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What were the main 'career decision' milestones in your life so far?
Originally I had planned to undertake a career in life sciences, however that didn't quite work out for me even though the sciences were my favourite subjects in school, so I took a leap of faith and decided to apply for a job in the finance sector and I'm very glad I did as I feel I've progressed very well so far
How did you go about getting your current job?
I heard about the opportunity from a family member and decided to apply online. The process moved very quickly, and I had an interview weeks after I applied. I was interviewed by a panel of two partners in Northern Trust. The interview went very smoothly there was no pressure at all. I got a call from HR two weeks after my interview to offer me the position.
Describe a typical day?
A typical day in fund accounting is very busy, with preparation tasks split into four pods, each prep assuming one role. Our work is driven by deadlines so you can see on the allocation what time each task has to be completed by. It's important for us to be able to meet deadlines as delays can affect others down the line. As well as daily workloads, we also complete monthly tasks and reporting that's due at various points throughout the month based on deadlines.
What are the main tasks and responsibilities?
The main objective in fund accounting is to calculate Net Asset Values (NAVs) of a fund, so the main tasks and responsibilities are all driven by the production of NAVs. We are each allocated a number of tasks from fee calculations, booking trades and tax configurations to name a few, we would be required to pay extreme attention to detail in order to ensure our work is as accurate as possible, minimising risk and keeping our clients happy.
What are the main challenges?
What do you like most?
Is there anything that isn't great?
What particular skills do you bring to your workplace?
What subjects did you take in school and how have these influenced your career path?
What is your education to date?
What aspects of your education have proven most important for your job?
What personal qualities do you have that helps you in your career?
Personal qualities I feel I possess that help me with my career would be hard working, I like to see things through start to finish, I'm ambitious & driven career wise, I work very well with other people which I feel is very important in my role as we're a very big team, and also I'd like to think I'm very organised and timely.
What is your dream job?
I'd like to progress my career in the direction its going for the moment, I'd like to expand my knowledge in fund accounting to the best of my abilities, and hopefully in the future move across and experience other departments across the company and further increase my understanding of the financial sector.
Does your job allow you to have a lifestyle you are happy with?
What advice would you give to someone considering this job?
Someone considering this job I feel should work well under pressure as we can get very busy at times and you'll have a lot of tasks to complete. I think it's very beneficial to be social and outgoing as we all work very closely together as a team and its very helpful to have good relationships with your team when you need a helping hand in completing tasks.
What are the three most important personal characteristics required for the job?
- Career Development?
- Current Job?
- Education and Training?
- Personal Qualities?
- Advice for Others?