Aviva is a major insurance and financial services group headquartered in London, United Kingdom, operating across life, general insurance, pensions, and asset management. The company provides a broad range of products including home, motor, life insurance, retirement solutions, and investment services, serving retail and corporate customers. Aviva positions itself in the insurance industry around digital service delivery, risk management, and sustainable investing. The organizational culture emphasizes customer-centricity, employee development, and diversity, with programs for professional qualification support and internal mobility to help staff build long-term careers. A memorable detail is Aviva’s name visibility through sponsorships—its brand is associated with stadium naming rights in Europe—reflecting a strong public profile. For job seekers, Aviva offers roles spanning actuarial, underwriting, claims, technology, and data science, with opportunities to contribute to digital transformation and ESG-focused initiatives. The company’s reputation for stability and broad product footprint makes it a solid option for insurance professionals seeking growth and impact.
I asked around and looked at recent feedback from people who have worked at Aviva. Common themes show up: many appreciate the friendly teams, patient onboarding, and clear benefits. People often say, "I enjoy the people and the purpose — helping customers protect what matters." Some report slow decision making and occasional bureaucracy, but most feel the company treats employees fairly. In short, testimonials paint a picture of a steady employer with good people and some room for improvement when it comes to agility.
The company culture at Aviva leans toward collaborative and pragmatic. There is a focus on customer outcomes, risk management, and doing things right. Teams tend to be supportive; cross-functional work is common. That said, culture can vary a lot by team — tech teams may feel fast-paced and experimental while compliance and underwriting groups can be more formal. Keywords like company culture at Aviva and working at Aviva often bring up trust, resilience, and a measured approach.
Work-life balance at Aviva is generally positive. Many roles offer flexible start and finish times, hybrid working models, and a reasonable workload for most weeks. During busy periods, especially around major projects or quarterly reporting, people say hours stretch longer. But on average, employees feel they can manage family and personal life without constant burnout.
Insurance is a stable industry and Aviva is a long-established brand, so job security is better than in many startups. That said, like other large firms, Aviva has gone through restructures and strategic changes over time. People usually feel secure in day-to-day roles, but there is an awareness that reorganizations can happen as the business shifts priorities.
Senior leadership is visible and communicates strategy regularly, which employees appreciate. Reviews are mixed: some praise clarity of direction and investment in digital transformation, while others wish for faster execution and less red tape. Overall, leadership is seen as competent and focused on long-term resilience, though not always as fast-moving as some would like.
Direct managers get generally positive feedback. Many are described as supportive, accessible, and invested in people development. Performance and people management quality varies by line manager — a common theme is that your experience depends a lot on who you report to. Good managers make the company feel much more enjoyable.
Aviva invests in learning. There are structured programs, internal courses, mentorship opportunities, and access to online learning platforms. The company encourages professional qualifications, especially in insurance and finance areas. Employees who look for growth can find training, although some say the pace of learning can be uneven across teams.
Promotion opportunities exist, particularly if you are proactive and network across the business. Internal mobility is supported and roles are often filled from within. That said, competition is real and promotions can be slow in some units. Career progression is clearer in high-growth areas like digital, data, and technology.
Salaries at Aviva are competitive for the insurance sector and region. Typical ranges as a rough guide: entry-level roles around £25,000–£35,000, mid-level professionals £40,000–£70,000, senior specialists and managers £70,000–£120,000+, and tech leads or senior executives higher depending on location. These are approximate and vary by role, location, and experience.
Bonuses are performance-related. Many corporate roles have annual bonuses of 5–15% of salary depending on role and company performance. Sales and distribution roles may have commission structures with higher upside. There are also recognition schemes and spot awards for exceptional contributions.
Aviva offers a solid benefits package: private medical cover options, life insurance, pension contributions, employee assistance programs, and often dental plans. Health and wellbeing initiatives are common, with mental health support and wellbeing allowances in many regions.
Engagement is active. Town halls, team days, learning workshops, and charity events happen regularly. There are diversity and inclusion initiatives, employee networks, and volunteering opportunities. Events help build community and keep people connected, especially in hybrid setups.
Remote work support is good. The company supports hybrid working models with guidance, homeworking allowances in some cases, and tools for collaboration. Teams tend to be flexible about remote days, though some roles require more on-site presence, especially customer-facing or site-based functions.
Standard working hours hover around 37–40 per week. Many employees stick to those hours, while project peaks can push hours higher. Flexible working patterns and part-time options are available in many teams.
Aviva has had periodic restructures and efficiency drives, which is normal for a long-standing insurer adapting to market change. Overall attrition is moderate — not unusually high, but certain departments have seen more churn during transformation phases. Layoffs have occurred in the past during reorganizations, but they are not a constant trend.
Overall rating: 3.8 out of 5.
Justification: Aviva scores well on stability, benefits, and supportive teams. The company culture at Aviva and work-life balance at Aviva are frequently praised, and working at Aviva gives solid learning opportunities and a clear sense of purpose. Downsides include variable experiences by team, occasional slow decision making, and periodic reorganizations. For someone seeking a steady, people-oriented employer with good benefits and room to grow, Aviva is a strong choice. If you want lightning-fast change or a startup vibe, it may feel slower than expected.
Read authentic experiences from current and former employees at Aviva
Stable employer, clear processes and supportive team. Good training when you join and job security is strong.
Role can be repetitive, sometimes long shifts and internal targets are strict which adds pressure.
Great work-life balance, supportive leadership and focus on wellbeing. Lots of diversity initiatives and clear HR processes.
Salary not always competitive compared to startups, and some decisions are slowed by bureaucracy.
Supportive manager, flexible hours and good parental benefits. Plenty of learning opportunities and access to modern tools.
Decision-making can be slow, a lot of legacy code to deal with and salary growth is a bit behind market for senior engineers.
Smart colleagues, good customer focus and decent tech investment. The product teams care about outcomes.
Frequent reorganisations, internal politics and slow delivery cycles. Promotion process felt opaque which was frustrating.