United Kingdom · Compliance, quality and safety · Entry Level (0-2 years)

Associate Operational Risk Analyst

As an Associate Operational Risk Analyst, you become the trusted hands that keep our risk data precise and reliable.

Here is the whole job, in plain words. What it is, a real day, what you decide, how you're judged, how people get here and where they go next. Then the part no course gives you: twelve AI tutors who learn your work.

See how AI is changing this job, and get the full read by email.

Start my free AI Fluency module

As an Associate Operational Risk Analyst, a good place to start on Prompt Engineering & LLM Integration (Basic) is Using and Checking AI Tools in Daily Work, a free Future Fluency module at Level 3. You'd practise using everyday AI tools on real tasks from your own week, and checking what they produce before you use it.

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Keep this job description

Where should we send it?

One email: what AI is changing in this job, the new skills it asks for, where it leads, and where to start free. With a link back here. Nothing else follows unless you confirm your address.

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  • Experience bandEntry Level (0-2 years)
  • Direct reportsNo direct reports
  • Reports toOperational Risk Analyst (L2) or Senior Operational Risk Analyst (L3)
  • UK framework levelUsually someone starting out, or keeping a process running

Also advertised as Junior Risk Analyst · Compliance Assistant (Risk) · Safety Data Administrator · Risk Control Support

Built on 43,079 real UK job descriptions we analysed · grounded in what real qualifications cover

1From this job to a course

The qualifications matched to this job

ProQual Level 3 NVQ Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety ProQual Awarding Body · Level 3 · covers 2 of 10 standards
City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma in Operational Delivery (VRQ) City & Guilds Limited · Level 3 · covers 1 of 10 standards
NOCN Level 2 Award for Trade Union Health and Safety Representatives NOCN · Level 2 · covers 1 of 10 standards
City & Guilds Level 3 Certificate in Operational Delivery (VRQ) City & Guilds Limited · Level 3 · covers 1 of 10 standards
GQA PAA\VQ-SET Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Processing Industries Operation GQA Qualifications Limited · Level 3 · covers 1 of 10 standards
GQA PAA\VQ-SET Level 3 Diploma for a Bulk Storage Operator (Technician) GQA Qualifications Limited · Level 3 · covers 1 of 10 standards

Matched from the standards this job is measured against: a suggestion, not an official ruling.

The units you would start with

Develop procedures to safely control work operations ProQual Level 3 NVQ Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety
Working in operational delivery City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma in Operational Delivery (VRQ)
Health and Safety Issues Related to Asbestos NOCN Level 2 Award for Trade Union Health and Safety Representatives
Investigate suspected non-compliance in operational delivery City & Guilds Level 3 Certificate in Operational Delivery (VRQ)
Solve Operational Problems Within Processing Industries Environments GQA PAA\VQ-SET Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Processing Industries Operation
Comply with External and Internal Obligations within a Bulk Storage Operations Environment GQA PAA\VQ-SET Level 3 Diploma for a Bulk Storage Operator (Technician)

The future skills this job leans on

AI Fluency working with AI as a thinking partner
Data Fluency turning numbers into a decision
AI Governance Fluency using AI responsibly
Your Plan Illustration

Built for Associate Operational Risk Analyst

6 units that map to this job, from the qualifications that cover it.

  1. Develop procedures to safely control work operations ProQual Awarding Body · covers 2 of 10 standards Level 3
  2. Working in operational delivery City & Guilds Limited · covers 1 of 10 standards Level 3
  3. Health and Safety Issues Related to Asbestos NOCN · covers 1 of 10 standards Level 2
  4. Investigate suspected non-compliance in operational delivery City & Guilds Limited · covers 1 of 10 standards Level 3
  5. Solve Operational Problems Within Processing Industries Environments GQA Qualifications Limited · covers 1 of 10 standards Level 3
  6. Comply with External and Internal Obligations within a Bulk Storage Operations Environment GQA Qualifications Limited · covers 1 of 10 standards Level 3
These are the real units behind this job, in the order they rank for it. Nothing here is marked done, because this plan has not been started by anyone yet. Yours would fill in as you go.

2AI and this work

Will AI change your work as an Associate Operational Risk Analyst?

Nobody can say exactly how. Here is what this job is being asked for next, and where to start.

How the AI economy is changing work like this

A broad read on this kind of work, not an analysis of this job on its own. Roles that share a pattern get the same answer here.

Fading: AI does more of this

AI is taking over the repetitive data entry and initial report drafting, freeing you to focus on more analytical tasks.

→
Rising: worth more because of AI

Your ability to interpret data and craft meaningful insights becomes more valuable as AI handles the mundane tasks.

The new skills this role is being asked for

  • Prompt Engineering & LLM Integration (Basic)
  • Data Storytelling (Basic)
Why each one is rising

The future skills this job leans on

We'll only ever tell you what we can actually back up. No hype, no scare tactics.

What happens when you start

Next, a free account. We build your Associate Operational Risk Analyst plan as you set up, starting with the free AI Fluency module. No card.

Your first Future Fluency module is free. After that, your AI tutor is £70 a month.

Keep this read. One email with what AI is changing in this job, the new skills it asks for and where to start free. Nothing else follows unless you confirm your address.

3What this role really is

We see you

You sometimes worry that AI might overshadow your role, reducing it to mere data entry. Yet, you feel a quiet excitement about learning how to make AI work for you, enhancing your analytical skills.

An associate operational risk analyst collects incident data and checks its accuracy, supporting the wider risk function. You log incidents, gather facts and keep records clean. It is a support role, helping more experienced analysts spot and manage risks across the business.

4A day in the life

Not a job advert. A real day, built from what this role actually holds.

08:45
You start your day by reviewing the latest incident reports, ensuring every detail is logged correctly in the system.
11:00
You sit down with a senior analyst to go over the initial findings of an ongoing investigation, taking notes on how to improve your interview techniques.
14:30
You dive into the document control system, researching specific regulations to support a new report, feeling like a detective piecing together a puzzle.
16:15
You spend the last part of your day tidying up the risk register, ensuring all incidents and corrective actions are accurately recorded and up-to-date.

5What you'd actually use

The tools this job runs on, and how well you'd need to know each one.

EHS/GRC Platforms (e.g., Intelex, Enablon, Sphera) Intermediate

Accurately logging incident reports, tracking corrective actions, pulling standard reports, and navigating various modules to find relevant information.

Microsoft Excel Intermediate

Using VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, PivotTables, and conditional formatting for basic data cleansing, sorting, and initial analysis of incident data.

Microsoft SharePoint / Teams Intermediate

Uploading documents, managing version control for procedures and reports, participating in team discussions, and finding shared resources.

Data Visualization Tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau) Basic

Consuming and interpreting pre-built dashboards to understand key risk trends, performing basic filtering, and exporting data for further analysis.

ERP Systems (e.g., SAP S/4HANA PM/QM) Basic

Looking up asset data, maintenance records, or quality inspection results needed for an investigation or risk assessment.

Regulatory Intelligence Platforms (e.g., Wolters Kluwer) Basic

Using the platform to look up specific regulations or industry standards as directed by a senior analyst.

6What you get to decide, and how that grows

Power in a job isn't your title. It's what you're allowed to decide. Here's how it grows as you move up.

The choiceComing in Where you are nowThe step above
Incident Classification & Severity Propose initial classification and severity based on guidelines; always requires supervisor review and approval. Independently classify routine incidents; escalate complex or high-severity incidents for review. Final authority on classification for most incidents; consults on highly complex or politically sensitive cases.
Investigation Scope & Methodology Follow assigned investigation steps; no independent decisions on scope or methodology. Select appropriate methodology for routine incidents (e.g., 5 Whys); propose scope for manager review. Define investigation scope and methodology for complex incidents; consults with Director on major incidents.
Corrective Action Recommendations No authority to recommend actions; only logs and tracks actions defined by others. Propose corrective actions for routine incidents based on findings; requires manager approval. Develop and recommend corrective actions for complex incidents; gains buy-in from relevant departments.
Stakeholder Communication Communicate internally with immediate team members as directed; no external communication. Communicate with internal operational teams for data gathering; draft internal updates for manager review. Lead internal stakeholder meetings; represent the team in cross-functional discussions; draft formal reports.

7How you'll be judged

The scoreboard, and what is not on it. The hard targets, how often each is actually looked at, and the quiet signals that never reach a dashboard.

Incident Data Entry Accuracy
The percentage of incident reports you process that have all mandatory fields correctly and accurately filled.
Target · 98%+

If you process 50 incident reports in a week, we'd expect no more than one or two minor errors in data entry.

Corrective Action (CA) Logging Timeliness
The percentage of assigned corrective actions (from investigations) that you log into our EHS/GRC platform within 24 hours of receiving them.
Target · 95%

If a senior analyst gives you 10 CAs on a Monday, we'd expect 9 or 10 of them to be in the system by Tuesday afternoon.

Low-Severity Incident Report Closure Time
Contributing to the reduction of the average time it takes for low-severity incident reports to be fully closed in the system, primarily through timely data input and follow-up.
Target · Reduce from 10 to 7 days (team target)

Your prompt logging and initial information gathering helps shave days off the overall closure time for minor incidents like small spills or minor first aid cases.

Data Quality & Completeness
How well you gather and present initial incident information, ensuring it's comprehensive and easy for others to use for investigations.
  • Senior analysts rarely need to chase you for missing basic facts
  • your initial summaries are clear and concise
  • you proactively ask clarifying questions when an initial report is vague.
Proactive Learning & Application
Your willingness to learn new processes, understand regulatory requirements, and apply feedback to improve your work.
  • You ask thoughtful questions
  • you remember and apply feedback from previous tasks
  • you independently research basic terms or regulations
  • you show improvement in your work over time without constant reminders.
Team Support & Responsiveness
How effectively and promptly you support the senior analysts and the wider team with data requests and administrative tasks.
  • You respond quickly to requests
  • you offer help when your workload allows
  • colleagues feel you're a reliable and helpful member of the team
  • you communicate clearly about your progress on tasks.

8Would you like it

Both sides. What people enjoy, and what grinds them down.

What people enjoy
Learning and Growth

You'll be constantly exposed to new regulations, incident types, and investigation techniques. Every day is a chance to learn something new about how a business manages risk.

You'll be excited to read up on a new safety standard or understand the nuances of a particular compliance requirement, seeing it as a chance to expand your knowledge.

Making a Tangible Difference

Your accurate data entry and initial analysis directly contribute to preventing future incidents and improving safety. You're not just pushing paper; you're helping keep people safe.

You'll feel a sense of satisfaction when you see a trend emerge from the data you've collected, knowing it will lead to a change that makes the workplace safer.

Structure and Process

This role involves following clear procedures for incident logging, data gathering, and reporting. If you like order and a defined way of doing things, you'll feel right at home.

You'll appreciate having templates for reports and clear guidelines for how to classify incidents, as it helps you ensure consistency and accuracy.

What frustrates people
  • The 'Garbage In, Garbage Out' Problem: Receiving incomplete or vague incident reports, meaning you spend ages just trying to get the basic facts straight.
  • Chasing Information: Constantly having to follow up with busy people to get the details you need for incident logs or investigations.
  • The 'Compliance Police' Stereotype: Being seen as a bureaucratic hurdle rather than someone helping to keep things safe and sound.
  • Legacy System Quirks: Dealing with older systems that aren't always intuitive or efficient for data extraction and analysis.
What this role does not give you
  • High levels of independent decision-making early on – you'll be learning and supporting.
  • A fast track to leading major strategic projects – that comes later, after you've mastered the fundamentals.
  • A role where your work is always immediately visible and celebrated – much of it is preventative and foundational.

9Who you work with

Your meticulous data entry and initial analysis directly support the entire risk management framework. Get it right, and our senior analysts have solid foundations for their investigations. Get it wrong, and we're building our risk strategy on shaky ground, potentially missing critical trends or overlooking serious hazards. Essentially, you're helping us build a reliable picture of our operational health.

Inside the business
  • Operational Risk Team (your immediate colleagues and manager)
  • Operations Supervisors (the people on the shop floor who report incidents)
  • Health & Safety Officers (who you'll help gather data for)
  • HR Department (for personnel-related incident details)
Outside the business
  • None directly, though your work supports reports that go to regulators.

10What you need before you start

Not a wish list. The things you would be expected to already have.

  • A genuine interest in risk management, safety, or compliance – you'll need to want to learn this stuff.
  • Strong organisational skills; you can keep track of multiple tasks and deadlines without things falling through the cracks.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills; you can explain things clearly and concisely, and you're not afraid to ask questions.
  • Basic proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, especially Excel, Word, and Outlook – you'll use these daily.
  • A methodical approach to work, with a keen eye for detail – spotting errors is a superpower here.
  • The ability to handle sensitive information with discretion and confidentiality.

11What to practise next

Where the job is going, and what to do about it starting this week.

Advanced Excel & Basic Data Modelling

While we have EHS/GRC platforms, Excel isn't going anywhere. Being able to build more robust models in Excel, especially for ad-hoc analysis, will make you incredibly valuable. You'll need to go beyond just VLOOKUPs.

Power Query for cleaning and transforming messy da · Building simple data models within Excel (using Po · Writing basic VBA macros to automate repetitive ta · Understanding data integrity and validation techni · Using advanced formulas for conditional analysis a

  • This month: Watch a few YouTube tutorials on Power Query and try to clean one messy dataset you're working with.
  • Next month: Experiment with building a simple data model in Excel, linking two related tables (e.g., incidents and actions).
  • Month 3: Try to record a simple macro to automate a repetitive task you do weekly.
  • Month 4: Seek out a more experienced colleague and ask for tips on their Excel 'power user' tricks.

Quick win: Learn one new Excel shortcut or formula each week and force yourself to use it until it's second nature.

EHS/GRC Platform Configuration (Basic)

As you understand our EHS/GRC platform better, knowing how to tweak it slightly or build a custom report will be a huge advantage. You'll move from just being a user to being a super-user.

Understanding the underlying data structure of our · Learning how to build custom reports or dashboards · Basic workflow configuration – understanding how i · User permissions and roles within the system. · Troubleshooting common data entry or system issues

  • This month: Ask your manager if you can shadow someone who configures reports or dashboards in our EHS/GRC platform.
  • Next month: Try to build one simple custom report in the system, even if it's just for your own use.
  • Month 3: Read through the user manual or online help for the EHS/GRC platform's reporting module.
  • Month 4: Identify one small improvement that could be made to an existing report or workflow and propose it to your manager.

Quick win: Familiarise yourself with all the standard reports available in the EHS/GRC system and understand what data they show.

12Staying current once you are in

What people here do to keep up
  • Join relevant professional bodies like IOSH (Institution of Occupational Safety and Health) or IEMA (Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment) as a student or associate member.
  • Attend introductory webinars or online courses on risk management, compliance, or data analysis.
  • Read industry publications and news to stay up-to-date on regulatory changes and best practices.
  • Seek out opportunities to shadow more experienced analysts or participate in internal training sessions.

13The rising capability

The rising capability

Zavmo analysis

What's rising in its place

This is where the work is heading, and the higher pay with it. Get fluent here and the shift stops being a threat and starts being your edge.

Prompt Engineering & LLM Integration (Basic)

Honestly, AI is already here. Competitors are using tools like ChatGPT and Claude to draft reports and summarise regulations in minutes, not hours. Analysts who figure this out will be way more productive.

  • Understanding how to ask AI models the right quest
  • Knowing when to use AI for drafting vs. when to do
  • Validating AI outputs – because they can 'hallucin
  • Using AI to summarise long documents like regulati
  • Basic understanding of ethical considerations when

Data Storytelling (Basic)

It's not enough to just have data; you need to be able to explain what it means. Managers and executives don't have time to sift through spreadsheets. They need the 'so what?'

  • Identifying the key message from a set of data (e.
  • Structuring a simple narrative around data (e.g.,
  • Using simple charts effectively to support your po
  • Tailoring your message to your audience – what doe
  • Avoiding jargon and speaking in plain English when

14What you’ll use

What you’ll use

Skills this role draws on

Technical

  • Root Cause Analysis (RCA) Principles
  • Risk Assessment & Control Fundamentals
  • Control Effectiveness Testing Support
  • KRI/KPI Data Management
  • Audit & Assurance Awareness
  • Regulatory Compliance Research

15The pathway

The pathway

How you actually get there, here

How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.

  1. 1

    Recent Graduate (Relevant Degree)

    0-1 year

    Skills to master

    • Applying academic knowledge to real-world incidents, mastering our EHS/GRC platforms, understanding internal procedures, and developing strong communication skills.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Consistently accurate data entry and report logging.
    • Proactively seeking out learning opportunities.
    • Successfully completing initial training modules.
  2. 2

    Administrative Assistant / Data Entry Specialist (Regulated Industry)

    1-2 years

    Skills to master

    • Translating administrative experience into a risk context, understanding the 'why' behind data collection, and developing basic analytical skills.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive information with discretion.
    • Proven track record of high accuracy in data-intensive tasks.
    • Expressing a keen interest in moving into a more analytical role.
  3. 3

    Health & Safety Assistant / Coordinator

    1-2 years

    Skills to master

    • Broadening safety knowledge to include operational risk, understanding the full incident lifecycle, and developing formal investigation support skills.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Good understanding of on-the-ground safety practices.
    • Experience with initial incident reporting and follow-up.
    • Ability to work collaboratively with operational teams.

16How people get here · where they go next

Came from
Recent Graduate (Relevant Degree)
0-1 year
You mastered applying academic knowledge to real-world scenarios, particularly in handling data accurately and learning the ropes of risk management.
You are here
Associate Operational Risk Analyst
Entry Level (0-2 years)
An associate operational risk analyst collects incident data and checks its accuracy, supporting the wider risk function. You log incidents, gather facts and keep records clean. It is a support role, helping more experienced analysts spot and manage risks across the business.
Goes to
Operational Risk Analyst (L2)
2-3 years
This role involves taking the lead on routine investigations, owning specific risk areas, and beginning to propose solutions.

The long view: This work can lead to a senior operational risk analyst role, or on to positions such as lead risk analyst and operational risk manager.

The ten Future Fluencies

Zavmo analysis

The credential is what you can do today. These are what keep you valuable.

A qualification proves you can do the job as it's defined today. These ten are what decide whether you're still the obvious person for it in five years. They're the capabilities employers are now writing into senior roles faster than people are learning them. Zavmo weaves them through whatever you study, so you come out with both: the credential and the fluency.

The highlighted ones are the Fluencies your role leans on hardest, from how Associate Operational Risk Analyst is actually changing.

How you would learn this

One to one, on the work you already do

A tutor sets the task against your own job and marks the reasoning, at your pace. There is no cohort to fall behind.

A lesson from Develop procedures to safely control work operations, worked against Associate Operational Risk Analyst.

Develop procedures to safely control work operations Level 3

Applied to your work in Associate Operational Risk Analyst

This unit aims to provide learners with the skills to develop and review procedures for safely controlling work operations. Learners will be able to create procedures that comply with legislation and organisational policies, evaluate existing procedures for effectiveness, and communicate these procedures effectively to ensure understanding and compliance in the workplace.

The Coach Last time, we looked at how you used the 5 Whys method in your recent investigation. How did that go for you?

You It was insightful, but I found it challenging to keep the questions focused.

The Coach Let's practice refining those questions together. We'll use a recent incident you've logged to work through it step-by-step.

How the thinking builds
  1. 1 Remember
  2. 2 Understand
  3. 3 Apply
  4. 4 Analyse
  5. 5 Evaluate
  6. 6 Create
An illustration of a Zavmo lesson, built from this role’s own route. The unit, its objective and every criterion above are the awarding body’s own words, not an example.

It is £70 a month, billed monthly. Your free first module is Future Fluency, and you can cancel any time.

A year from now

A year from now, you see yourself confidently integrating AI into your daily tasks, making you a more agile and insightful analyst.

See Your Progress Grow Illustration
Associate Operational Risk Analyst
  • Root Cause Analysis (RCA) Principles
  • Risk Assessment & Control Fundamentals
  • Control Effectiveness Testing Support
  • KRI/KPI Data Management
  • Audit & Assurance Awareness
  • Regulatory Compliance Research
This is your Mind Palace on learn.zavmo.ai. Every skill above comes from this role's own record, not an example borrowed from another job. A node lights up when you evidence it, and what you build stays yours between jobs. That is the part a course cannot do.

17The detail, folded away

Everything else the record holds

The career branches in full, how AI is already showing up in the day-to-day, and the questions people ask about this job. Here when you want them, out of the way while you decide.

Where it leads next, rung by rung

Where it leads

The career path, and where it branches

Associate Operational Risk Analyst is a start, not a ceiling. Each step below asks for new skills and hands back more autonomy.

  1. Operational Risk Analyst (L2)

    2-3 years in current role

    You'll move from supporting investigations to leading routine ones independently. You'll take ownership of specific risk areas and start proposing solutions.

    • Leading Routine RCA Conducting 5 Whys or Fishbone analyses on your own.
    • Risk Control Design Proposing improvements to existing controls.
    • KRI/KPI Analysis Interpreting trends in risk indicators and reporting on them.
Working with AI on the job

Working with AI

Where AI is starting to help

Let's be real, a lot of the initial grunt work in operational risk can be pretty time-consuming. But what if you could offload some of that to AI? We're not talking about replacing you, but giving you superpowers. Imagine getting through the tedious bits faster, freeing you up to learn more, dig deeper, and actually focus on the interesting parts of the job.

In Compliance, Quality, Health & Safety, AI isn't just a buzzword; it's a practical tool that can seriously speed up how we handle incident reports, spot hidden trends, and even draft our initial findings. For an Associate, this means you'll spend less time on manual data entry and more time understanding the 'why' behind the risks, which is where the real learning happens.

Incident Triage Automation

Automatically scan incoming unstructured text from incident reports using AI. It'll tag keywords like 'fatigue' or 'improper PPE', suggest initial severity levels, and route the report to the right investigation team. This means you spend less time manually sorting and more time validating.

Trend & Precursor Analysis

Use AI to sift through thousands of near-miss reports and safety observations. It can identify non-obvious precursor events and systemic risks, like a spike in 'fatigue' mentions before a specific shift, helping us spot problems before they become incidents.

Regulatory Research Assistant

An AI assistant can summarise new or updated regulations from sources like the HSE UK or other industry bodies. It'll highlight specific changes and potential impacts on our current company policies, saving you hours of reading dense legal text.

Initial Report Drafting

Generate a first draft of a Root Cause Analysis (RCA) report or a risk assessment summary based on structured data inputs (incident type, location, personnel involved, initial findings). You'll then refine it, but the heavy lifting of getting words on paper is done.

Common questions

Common questions

How do you become an Associate Operational Risk Analyst?

Common routes in include Recent Graduate (Relevant Degree) (0-1 year), Administrative Assistant / Data Entry Specialist (Regulated Industry) (1-2 years) and Health & Safety Assistant / Coordinator (1-2 years). Times vary with prior experience.

Where can an Associate Operational Risk Analyst progress to?

This role can lead on to Operational Risk Analyst (2-3 years in current role), depending on the skills you build.

What new skills matter most for an Associate Operational Risk Analyst?

Increasingly, Prompt Engineering & LLM Integration (Basic) and Data Storytelling (Basic). These are the skills our record of this role lists as growing.

Free tools

Want a read on where you stand?

Three free tools, no account needed. Each one ends with a role, a level and a way in.

18Where to go from here

Other roles at Level 2

Same depth of qualification, different job. Useful if the work appeals but this particular role does not.

More jobs in compliance, quality and safety

Stay in the field you know and move sideways rather than up.

If you leave this industry

The skills involved carry across into other fields. They can lead to compliance work, quality assurance, health and safety management, or general operations management. Manufacturing and finance both need people who understand operational risk.

This role profile is © 2026 Growth Engineering Technologies Ltd. Built from UK occupational standards and regulated qualification data, and written for Zavmo.

You're not behind. You're right on time. The shift is only just beginning. Your role won't look the same in two years. Be the one who leads the change, not the one it happens to. Start my free AI Fluency module What happens next: a free account, then we build your plan as you set up. No card. Build your plan, see your roadmap and meet the twelve tutors matched to you. All free. When you're ready to start learning, it's £70 a month, billed monthly. Cancel any time and billing stops.