Colonial First State
Write a review
    Colonial First State
    (59 reviews)
    Write a review
    Write a review

    Company Reviews

    Working at Colonial First State

    3.459 ratings in total
    5
    18
    4
    16
    3
    6
    2
    7
    1
    12
    74%
    Rate salary as high or average
    61%
    Employees recommend this employer to friends
    Work/Life balance
    3.6(59 ratings)
    Career development
    3.2(59 ratings)
    Benefits & perks
    3.4(59 ratings)
    Management
    2.9(59 ratings)
    Working environment
    3.4(59 ratings)
    Diversity & equal opportunity
    3.8(59 ratings)
    Ratings for Colonial First State are shared as-is from employees in line with our community guidelines

    Reviews

    Showing 60 reviews sorted by most recent
    Sort by
    most recent
    1.0
    Project Manager
    Feb 2026
    Sydney NSW 20002 to 3 years in the role, former employee
    Terrible place to work and will crush strong souls.
    The good thingsA tough place to work (management are in it for themselves) where staff band together to survive and keep their sanity.
    The challengesEverything needs improving. Managers behave appallingly and are in it for themselves. Everyone else is there for managers to walk all over.
    2.0
    Marketing Role
    Nov 2025
    Sydney NSW 200012 to 13 years in the role, former employee
    Toxic culture, overworked and disconnected managers bringing in unqualified mates into cushy roles.
    The good thingsCFS was a great place to work before they got taken over by KKR and started stripping the company of quality workers with knowledge and team values. Hybrid working is good so you don't have to be in toxic office every day.
    The challengesThe culture is toxic and most managers are only in it for themselves. There are some departments that are still ok but avoid Marketing.
    2 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Project Manager
    Aug 2025
    Sydney NSW 20003 to 4 years in the role, former employee
    Under CBA Group it was a place to work , now its a place to avoid. Be careful, its not to name and shame but Top - Middle management people know its their last bet to make money so they squeeze every drop of your energy for their own survival
    The good thingsWFH apart from that I cant think of any
    The challengesChaotic env, no IT leadership, fire fighting - highly unorganised WoW. The leadership have one mandate, save cost, secure their bonuses
    1 person found this helpful
    1.0
    Software Engineer
    Mar 2025
    Sydney NSW 20005 to 6 years in the role, current employee
    Very unorganized workplace, horrible technology and poor management
    The good thingsThe people I worked with.
    The challengesMicro-management, poor career development, long working hours and low Pay
    1 person found this helpful
    2.0
    Customer Service Representative
    Sep 2024
    Hawthorn VIC 3122Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    There is no carrier program or plan if you think to start with a role in the phones and move upwards They wont let you. Wont be recommended to a professional who seeks a organisation with carrier goals and in a place seems to be stuck in early 1910.
    The good thingsSalary is good compared to market Working in a corporate environment
    The challengesBeing micro managed Takes endless calls and so called work life balance is a mirage They will not hesitate to fire anyone with no respect
    4 people found this helpful
    3.0
    Senior Business Analyst
    Oct 2023
    Sydney NSW 2000
    Looks good from the higher management, bit over expectation on the projects
    The good thingsKeeps you busy with good projects
    The challengesComplicated process to gain access while in IT environment
    1 person found this helpful
    4.0
    Finance and Fund Services
    Sep 2023
    Sydney NSW 2000Less than 1 year in the role
    Great office environment in central location in the CBD. Projects are not properly structured, governed and resourced to support business. They have the right organisational goals and employee values being communicated though not everyone is aligned to them since the divestment from CBA.
    The good thingsGreat modern office location, the staff at the coal face of managing the business and dealing with customers are generally hardworking and great to work with.
    The challengesProjects poorly governed and executed due to lack of resources and senior management team not being fully aware of effort required to get across the line.
    1.0
    Senior Risk and Compliance Manager
    Aug 2023
    Sydney NSW 2000
    Worst experience during my 20 years working in Finance.
    The good thingsLocation close to Town hall station.
    The challengesLong hours, below average salary, old style management. They are ridiculously stingy/cheap. You have to bring your own stationery and tissue papers. They don't even provide coffee in the kitchen. I was able to find a much better job after a few months there and was very happy to resign.
    4 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Operations Manager
    May 2023
    Hawthorn East VIC 3123
    Worst experience in Wealth in the 7 years I have been in the industry
    The good thingsgood location in Wealth industry if based out in eastern suburbs
    The challengesunsupportive and inconsiderate management, sees people as a number and not necessarily for a real person
    2 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Manager
    Apr 2023
    Sydney NSW 2000
    Management takeover that only want to bring their cushy friends in. Mass cuts to fluff up business for a profit resale.
    The good thingsTends to be graduates that enter and have a sense of camaraderie but aside from that there really isn't much going on here since divestment from CBA - the main "seller" for people to apply to CFS
    The challengesPrivate takeover, cost cutting, new management clueless about how old and clunky the business is, barely functioning and expects "high performance culture" with mainframe systems. Idea of boosting people engagement is going from no mandate to 3 days mandated office. Pay is not even close to market median and the expectation set by management is that if you ask for more, you should leave.
    5 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Call Centre Operator
    Jun 2022
    1 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    Would not do this again
    The good thingsThe people I worked with.
    The challengesUnrealistic KPI'S and very poor management
    6 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Financial Services Administrator
    Feb 2021
    1 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    Overworked and stressed with little support from disconnected management
    The good thingsMet some really great people from diverse backgrounds
    The challengesMicro-management Poor career development Long working hours Low Pay
    4 people found this helpful
    5.0
    Administration Officer
    Jun 2020
    7 to 8 years in the role, former employee
    Excellent
    The good thingsWorked for great co and Team
    The challengesBusy during end of financial year
    1.0
    Level 2 Desktop Support Role
    Mar 2020
    5 to 6 years in the role, former employee
    Good for a while, but not forever
    The good thingscheap car parking, good bonus yearly, negotiable pay grade upon entry, nice people, flexible working arrangements.
    The challengesVery unorganized workplace, horrible technology, company barely making any money
    3 people found this helpful
    5.0
    Bottom of the barrel
    Mar 2020
    5 to 6 years in the role, former employee
    Good teams but poor management. Spending millions when it could have been done in thousands.
    The good thingsWork life balance, great people to work with.
    The challengesManagement is has no clue. They are just doing what their superior ask them instead of what's right for organization. Blindly following outsourcing where the outsourcing partner is exploiting them.
    1 person found this helpful
    4.0
    Financial Services Administrator
    Mar 2020
    Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    Fairly good overall experience
    The good thingsFlexible working hours
    The challengesNo development in the industry
    2.0
    Product Manager
    Mar 2020
    7 to 8 years in the role, former employee
    Promotes people based on who they know rather than competency
    The good thingsAffiliated with cba, that's about it. Can move around teams
    The challengesDealing with poor managers
    3 people found this helpful
    4.0
    Software Developer
    Mar 2020
    3 to 4 years in the role
    Has its set of issues as with all companies but would overall recommend it
    The good thingsWork life balance People
    The challengesPoor Architecture team not able to take the organisation towards cutting edge tech. Stuck in an archaic way of working. Huge tech debt and no real will from the management to go beyond words.
    5.0
    Case Manager
    Mar 2020
    Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    Amazing.. one of the best places to work in terms of work opportunity, life balance
    The good thingsThe management.. Team leaders are people oriented which makes it so much a better place to work..
    The challengesSometimes the distance can be an issue
    5.0
    Customer Service Representative
    Nov 2019
    1 to 2 years in the role, current employee
    Great opportunity
    The good thingsgood opportuinity for career progression
    The challengesCan be difficult KPI's set to achieve
    4.0
    Business Development Manager
    Nov 2019
    Enjoyed my time and learnings.
    The good thingsImmediate management were excellent and very caring. Team was like a family.
    The challengesNot a well defined strategy, unfortunately.
    1 person found this helpful
    1.0
    Operations Analyst
    Nov 2019
    3 to 4 years in the role, former employee
    would not recommend working here
    The good thingsnot much of good things, too many politics
    The challengesdealing with inexperienced people, bad management, and cost-making company
    2 people found this helpful
    5.0
    Business Development Manager
    Sep 2019
    Great people, great culture but the winds of change are blowing. CFS could be anything in the next 2-5 years.
    The good thingsWell resourced. Great culture.
    The challengesShifting sands and regulatory challenges in platform market at a macro level. From a micro perspective, CFS is trying to deal with divesment by CBA...challenging times for the business.
    1 person found this helpful
    2.0
    Senior Analyst
    May 2019
    5 to 6 years in the role
    Good place but no room for motivated individual to step up.
    The good thingsGood for people who are in higher management as a plan for retirement. Good friendly culture.
    The challengesWork piling up with limited resources.
    4.0
    Customer Service Call Centre Representative
    May 2019
    Great culture but too much politics
    The good thingsFantastic culture. Average salary but nice bonus structure
    The challengesManagement can be very performance focused and doesn’t really treat employees as humans. Career development can be challenging unless you play the game
    4.0
    Business Development Role
    May 2019
    former employee
    Great
    The good thingsGreat culture
    The challengesNone unless you want it
    1 person found this helpful
    1.0
    R I s k
    May 2019
    Most unpleasant management experience in my 35 year career
    The good thingsFlexible work arrangements
    The challengesInappropriate behaviours and terrible culture from the top down
    2 people found this helpful
    5.0
    National Manager, Retail Sales
    May 2019
    current employee
    Great People & Culture
    The good thingsGreat People & Culture
    The challengesIndustry as a whole are having challenges
    1.0
    Fund Accountant
    Jul 2018
    1 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    good opportunity for graduate.
    The good thingsnice building good people
    The challengesbad management low salary a lot of overtime required, no work life balance low staffing all the time too much work in daily basis no lunch break
    1 person found this helpful
    5.0
    Product Manager
    Feb 2018
    1 to 2 years in the role, current employee
    Great career move, plenty of development opportunities and reward/recognition
    The good thingsPeople, Culture, Work/life balance
    The challengesComplexity of the organisation and the product
    Company Reviews published on our site are the views and opinions of their authors and do not represent the views and opinions of SEEK or its personnel. SEEK does not verify the truth or accuracy of any reviews and does not adopt or endorse any of the comments posted. SEEK posts reviews for what they are worth and for informational purposes only to assist candidates to find employment.
    Reviews by location
    All Melbourne VICAll Sydney NSW