Name: Sarah-Jayne Rose
Division: Operations
Job Title: Global Head OTC Derivative Middle Office
Location: London, UK
After a career spanning nearly 18 years in investment banking, I decided it was time to pursue a slightly different path. I had been considering a change to the buy-side with an Investment management firm for some time when a friend mentioned an opportunity at Fortis Investments. I did some research, and obtained positive comments from trusted senior contacts, who advised me that my wide experience on the sell-side would be considered a strong asset. I also received good feedback on Fortis Investments, in particular around the company’s strong work ethic and the fact there was a merger with ABN Amro Asset Management underway, which I had assumed would lead to a more powerful combined entity.
Now that I am here, I find that everyone has been professional and appreciative of my efforts. Coupled with this, my colleagues are friendly and helpful – there is a nice, almost ‘family’ feel to the work environment and a strong desire to progress and improve the business.
Since joining in June 08 I have been kept extremely busy on a number of projects, including being closely involved in the process of building out the global middle office and the ABN Amro migration. I have travelled extensively to the other European sites and enjoyed the opportunity to interact with a large proportion of the management team and many other new colleagues. I had a very broad career path prior to joining Fortis Investments and have found my wide ranging experience has been very useful in a number of areas.
My team is the first control point for executed trades – if we fail at our job the whole process can become clogged up, potentially leading to unnecessary market risk and increased costs. I try to closely align my team with the requirements of the front office and ensure we are well prepared for a wide variety of requirements they may have. This often involves lateral thinking and rapid decision making, in order to ensure the job is done correctly whilst maintaining procedures and controls.
Our biggest current challenge is the fast moving market environment – the front office constantly develop ways to improve our investment capabilities, often with structured products that require innovative support solutions in our systems. I find the best method of solving these problems is to consult with experts from several areas, combining our skills to build a process and execute a plan.
I believe in a democratic and inclusive management style which requires a shared commitment to continual improvement and belief in the common goal of striving to become the best at what we do. I have been extremely impressed by the cooperation and dedication of my staff and senior colleagues, who seem to share in my goals and aspirations, and have a clear understanding of the pressures of the business. I have greatly enjoyed the opportunity to travel to other centres, meeting a number of senior managers and being involved at a high level in a wide variety of challenging projects.
The market as we knew it has changed considerably in a very short period, obviously there are going to be difficult times ahead as we continue to navigate the turmoil, however, I’ve always enjoyed a challenge and look forward to continuing to be a member of the company as it adapts and matures. I find the company to be a bright, challenging and friendly environment to work in.