As at 31 December 2016, BaFin had a total of 2,552 employees (previous year: 2,577) at its locations in Bonn (1,882) and Frankfurt am Main (670). Approximately 76.57% (1,954) were civil servants (Beamte) and approximately 23.43% (598) were public service employees covered by collective wage agreements (Tarifbeschäftigte) and others not covered by collective wage agreements (see Table 28, "Personnel").

74 BaFin employees were on long-term assignment to international institutions and supervisory authorities as at 31 December. At the close of 2016, approximately half that number, namely 36 employees, were delegated to the European Central Bank (ECB).

Table 28 Personnel

As at 31 December 2016

Personnel

* Including those employees not covered by collective wage agreements. Source: BaFin

A total of 80 new staff recruited

In 2016, BaFin recruited a total of 80 new members of staff, 24 fewer than in 2015 (see Table 29 "Recruitment in 2016").

The majority of the new recruits were fully qualified lawyers, but they also comprised economists, mathematicians and graduates in other disciplines from higher education institutions and universities of applied sciences. In addition, they included candidates for entry to the higher intermediate civil service and vocational trainees for the intermediate civil service.

Career entry at BaFin

Those starting their careers at BaFin may prepare for a position as an officer in the higher intermediate civil service by pursuing an integrated degree programme (duales Studium) in central banking. BaFin works together with the Deutsche Bundesbank for this purpose. The theoretical studies take place at the University of Applied Sciences in Hachenburg and the practical studies generally at BaFin. It is also possible to study information technology for public administration at the Federal University of Applied Administrative Sciences (Hochschule des Bundes für öffentliche Verwaltung).

Four candidates for entry to the higher intermediate civil service began preparing for their careers at BaFin in 2016, eleven fewer than in the previous year as there was a lower requirement. By the end of the year under review, BaFin was preparing a total of 26 candidates for entry to the higher intermediate civil service for their future activities in collaboration with the Deutsche Bundesbank. In addition, one candidate was completing a course in information technology for public administration at the Federal University of Applied Administrative Sciences.

Those starting their careers at BaFin may also complete vocational training for the intermediate civil service. BaFin currently provides vocational training in 4 different careers: administration specialists (21 vocational trainees), IT specialists for system integration (3 vocational trainees), business administration specialists for office management (6 vocational trainees) and media and information services specialists, specialising in librarianship (1 vocational trainee). 8 trainees began their vocational training in 2016 (previous year: 8). At the end of 2016, BaFin had a total of 57 vocational trainees and candidates for entry to the higher intermediate civil service, compared with 66 in the previous year.

Table 29 Recruitment in 2016

Recruitment in 2016

Source: BaFin

Continuing professional development (CPD)

BaFin attaches great importance to an extensive CPD offering for its employees. In 2016, BaFin employees took part in a total of 673 CPD events (previous year: 709). The total number of attendances at such events was 4,037 (previous year: 4,601). On average, each BaFin employee attended a CPD session on 3.1 days in 2016 (previous year: 4.12 days).

The CPD courses during the past year were primarily focused on specialist supervisory topics. The introduction of Solvency II on 1 January 2016 was supported by CPD events in 2016 as well. In addition, BaFin was able to significantly expand its CPD sessions offered on the Single Supervisory Mechanism for banks (SSM) in collaboration with the European supervisory authorities and national banks as well as the European Central Bank.

In 2016, BaFin also provided new specialist English courses over several days in order to enhance its employees' foreign language skills. Furthermore, employees had the opportunity to participate in a variety of courses on soft skills with the aim of developing cooperation between employees and the ability to work in a team.

BaFin as an employer

BaFin conducts regular selection processes at both its locations for fully qualified lawyers, economists and – mainly for insurance supervision in Bonn – mathematicians. Depending on its requirements, it also advertised vacancies for specialist divisions, for example for the IT and Language Services divisions.

BaFin is in competition with other German and international authorities and institutions as well as the private sector for the recruitment of qualified staff. As Germany's all-in-one financial supervisory authority, BaFin is able to score over other employers with its broad range of responsibilities. Both of BaFin's locations provide the opportunity for a varied and attractive career. This includes secondments at European level or worldwide and to the Federal Ministry of Finance (Bundesministerium der Finanzen).

Many applicants value the opportunity in principle to become a civil servant, while others – experts with many years of career experience in areas such as risk modelling and risk controlling – appreciate the remuneration in excess of collectively agreed levels. The financial markets allowance payable to all BaFin employees is a further attraction. Variable hours (flexitime), opportunities for teleworking and part-time work and in-house childcare facilities at both locations make it easier to combine a career with family life and appeal to male and female applicants alike.

For the purpose of selecting its staff, BaFin employs processes designed to match the particular career path. For the higher civil service, for example, it has established a multi-stage process consisting of an interview, an assessment center and an English test. The interview covers the specialist aspects of the process, and all applicants have to answer the same questions with the same background information to ensure that they are treated on an equal basis as far as possible.

BaFin is required to comply with the principle of selecting the best candidate in accordance with article 33 of the German Basic Law (Grundgesetz) when filling staff vacancies. This gives rise, among other things, to the obligation to advertise vacant positions publicly in order to reach a wide range of potentially interested applicants. BaFin is therefore only able to consider applications submitted for advertised vacancies.