Lucy Crampin - Nottingham 1980 - 1993

Finance at Shell

I studied Double Maths, French and Economics at A Level and, after taking agap year in India and Ecuador, I went on to read Economics at Cambridge .Whilst in my third year at university I made the decision to join the finance function of a large multinational corporation which could support me through the Chartered Institute of Management Accountancy qualification and would be able to give me a wide range of financial experience.  Shell was the perfect company for this, and I accepted their offer to start in September 1998.

My first job was in STASCO (Shell Trading and Shipping Corporation) where I was sitting on the Crude Oil Trading floor giving advice on contractual and financial matters to the traders.  This fast-moving environment was an excellent introduction to the corporate world.  I then moved on to work in UK Retail as the investment analyst, estimating profitability of new petrol stations and calculating how much we would be prepared to pay for the freehold or leasehold.  In 2001 I moved to Shell's Mergers and Acquisitions team, working on deals in Europe, New Zealand and South America.  I am currently on secondment to the Investor Relations department, the interface between Shell and the investor community.

A financial career in industry would suit anyone who likes to feel close to real business decisions and has an interest in the financial, strategic and commercial aspects of the industry in question.  Those members contemplating a career in this field should research the options in several different companies and consider the opportunities and expectations regarding financial training, travelling and the range of financial jobs that will be available to them.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me via the Minerva Network Development Office.