programme is designed to provide hands on work experience within a fast-pace financial services environment, allowing you to develop the key skills to jump-start your career.  

The 8-week structured programme will start with a fundamentals week offering insight into Rothesay, your team and the financial services industry.  Throughout the programme there will be both on-desk and off-desk technical and business skills training, providing career building exposure to accelerate your future after you graduate.  You will gain visibility and experience in a flat structure, with the opportunity to network and socialise across different levels and teams throughout the firm. 

What you’ll do:

We are currently looking to hire interns to join our Trading and Asset Origination functions.  We have roles across asset origination, trading and quantitative risk trading.  Your application will be considered across all these business areas.

Our trading and asset origination functions are key in managing our balance sheet and ensuring the origination, evaluation and execution of key assets. The teams work in a fast-paced environment, and you will be joining a high calibre multi-disciplined department. We are looking for driven individuals with strong numerical and analytical capabilities.

The teams:

Trading:

The trading team is responsible for the analysis, risk management and trade execution of liquid financial instruments relevant to Rothesay. The team particularly focuses on relative values and deployment opportunities across our asset universe for alpha generation, as well as managing the firm’s macro risk positions. Another significant part of the role entails collaboration with our internal teams and interaction with external counterparties.

Asset origination:

The asset origination team source potential deals and manage the deal execution process in less liquid markets. These deals are typically large and can involve complex transaction structures. Building out dynamic financial models you will have the opportunity to conduct detailed analysis and identify the potential risks of these deals.  You’ll have the chance to build strong commercial skills and a solid project management toolkit, whilst assisting in the management of internal and external stakeholders during deal execution.

Quantitative risk trading:

The quantitative risk trading team focuses on quantitative analysis of potential assets the firm have the opportunity to purchase, as well as taking a holistic approach to risk management and hedging strategy of the growing portfolio. The team specialises in valuing the most complex elements of the growing asset pool and managing the more exotic risks Rothesay faces, so offers a great growth opportunity for technically strong candidates.

What we’re looking for:

• Original, collaborative, dedicated and meticulous candidates who are keen to learn and contribute to Rothesay’s business.
• Impeccable academic credentials; we recruit from all academic disciplines, although a high degree of numeracy is essential.
• Excellent communication skills; fluency in English is a prerequisite.
• A clear interest in a career in financial services and in particular trading and/or structured finance.

Disclaimer This position description is intended to describe the duties most frequently performed by an individual in this position. It is not intended to be a complete list of assigned duties, but to describe a position level.  The role shall be performed within a professional office environment. Rothesay has health and safety polices that are available for all workers upon request.  There are no specific health risks associated with the role.

Inclusion Rothesay actively promotes diversity and inclusivity. We know that our success depends on our people and that by nurturing a culture that values difference, we create a stronger, more dynamic business. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability or age.

The collection of applicant diversity data allows Rothesay to map and gain insights into the impact of our DEI strategy for talent attraction. This data is anonymised and is not analysed against individual applications. By requesting mapping our applicants’ demographic profiles, we can identify the under-represented groups. This enables us to identify any barriers to increasing our diversity and take action.