Anita Jobanputra – Croydon High School – 1990-2000

By way of introduction, I studied Biology, Chemistry and IT A-levels at Croydon High School. I went on to read Computer Science & Business Studies at the University of Warwick. In my penultimate year, I completed an internship at JP Morgan. I subsequently joined the graduate scheme and spent three years in the Equities and Futures & Options divisions of the Investment Bank.

“Banking” encapsulates a variety of businesses, ranging from Corporate Finance to Fixed Income to Custody. For example, I now work in the Private Wealth Management business at Goldman Sachs. Most businesses in the City have common functions. My high-level take on these is below:

Audit – Internal auditors who have oversight for business processes and liaise with external auditors.

Compliance – Specialists who advise on the regulatory position of the firm, liaise with external regulatory authorities and ensure day-to-day compliance with local regulations.

Finance/ Business Planning – Teams responsible for managing the firm’s capital and monitoring financial risk. Teams may consist of qualified accountants. Work involves measuring the firm’s profitability and management reporting, for example.

Human Resources – Responsible for recruiting new talent and developing existing talent in the firm. Also responsible for enabling the company’s commitment to the community (“Corporate Social Responsibility”).

Legal – Qualified lawyers who advise on the legal position of the firm, liaise with external legal teams, complete legal analyses and complete legal deliverables e.g. product prospectus’.

Operations – Teams that are responsible for establishing and implementing the processes and controls to enable the business e.g. reconciling trades, client reporting.

Tax – Qualified tax specialists who advise on the tax position of the firm, liaise with Tax authorities and complete tax analyses.

Technology – Teams responsible for designing, implementing and supporting the infrastructure and systems that enable the business e.g. order entry systems.

My time in an investment bank involved working with traders, around the financial markets. I worked in a fast-paced environment, with a buzz on which I thrived. I had the opportunity to work in two of the world’s great financial centres – London and New York. I received excellent training on a structured graduate scheme, including soft skills (presentation, negotiation, influencing) that apply in all spheres of life.

My role in Private Wealth Management involves working with private investors to manage their portfolio of assets. The work is diverse as clients may choose to invest in any product – equities, bonds, hedge funds etc. I like seeing the “face behind the money” and the focus on building strong relationships. Again, I am privileged to work with the best and brightest in the industry. I have had lots of opportunities to further my financial knowledge, and to travel across Europe. I also have the opportunity to pursue my charitable interests through work e.g. I mentor children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The City is an extremely diverse collection of businesses and people, and it recruits from an equally diverse range of backgrounds. I have worked with graduates of Geography and Russian degrees, in addition to the more traditional Maths and Engineering. The attributes common to all graduates are good analytical skills, strong communication skills, a good work ethic and an enthusiasm for learning. You may have to complete post-graduate exams, so a solid academic background is desirable.

A career in the City offers amazing opportunities – varied work, global travel, support for your personal development, working with inspirational people and competitive salaries. These make a career in banking incredibly satisfying.

I think that it is important to visit company websites, speak to people in the industry and research holiday placements. I hope that my article encourages you to explore the City yourself!