A year ago I was living in London, enjoying regular trips to the Greek Islands, as part of my work for a sailing holiday company. I didn’t think work could get much better than this. But I'm slowly starting to change my mind as I settle into a new life at Allianz Partners New Zealand office, just a stone's throw from Takapuna beach, writes Amy Neilson the new Communications Manager.
If you’re a well-travelled Kiwi, you will have likely borne witness to Allianz’s global presence. Currently the third largest financial services company in the world (by revenue), it's safe to say the Allianz Group is a colossal organisation. So what makes the Allianz Partners office in New Zealand so different? Well, a few things...
Location, location, location
Unlike many of Auckland’s financial institutions, Allianz Partners’ office is located right here in the centre of the North Shore’s beachy haven - Takapuna. The office is just a five minute walk from Takapuna Beach, the eighth most instagrammed place in New Zealand. Not many corporate workers can say that they start the day with a sunrise walk along the beach overlooking a volcano, or a stand up paddleboard before the day’s first coffee.
A Growing Company of Opportunities
Of course, like any job, work has its challenges, but at Allianz Partners this is balanced with exciting growth and the associated opportunities. This year the firm plans to launch a new line of business (watch this space) while continuing to work with current partners to raise awareness around the importance of travel insurance. Growth brings opportunity for employees as well as the business; someone in a customer service role could progress to a number of different areas of the business. On top of local opportunities, being a global company means that new roles aren’t limited to New Zealand shores. The global Allianz Partners family consists of over 17,500 employees across offices in 76 countries. From Brisbane, to Singapore or as far afield as Paris - the group are always looking for new team members.
A Diverse Team
The group’s global reach is reflected within the makeup of the team, which means that you feel like you are part of something much bigger than a small Kiwi office. Our office hosts colleagues and friends from all over the world. From our Medical Assessment Team Leader from the Netherlands, to our Chief Underwriting Officer from Macedonia, and of course our Chief Executive Officer from Brazil – the Allianz Partners team in New Zealand is a charismatic melting pot of different cultures.
Daring to Care About Team Wellbeing
As I sit writing this, I'm regaining my focus following a 15 minute neck and shoulder massage at my desk - just one of the many initiatives our HR team have come up with to add to our wellness in the workplace. The aforementioned office massages are part of Allianz Partners’ corporate wellbeing offering. This includes an annual wellbeing allowance to spend on new trainers, gym membership or health treatments. Free eye tests, life and income protection insurance come as standard benefits, as well as access to discounted health insurance. On top of this, our meritocratic culture means that hard work never goes unnoticed. Every month we award People’s Choice Awards, with a prize awarded monthly and winners going into a draw to win a $1000 travel voucher.
A Social Company
Our office constantly invest in team culture and offer opportunities outside of the workplace. On top of local team building opportunities, we have just had two of our team return from Munich where they participated in the Allianz Games - the company's very own version of the Olympics. This was the first year New Zealand attended the international event, celebrating the firm’s global diversity. One of our New Zealand representatives even secured an impressive medal haul, including Gold in the 100m Backstroke. This summer, you'll no doubt find us down at the beach or on the tennis court across the road, practising for next time!
Allianz Partners, Level 3, 1 Byron Avenue, Takapuna
