Technology > Graduate

Business Description

The Citi Operations & Technology group is building a foundation of the best technology, processes and people that will enable Citigroup to achieve its growth goals. Citi's Operations & Technology business provides global support in the areas of anti-money laundering operations, continuity of business, finance, payment services, employee services, procurement, project management, realty services, executive services, technology infrastructure and management, technology risk, vendor management, and related financial consolidation activities. With employees in over 100 countries, Citi Operations & Technology (CO&T) serves the businesses of Citi and provide these shared services by leveraging operational and technical efficiencies across the world. CO&T employees work together to drive, simplify and build commonalities, reduces complexity and unnecessary costs and strengthen information security.

What services do we provide to our clients?

Within Citi Operations & Technology, there are several groups our Associates get exposure to, specifically:

1. Citi's Technology Infrastructure (CTI) - With a presence of about 10,000 staff in some 100 countries, CTI provides technology infrastructure products and services for approximately 80% of Citi businesses, including data centers, network, desktop and voice systems. CTI has centralized global functions providing strategic focus to the regions. The organization provides worldwide support to Citi businesses with the absolute highest levels of quality, availability and reliability in the areas of network and telecommunications support, systems and application services, engineering, information security, compliance and data center operations.
2. Citi Information and Technology Services (CITS) provides products and services that improve our customers' profitability and competitiveness while maximizing operational excellence through partnerships with O&T personnel throughout the world to jointly achieve global consistency, best practice adoption and operating efficiencies.
3. Citi Architecture & Technology Engineering (CATE) maximizes the consistency and quality of services across Citi as well as supporting a standard architectural approach to application development. CATE works closely with the businesses to accelerate the adoption of technologies and methods that provide competitive advantage and increased operational excellence.
4. Information Technology Risk Management Organization is accountable for ensuring an effective information security program across the Citi.
5. Citi Program Management Office (CPMO) maintains a core team that performs key program management functions for Citi O&T including: Governance of the Citi Program Management Council (CPMC); promoting consistency in program management offices' methods, tools, and capabilities; and program management of selected Enterprise-wide Initiatives Facilitate reporting on Enterprise-wide Initiatives.

Roles of an MA

Typical Responsibilities an Associate may undertake:

• Work closely with managers to plan and forecast budgets, manage headcount, develop and track hardware and software inventories, and track project progress as well as maintain group financials.
• Translate business requirements and needs into information technology solutions. Bridge the gap between various businesses and the Technology staff. Key responsibilities include understanding business needs and to be able to translate those needs into technical outcomes.
• Assist with the oversight and administration of global networks and look to integrate/leverage each through automation to improve overall network efficiency.
• Improve the overall quality of our services and service delivery through a combination of improved metric collection, improved metrics analysis and tracking, and process improvement.
• Business-IT Alignment: Partner with internal clients at appropriate levels to understand business goals and strategy and to identify impact on technology deliverables. Work with Finance to analyze cost drivers for charge-backs to specific businesses and impact to the budget’s run rate. Monitor and track cost-savings programs.
• Evaluate, analyze, reengineer and/or create business processes between CTI and Citi businesses to enable operational efficiencies and improved client management.
• Work to minimize the potential of introducing risk by implementing the necessary controls into our systems environment and provide end-to-end service to our customers. This quality service results in the highest achievable levels of customer satisfaction and recognition for excellence.
• Manage programs for Information Risk Assessments and Technology Risk Management product development, deployment, operations and support functions.
• Strategic Project Support – assist in research and preparation of technology and infrastructure briefings; research industry and/or Citi status of key technologies/products
• Develop and implement performance management metrics, automate manual processes, review and discuss possible alternatives to current department processes, such as: website, metrics and reporting.

Our Programs

The Technology Management Associate Program was developed to bring graduating technical and leadership talent into the organization and to accelerate the development of the participants through the program elements. Technology Management Associates participate in two challenging 12-month work assignments within the technical segments of Citi Operations & Technology.

The rotations are designed to provide multidiscipline exposure and learning. Formal mentoring and extensive training is designed to accelerate the growth of the Associates technical and leadership skills, foster strategic thinking, and to gain a firm understanding of Citi’s technologies and related business model. Opportunities within the program include technology project management, technology engineering, data center management, IT compliance, and technology product and relationship management.

Why Technology?

The Associate Program provided me with a unique accelerated learning opportunity. The rotational assignments and the extensive training opportunities helped me gain relevant in-depth experience in different areas of Citi O&T in a short period of time. Through my diverse assignments, I was also able to build a global network of contacts including other associates as well as managers that are still a great career resource to me today. (Andreas, Program Alumni, joined 2001)

While I was in college I obtained an internship with Citi, which gave me the opportunity to see for myself how prestigious and well organized the company really is. It was amazing to me that in a global corporation of over 300,000 employees I was not just a number; as an intern I was actually treated as someone who could come into the company and make a difference and I was encouraged to do so. The Management Associate Program is a fast-track program designed to develop future managers. As an Associate, you are encouraged to think outside the box and be innovative while simultaneously learning the Citi culture. You are given opportunities in a two or three-year time period that could take most people over five years to achieve, let alone a recent college graduate. Though the choice was an easy one, as a first-year Technology Management Associate I couldn’t be happier with the decision that I made in joining the Citi team. In fact, I couldn’t fathom the thought of someone not wanting to be a part of such an elite group of young professionals, and a member of an influential global financial firm. (Erick, joined 2007)

Throughout the many internships and positions I have had in the past, there is no environment comparable to that of Citi. With Citi’s reach spanning clear across the globe, you get to interact with people of various cultures and backgrounds. Creativity is highly encouraged; the leaders of today are searching for the leaders of tomorrow; and each employee is given the opportunity to grow. If you’re serious about joining an Associate program, I highly urge you to start your search as early as possible. This program is the right choice for any individual who is highly motivated, intelligent, and looking for a great start to a career. Upon being accepted into the Operations and Technology Management Associate Program, you will be given a great opportunity to contribute to top-priority initiatives, participate in high-profile projects, and interact with Senior Management across Operations & Technology. The professional development you will receive in this program, thanks in part to challenging rotational assignments, senior and peer mentoring, a well defined training curriculum, and interaction with Senior Management, should be used as a benchmark for all development programs in every organization. (Mirsad, joined 2005)
I chose Citi's Operations & Technology Management Associate program for a variety of reasons. The program offers accelerated career opportunities where you can select a rotation that suits your best interests and expertise. In my first rotation as an Associate, I advise a management team on remaining compliant with Citi's policy and procedures regarding the protection and proper use of data and information. In working with Senior-level management, I have a high degree of responsibility working on a project that is both challenging and rewarding. In addition, with each one-year rotation, I have the ability to network with individuals on the technology side and the business side, building my base of contacts and experience faster than the average employee. (Stephen, joined 2007)

Who we are looking for

Full Time Associates
We seek candidates with a strong work ethic, high energy and strong interpersonal and communication skills. Several traits we are looking for are:

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, both verbal and written, as well as strong presentation skills
• Initiative, creative problem-solving and relationship-building skills
• Ability to motivate and influence others
• Excellent networking, negotiation, detail and follow-up abilities
• Demonstrated analytical and problem-solving skills, including situation appraisal, root cause analysis, and potential problem analysis
• Team-oriented, flexible, and receptive to change
• Ability to achieve results
• Integrity and high professional standards

We are seeking candidates from a broad spectrum of disciplines, generally within project management and business analyst roles. The ideal candidate should have:

• BA/BS or Master's degree in Computer Science, Technology Management, Engineering Management, Management Information Systems or other technology-oriented degrees; or MBA with undergraduate degree in Technology.
• Minimum GPA of 3.00
• Demonstrated track record of leadership in school, community or work experience
• Global business orientation, experience living, studying or traveling outside the U.S. or home country
• Strategic planning skills, strong process orientation and fiscal aptitude
• Demonstration of strong project management skills
• Strong technical aptitude, orientation and interest; proficiency in MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint required, experience with MS Access, MS Project and Visio also preferred
• Knowledge of basic finance and accounting concepts
• Multilingual skills a plus

Recruitment Process

Citi Corporate Center begins the formal Technology Management Associate Program recruiting process in September in the form of an on-campus presentation or Pre-Night. All students are invited to attend this event to learn about the culture, the business, and the technology at Citi. Subsequently, job descriptions are posted through university Career Centers. All students will need to apply via career services with their school as well as to the Citi website. Once all resumes have been collected and reviewed, a closed, targeted list of first-round interview candidates is compiled. First-round interviews take place in the September-October timeframe and successful interviewees subsequently go directly to Super Day. On Citi campus interviews are typically 30 minutes; Super Days typically consist of three 45-minute interviews with a committee of Technology professionals in either Tampa or New York. Offers are given as soon after Super Day as possible.

Stage 1: On Campus Presentations: beginning in September. Interested applicants are encouraged to attend.

Stage 2: Applications: submitted via your career services AND the Citi web-site. Campus Recruitment reviews applications.

Stage 3: First Round Interviews: take place on campus in the September/October timeframe. Citi on-campus interviews are typically 30 minutes.

Stage 4: Super Day: successful first-round interviewees are invited to our Super Day. This day typically consists of three 45-minute interviews with managers from the Citi O&T businesses.

Stage 5: Offers: extended by the business as soon after the Super Day as possible; follow up by Campus Recruitment

Where

Since this program seeks to develop future leaders for our organization, upon hire, Technology Management Associates are expected to complete their initial rotations in:

• Dallas, Texas
• Metro-New York City area (including Warren, New Jersey and Melville, Long Island)
• Tampa, Florida
• Or other business centers

Unrestricted domestic mobility is required for consideration for the program.