What ANZ actually looks for
ANZ, or Australia and New Zealand Banking Group, is headquartered in Melbourne and is one of Australia's Big Four banks, distinguished from its domestic peers by a genuine regional footprint across Asia-Pacific and New Zealand, a legacy of its earlier super regional strategy pursued under former CEO Mike Smith before being scaled back by later leadership. Under current CEO Shayne Elliott, ANZ has faced recent regulatory scrutiny, including scrutiny from Australia's securities regulator ASIC over its bond trading and Treasury dealings, which has kept risk and conduct culture high on the internal agenda. ANZ has also pursued significant expansion into digital banking through its ANZ Plus platform, aimed at competing with newer digital-first challengers. Interviewers want candidates who genuinely understand the bank's cross-border footprint and its current emphasis on rebuilding trust in trading and treasury conduct specifically.
Common questions and how to answer them
ANZ operates more broadly across Asia-Pacific than some other Australian banks. How would you work with colleagues or clients across different markets? Use a genuine cross-border or cross-cultural example if you have one. Tell me about a time you had to maintain integrity in a high-pressure trading or dealing environment. Given recent ASIC scrutiny of ANZ's Treasury dealings, conduct and integrity questions carry real weight. What excites you about ANZ Plus compared to traditional banking products? Relevant for digital or product roles; show genuine familiarity with the platform's positioning.
How to prepare
Know ANZ's regional footprint across Asia-Pacific and New Zealand and the history of its super regional strategy, since it's a genuine point of differentiation from Westpac, CBA, and NAB. Be aware of recent ASIC scrutiny into ANZ's bond trading and Treasury dealings if you're interviewing for anything in markets, trading, or risk, since conduct culture is a live topic internally. If you're applying for a digital or retail role, research ANZ Plus specifically, since it represents the bank's most visible current product investment.