Graduate News
Scroller on / off
Travelling the world and experiencing new cultures...

The award has been created in memory of 2005 Gradu...

With categories for Universities, Employers, Socie...

icould is the first stop for thinking about starti...

While autumn is traditionally dubbed the ‘se...

You have less than four days to enter the first Ra...

RWE npower has teamed up with Real World to host t...

If you think getting a job is all about grades ? t...

One of the great things about a career in the Law ...

Fresher’s week is now officially over for an...

FEATURED GRADUATE EMPLOYER

Logica Logo

Do innovative business consulting. Do Future IT. And do it brilliantly. Do it together with Logica and help clients around the world, across every sector, improve business performance and take the fast road to change. At Logica you can expect to work with people who work together on some of the world's most exciting business and technology challenges. Like Europe's largest, most complex infrastructure project. Or the introduction of game-changing solutions that are combating climate change.
We have start dates from May 2010 onwards. Find out about the Logica graduate scheme.

Engage with us at

www.logica.com/ukgraduates.

FEATURED GRADUATE EMPLOYER

PWC Employer Logo

is the one firm for all talented graduates. As one of the world's largest professional services firms we have a lot to offer. With an enviable range of clients - from public and private companies to governments and charities - with whom we work in partnership to create leading-edge solutions. This makes PwC the ideal employer for any budding business professional.

Graduate Case Studies - Rhiannon McComb - Operations Trainee - Standard Life

Name: Rhiannon McComb
Age: 30
Degree and university: Studied Sport and Exercise Science at Napier University, Edinburgh
Work title: Investment Operations Trainee, Standard Life.

What do you actually do? I am a graduate trainee on the Investment Operations programme. The programme involves three, eight month placements and my previous role was in the Finance Department, where I worked in a business performance team learning about financial forecasting, budgeting and planning. I was also involved in several projects.

My current role is within the Risk and Compliance Department. I am currently responsible for ensuring that relevant people are aware of their responsibilities with regards to their dealing authorities. I also ensure that when new dealing authorities are requested, that they are signed off and filed to ensure that we have an audit trail.

I am also involved in projects including updating and improving the current dealing authority process, monitoring the Standard Life Investments website to ensure that it is compliant with the Financial Services Authority guidelines, and I will be coordinating a secure workplace initiative.

Why did you decide to go into the financial sector? My aspiration was to become a physiotherapist, however, due to the current lack of employment in that area, I decided to look at a career that could offer me a challenge as well as the financial security that I was craving.

Financial Services is a huge industry and a major area of employment within Edinburgh. I decided that I wanted to work for a local company that could offer me further training along with a competitive package and found that financial services far outweighed any other industry with regards to both.

Would you undertake further education to gain promotion? I am learning every single day and I have been on many courses since commencing my employment with Standard Life Investments, all of which have benefited me greatly with regards to my development.

As part of the graduate programme, I am also required to study for the Investment Administration Qualification (IAQ) and Investment Management Certificate (IMC). This is a fantastic opportunity for me to gain industry recognised qualifications, and to help me develop my knowledge of an industry that I knew very little about prior to working in it. I hope to continue learning and undertaking further training throughout my entire career as I believe it is vital to my professional development.

What do you like most about what you do and are there any downsides? I like the people that I meet daily, the approachability of my colleagues, and the relaxed atmosphere of the office. Sometimes the workload along with studying can be overwhelming but with good organisation and communication with my manager/ colleagues this can be managed.

What skills do you need in order to succeed? The responsibility is yours to complete your projects/work, gain your qualifications, and drive your career in the direction that you want it to go, therefore organisation and self motivation are key.

What advice would you give graduates entering this sector? As a starting point, look at the websites of the companies that you are interested in and learn as much about them as you can. Read the papers, and watch the news to learn about what is current in the financial sector, and see if you can spark you interest and improve your knowledge with further research. Do not be put off if your degree or experience is not in the financial sector, I am proof that it does not matter, and that if your desire is strong enough you can learn and perform in this industry.


Add to Delecious Digg Reddit Stumbleupon Furl Simpy Yahoo myweb


You need to be logged in to vote.

Article rating:
  • 0/5 Stars.
Send it to a friend | Comments (0)
Thanks for rating!

Send to a friend

To:  


From:
 

  JCapture


Thank you for posting. You message will be moderated before going live on the site

Post a comment



Comments

Comments

No comments....



 

Graduate Employers

AXA UK With 210,000 employees and distributors worldwide and a presence i... more
PricewaterhouseCoopers PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) is the one firm for all talented ... more
Bank of England Few organisations play a more influential role in the UK’s e... more
Mountbatten Institute The Mountbatten Institute is a not-for-profit organization that ad... more
VT Group VT Group has been operating a successful graduate scheme since 200... more
Ernst & Young Ernst & Young is 135,000 people, in 700 locations, working with ou... more
Scottish Investment Operations SIO is a professional body representing major employers in the Sco... more
eFinancialCareers The interactive Student Centre on eFinancialCareers.com is for stu... more
Nationwide Nationwide is the world’s largest building society with more... more
Bank of America Bank of America serves clients in 175 countries and has relationsh... more
View all Graduate Employers

Latest Graduate Jobs

Title Organisation Apply by
Just graduated? Looking for the best way into banking and fi... Quartic Training 31 Jan 2010
View all Graduate Jobs

Graduate Case Studies

Richard Cartwright

Richard Cartwright - Audit Assistant - Audit Middle Markets

I have worked at KPMG for over three years and have experience in a variety of roles within the audit function including UK Companies Act, Integrated US audits, Value for Money public sector audits, audit compliance and administration... ... more

Chris Greggory

Chris Greggory - Audit Associate - Leeds office of Grant Thornton

I chose Grant Thornton because of the investment they make into the graduate scheme in terms of the training... ... more

James Long

James Long - Analyst, Transaction Advisory Services - Ernst & Young LLP

I work within the restructuring department at Ernst & Young. My day-to-day responsibilities include responding to correspondence from creditors, data analysis, and statutory... ... more

Phil Scott

Phil Scott - Deputy Treasurer - Vodafone Group Services Ltd

After initially leaving University and focusing on completing my accounting qualification I soon felt I wanted a more commercial role with a scope to both add value to the business and become involved in a wide variety of projects and transactions. ... more

View all Graduate Case Studies

Graduate Advice

whos hiring

Who's Hiring?

Your guide to who has jobs, who wants interns and who needs trainees.... more

Job Wanted

Just the Job

According to a new report from High Fliers Research graduate vacancies... more

Advice - Facebook Article

Think Before You Click - The Negative Side of Facebook

The next time you’re about to upload pictures of your birthday party/night... more

Advice Hammer Nail

Nailing That Position- Top Tips for Getting Picked For Graduate Training Schemes

If you’re currently stressing over applying for and going for interview... more

View all Graduate Advice