Experienced Summer Intern - Business Integrity & Corporate Governance (MBA, MSc or equivalent)

Division: Impact Group

Location: United Kingdom, London

Employment Type: Intern

Salary: £64,390 (pro-rated over 8 or 10 weeks)

Closing Date: 01 December 2024

Experienced Summer Intern - Business Integrity & Corporate Governance (MBA, MSc or equivalent)

About BII

British International Investment is the UK’s development finance institution, owned by the UK Government. With a mission to solve the biggest global development challenges, we aim to create a virtuous circle of investment and impact. Your contribution will be essential. 

It won’t be easy: we do the hardest work in the most complex markets. Be prepared to test your skills, get creative and say your piece as you take on high-profile work as part of a diverse team of exceptionally smart, passionate people. 

In return, you can take your career to all-new places in a culture that rewards curiosity and collaboration, and balances high performance with wellbeing.

BII at a glance

75 years supporting sustainable business growth in developing and emerging markets

£8.1 billion in net assets

1,400+ businesses invested in

950,000 workers in the businesses we support

£9 billion in new investments planned in the next 5 years

600+ people in our diverse global team

3 key development objectives: Productive | Sustainable | Inclusive

 

Team and role overview

BII’s Business Integrity and Corporate Governance (BI & CG) team plays an important role in reinforcing BII’s reputation as a responsible investor and ensuring BII meets its regulatory commitments with respect to the FCA, as well as supporting our investees to meet the standards and requirements set out in BII’s Policy on Responsible Investing.

We do this by identifying and managing integrity risks in BII’s investment pipeline and portfolio and working to enhance private sector corporate governance and integrity risk management standards in our target geographies. We believe that BI & CG risk management that is aligned with best practice can have a developmental effect by enhancing a company’s reputation, improving internal controls, and ultimately helping it seek commercial backing. Robust business integrity practices help mitigate reputational, operational and compliance risks, and protect companies from the large fines and jail time can result from unethical behaviour. Our work is critical to safeguarding BII's reputation, meeting the BII Board's low risk appetite for integrity issues and meeting our shareholder's expectations.

 

Responsibilities

The intern’s responsibilities will depend on the business needs at the time of onboarding, but are likely to include activities such as:

  • Provide research and project management support for the BI&CG team’s thought leadership activities, which may include public events/conferences, publication of guidance notes, delivery of business integrity and corporate governance trainings.
  • Provide project management support for the BI&CG team’s internal process development initiatives, including the development of workflow processes, toolkits/checklists etc.
  • Provide research and administrative/record keeping support in relation to 1-2 investment transactions, delivered while shadowing BI&CG specialists through the diligence process of a BII investment proposal.
  • Conduct research on emerging business integrity and corporate governance themes and best practice, including through attending events/webinars.

 

The candidate (please note, this programme is not for undergraduates)

  • Currently enrolled in a Masters (MA, MSc, MPhil) or MBA programme
  • Relevant industry work experience (more than internships)
  • Demonstrable interest in international development and work experience, preferably in political risk, political economy, markets and regulation research, conflict/fragile states research, or policy research and development
  • Understanding of and identification with BII’s proposition including:
    • An awareness of and appreciation for BII’s objectives
    • A desire and passion to be part of BII’s strategy and participate in its work
    • Evidence of high-performance standards in previous positions

Technical Skills

  • Experience conducting research and analysing information from different sources, and analysing trends in specific regions or sectors.
  • Ability to proactively recalibrate the research scope when necessary, and to clearly and accurately articulate complex findings.
  • Excellent written communication skills.
  • Experience working on issues relevant to international development and emerging markets, including in relation to bribery and corruption, fraud, political risk, economic development, human rights, transparency and governance, etc.
  • Experience analysing the impacts of political and regulatory changes or other developments on businesses.
  • Competency in one or more languages relevant to BII’s target geographies or international experience would be advantageous.

Candidates should be strongly motivated by BII’s development mission and ideally demonstrate some commitment to development or social goals through previous executive or non-executive activity.  

 

Our cultural values

We look for team members who aspire, as we do, to work at our best and to be:

  • Impact-led, commercially rigorous
  • Tenacious in the face of challenges
  • Collaborative and caring

 

British International Investment is committed to diversity and inclusion and welcomes all applicants regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation or educational background. 

 

Application Process 

  • Please provide a cover letter with your application, and tell us why you would like to join the Summer Internship at BII, and why you have chosen to apply for this business area / team.
  • Please apply for one internship only
  • Position opened: 28 October 2024
  • Position closes: 01 December 2024
  • Salary: £64,390 (pro-rated over 8 or 10 weeks)

Please note BII will pay for flights to London for those studying internationally.

Apply now