I spent the first of my two rotations working with the finance team. In this time, I was responsible for delivery of a number of monthly deliverables, which included analysis of revenue, expenses and investment performance. I was also heavily involved in creating reports for events which carried firm-wide exposure, and for meetings of senior management. Not only did holding such a variety of responsibilities educate me about the day-to-day operations of an asset management company; it presented the opportunity to interact, engage with, and learn from industry professionals with a wide range of roles, skills and experiences. The combination of working with data-intensive information, conducting financial analysis and communicating with such a diverse range of people was not only something that I felt catered well to my strengths, but also offered a number of valuable learning curves which continued to motivate me throughout my time in the area.

In March, I rotated from the Finance team into Global Equities. I currently work closely with the team’s Client Portfolio Manager, who provides a crucial link between the fund managers, and the clients who invest with us. This role includes, but is not limited to, reporting on recent performance, conducting competitor analysis to understand our positioning in the market, and interaction with potential new clients to encourage investment into our funds. I also participate regularly in meetings regarding portfolio composition and stock selection, and hence continue to develop an insight into the research and thought process behind investment decisions. This takes the opportunities I had in Finance, and adds to them, the chance to experience the rigorous investment process first-hand, and to understand a range of markets, strategies and philosophies in greater detail. As such, the educational aspect of the role is invaluable, and the opportunity to develop my own skills and knowledge is ever-present.