Global Transaction Services > Associate

Business Description

We have designed these sections to aid you in your understanding of what Global Transaction Services (GTS) is, the services we provide to our clients and how we are structured. In the subsequent tabs we have asked for input from our Analysts/Summer Interns and also the recruiters describe the type of person we are looking for as well as the recruitment process.

What is Global Transaction Services (GTS)?

Global Transaction Services provides innovative banking solutions to more than 45,000 financial institutions, corporate clients and public sector entities around the world. With a global network spanning 100 countries, we are uniquely qualified to service clients with local and cross-border interests and provide integrated reporting and management. Our consultative approach and focus on relationship banking enables us to help clients address strategic financial and operating issues, such as working capital and liquidity management, asset management, treasury integration, and exposure and risk management.

What service do we provide to our clients?

Global Transaction Services offers a broad range of cash management, treasury, trade, custody, clearing, fund administration, securities financing, depositary receipt, and agency and trust services. Our global platform is unique in the industry for its reach, interoperability and flexibility. It provides clients with timely, accurate information and dynamic, web-based tools to effectively manage their securities portfolios, financial positions, working capital and supply chain around the world. Combined with a worldwide network of dedicated and experienced transaction services professionals, Global Transaction Services is well suited to serve clients anywhere they do business.

We offer a broad spectrum of solutions to our clients:

• We help corporations make and receive payments, optimize their working capital and efficiently connect their financial supply chain. In short, we help Treasurers efficiently manage the liquidity in their balance sheet and provide open account credit that facilitates trade with their suppliers and distributors.

• We provide middle and back office solutions, from fund administration, global custody and fiduciary services to shareholder administration (also known as transfer agency) and securities lending, to Asset Managers, Pension Funds and Hedge Funds. Increasingly, pensions funds and asset managers trade derivatives as part of their portfolio, and we are one of the first in the market with the capability to extend OTC (over the counter) derivatives processing support to this client segment.

• Our agency and trust business supports Note Issuers in the capital markets, M&A and asset securitization deal-makers, corporate consortia, etc. with paying agency services and corporate trust facilities.

• We deliver operating efficiency to Public Sector Entities, from providing postal agencies with banking infrastructure for their post banks, extending securities lending and cash management to central banks, and helping utility companies consolidate and reconcile payments from their end-customers, to delivering government pensions and welfare payments to beneficiaries around the world.

What product/groups do we cover?

Transaction Services typically incorporates three main product areas, which are Cash Management, Trade Services and Finance, and Securities and Fund Services.

Cash Management

Cash Management delivers treasury solutions that empower our clients to optimize visibility, connectivity, and control, enabling them to enhance their financial performance. We are one of the largest processors of cash flows globally. Cash Management offers clients over 50 global services, spanning Payments, Receivables, Liquidity and Investments, Information Services and Commercial Cards, all supported by ten regional processing centers worldwide. We lead the industry in our ability to provide global solutions, using award-winning, innovative platforms supported by local experts in markets around the world. Our clients include corporations, financial institutions and governments. The business has been recognized for excellence by many publications including Euromoney, The Banker and Global Finance.

Trade Services and Finance

Citi - with the largest trade services network in the world, spanning 72 countries and 104 cities - offers the broad range of solutions that meet our global trade clients' needs. From risk mitigation to financing, settlement to information, Citi's trade experts and four regional processing centers offer around-the-clock operations support and deliver world-class solutions to suppliers, buyers and financial institutions. Trade Services and Finance meets the needs of both importers and exporters by providing industry-leading settlement, effective risk mitigation and innovative trade finance solutions – enabling them to safely expand their cross-border trade business around the world. Trade Services and Finance has also been recognized by leading publications, including Trade Finance, Global Finance and Trade & Forfeiting Review.

Securities and Fund Services

Securities Services is a leader in domestic and cross-border transaction services for the world's investors, intermediaries and issuers with more than $9.3 trillion in assets under custody and trust. Offering the industry largest proprietary network, Citi consistently ranks as the premier choice for custody, clearing, securities finance, global agency and trust and depositary receipt services in more markets than any other bank, according to industry surveys. Investment managers, broker-dealers and global custodians rely on Citi for authoritative market intelligence, state-of-the-art processing capabilities, and responsive client service.

Fund Services is a leading service provider to the global mutual fund, hedge fund and offshore fund industries. Citi has provided turnkey fund services solutions to the investment industry since 1986.

Operating in 18 countries, Citi's primary fund administration centers are located in Portland, Maine; Toronto; Bermuda; Edinburgh, U.K.; Dublin, Ireland; Luxembourg; Warsaw; Singapore; Hong Kong; and Tokyo. These operations centers provide a comprehensive set of services to all investment fund structures.

 

Roles of an Associate

In order to give you a better understanding of Global Transaction Services (GTS), we asked our current Associates to describe (in their own words) the areas they work in.

It is important to mention that the Associate programme is a three-year rotational programme. It consists of rotations across different products and countries.

Roles an Associate may undertake in Global Transaction Services:

Strategic projects: Analysis of various industries and trends within those industries. This serves to identify gaps / areas of financial services needs within a client's value chain & thus the potential application of GTS products and solutions towards those needs.

Client involvement: From budget setting and account planning process all the way to getting involved in client deals, which helps to involve the Associate in all aspects of the client relationship and understanding of the client's business. Through an assessment of the synergies between various companies and business areas, the Associate would assist Client Managers in various client deals and provide a value added enhancement to the client team.

Workshops and Training: Working with the Sector Head to identify areas of importance for the team, to assist in the origination efforts, various workshops, brainstorming sessions and training sessions will be set up by the Associate to facilitate discussion and sharing ideas on meeting revenue targets.

Compliance Projects: As a part of the training, the Associate will also be involved in important compliance and regulatory projects, whereby project management skills, senior escalation, as well as prioritisation will be extremely important. These projects will usually involve working with the entire Client Management team across EMEA.

Product Teams: Working with various product teams within GTS the Associate will identify areas where data could be captured which will lead to new ideas for existing product enhancement, as well as ideas for new product development.

Our Programmes

Full time Program

The full time Associate program commences in August with a four-week intensive training program that has developed a reputation for excellence amongst academic and business leaders worldwide.

The training programme begins in London with one week of GTS Business presentations and networking events. The allocation process also takes place then. This will be followed by one week in New York; where you will join Associates from around the globe for your overview of Citi and specifically Citi Corporate and Investment Banking. The remainder of the training for our EMEA Global Transaction Services Associates will be conducted in London and will cover GTS Product training and Risk training. Our training programme is interactive and participative, ensuring that our Associates play a full part in the learning experience thus making the training relevant, stimulating and effective.

Following this training you will take part in a 3 year programme focusing on both formal and on the job training. Closely linked to a senior MD in the business, you will be preparing for an independent management role in an area suited to your skills and competencies as well as the needs of our business.

Citi's most important resource is our people. As such, you'll notice the emphasis on networking, mentoring, and socializing. New Associates are encouraged to get to know their colleagues.

Summer Programme- Associates

The Global Transaction Services (GTS) Summer Associate Programme is based in London and runs for 8 to 10 weeks starting in June.

Our Summer Associate programme commences with a classroom induction to Citi Markets and Banking. This is then followed by 1.5 days of “Introduction to Financial Markets” training.   

The training continues throughout the summer covering areas such as presentation skills, industry knowledge and on the job learning. In addition to the training programme, we offer a weekly lunch "Speakers Series" delivered by Senior Managers from the various businesses within the Citi Markets and banking organisation. Summer Associates also have the opportunity to participate in a number of networking and social events.

Our objective over the summer months is to ensure that our Summer Associates get the most out of their internship and gain a greater appreciation for the outstanding career opportunities within GTS.

 

Who we are looking for

We are proud to employ the most talented team of professionals in the industry; people who provide our clients with the highest level of financial expertise and professional service, regardless of where they are located across the globe.

We are seeking candidates who are highly motivated and have superior academic achievement in a wide variety of disciplines, as well as significant commercial work experience. Successful applicants demonstrate evidence of their strong communication and interpersonal skills, commitment to excellence and leadership qualities and possess solid quantitative ability. Our employees work in an international environment and often have fluency in more than one language.

A successful candidate typically would demonstrate:

• Ability to work independently and in a team

• Strong planning and organisational skills

• High levels of self-motivation and initiative

• Superior relationship building skills

• Creative and innovative problem-solving skills

• Good understanding of the industry/environment

• Strong analytical skills

• Commitment to excellence

• Excellent attention to detail

• Proven leadership skills

• Financial expertise, and comfortable with handling a variety of analytical assignments

• Ability to demonstrate presence and professionalism with clients

• Unquestionable ethics, an understanding of the implications of decisions and a respect for client confidentiality

Recruitment Process

Full Time Associate Positions:

We open for applications on the 1st September 2007

Please note that we hire the majority if our Full-time class through the Summer Associate Programme.

Application Deadlines: - Business School specific.

Below is an outline of the recruitment process from application received to offer:

Stage 1: Application is reviewed by Graduate Recruitment and the Business

Stage 2: First round interviews (normally held on campus)

               Two 1:1 competency based interviews

Stage 3: Assessment Centre

               Three 1:1 competency based interviews with Managing Directors

                Written Case Study Analysis & Presentation

Stage 4: Offer extended by business; follow up by Graduate Recruitment

Please note: Most first round interviews outside the UK will be held in the country of study. All assessment centres will be held in London.

Summer Associate Positions:

Below is an outline of the recruitment process from application received to offer:

Stage 1: Application is reviewed by Graduate Recruitment and the Business

Stage 2: First round interviews (normally held on campus)

               Two 1:1 competency based interviews

Stage 3: Assessment Centre

               Three 1:1 competency based interviews with Managing Directors

               Written Case Study Analysis & Presentation

Stage 4: Offer extended by business; follow up by Graduate Recruitment

Please note: Most first round interviews outside the UK will be held in the country of study. All assessment centres will be held in London.

Where

Our EMEA (Europe Middle East and Africa) headquarters are based in London. Opportunities may exist across the region, however the majority of our positions are based in London.

Our People

Ralph Achkar M.S. Engineering. MBA INSEAD Associate

If asked about your career at a dinner party, how would you describe it?

For the past seven years, I have been working with people from different cultures, in different places and always trying new things. I spent five years in the telecom industry before moving to the banking arena after an MBA. I followed a path where I can capitalise on my extensive analytical background and at the same time have continuous contact with people around me. I always seek positions where things are done for the first time. I do not mind working hard as long as I enjoy what I am doing and I see growth potential.

 

 

 

How would you describe your team and the people you work with?

Diversity at Citi is not only in terms of the number of people employed, it goes beyond that and is manifested in the experiences of each individual. It is amazing how rich each persons experience has been with Citi. Many colleagues have been with Citi in as many areas around the world as the years they have spent with the company. There is such a wealth of knowledge inside the organisation about any area in this world, whether a small community in the remotest of areas or a major multinational operating in several countries. 

 

 

What about your career excites you the most - gets you out of bed in the morning?

The novelty factor is what attracts me most to this business line. Given that GTS is a fast growing area, it retains the characteristics of a newly developed business. New opportunities are uncovered every day and the team is expected to react fast to the changing environment. The feeling that I can contribute everyday to shaping the business is fantastic. My daily interaction wiith the leaders in teh Financial Markets enables me to spot opportunities as they arise.

 

How do you apply your degree to what you're doing now?

From my previous job the greatest asset was learning how to be flexible and how to work in a fast changing environment whilst being part of a large organisation. Usually, big and fast are not used together in organisations. During my MBA at INSEAD my best learning experience was how to bring the big picture together. It was very interesting for me to learn how different teams add to the pie. Above all I learned how to bring teams together efficiently and how to get the best out of every team member.

 

Describe your experience in your specific training program.

After my MBA, I joined the Associate programme. The Programme aims to expose me to different areas in the bank related to GTS. Working in a growing business offers me the possibility to spend time in areas that would add value to my role in GTS. I started with the client coverage team working with financial institutions in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. My role has been to support the head of a sales team in a wide range of projects ranging from helping with the day-to-day management of the business to identifying and researching new business opportunities to satisfy the aggressive target growth rates for GTS. My second assignment was to spend four months with the Global Credit Centre to get credit exposure. My third project was to spend four months in Germany on new opportunities and strategies for the German market. The experience provided me with the perspective of the teams around Europe and the way they interact with London.

 

Danny Foster BSc (Hons) Politics, Queen Mary University of London Assistant Vice President

What advice would you offer prospective candidates on transitioning from school to the workplace?

Come in with an open mind about what you are going to be doing and the speed at which you will be doing it. Things will pick up very quickly, but the more open and enthusiastic you are to all challenges, the higher regard you will be held in.

 

 

If asked about your career at a dinner party, how would you describe it?

I am an Account Manager for the Bank’s Fund Manager Global Transaction Services clients. I ensure that they are happy with the service that they are receiving from the business, while working closely with the Relationship Manager to identify where we can assist the Client with our product set –and increase our revenues. This is all achieved by maintaining and enhancing a strong relationship with the client.

Describe the most memorable experience you've ever had at Citi.

In just my second year at the bank I was invited to attend the Business Head’s regional offsite. All of the other attendees were his Direct reports as either Product, Coverage or Regional Heads. I was invited along as my boss was presenting work I had done on a new coverage strategy. The strategy was well received and attributed to me in front of this very senior audience – great exposure.

What about your career excites you the most - gets you out of bed in the morning?

The thought that in around 16 hours I will be getting back into it again!

How would you describe your team and the people you work with?

My team is very friendly and works well together. There is a very good spirit where team members will help each other out when one colleague is particularly busy. We normally make time to go out as a team at least once a month and that provides us with enough material to laugh about until the next outing.

What skills have you found to be the most useful in your position?

Most importantly for my role is the ability to communicate with people. As with any business, things sometimes go wrong and clients can get unhappy, but if handled correctly through strong relationship building skills a situation can usually be diffused. Similarly, the Product and Operational areas have hundreds of clients to look after, but if you can get to know and keep on side the right individuals then you can try to use this to ensure that your clients get treated as a priority.

How has Citi supported your career development?

I was very fortunate to have joined the Analyst Programme at Citi and have received training as a result that you do not get anywhere else. The training has ranged from Accountancy through to Global Transaction Services product specific training and then onto invaluable communication and presentation skills training.

As well as the training, managers, and the dedicated Global Transaction Services Programme Manager, are always happy to sit down and talk to you about what you want to achieve and how best to go about this. My current role is a good example of this.

Susan Kingman Associate

If asked about your career at a dinner party, how would you describe it?

I had no grand plan for my career, apart from wanting to be a business manager. I thought that working in a large financial institution would give me skills that would be transferable to other industries. My approach has always been to keep my options open, so I have taken up interesting opportunities as they have been presented to me. I have aimed to be a generalist rather than a specialist and so although I have always worked in Securities, I have worked in product management, relationship management, strategic planning and business management.

 

How would you describe your team and the people you work with?

I would characterise Citi GTS people as being hardworking, clever, well educated, diverse, resourceful, skilled and knowledgeable. I think Citi people are ambitious and focused and are good at solving complex problems using the available resources. There is a strong process-driven approach within GTS and the people here are skilled at creating and driving processes to manage our business. Our size, breadth and geographical coverage means that there is a matrixed organisational structure that Citi people understand and have the communication and interpersonal skills to navigate.

 

How do you apply your degree to what you're doing now?

My first degree was BSc (Hons) Chemical and Administrative Sciences from City University and I subsequently studied for my MBA at London Business School. There were courses I studied for both degrees that have been directly relevant to my working live, most obviously finance, strategy and marketing. Apart from the knowledge content, the most useful skills that I learnt and apply to my work today are the ability to break a problem into manageable chunks that can then be tackled systematically and the ability to prioritise tasks and manage my time effectively to achieve my goals.

 

What skills have you found to be the most useful in your position?

In my position, which is Head of the EMEA Admin Office EMEA for Securities and Fund Services, I think the most useful personal skills are communication and interpersonal skills. Ultimately it doesnt matter how good you are at performing your required tasks if you can not get on with people or communicate effectively with your clients, your peers or your bosses. 

Operating in a matrixed organisation requires the ability to balance multiple demands on your time and in my role its essential to be able to prioritise tasks and manage my time effectively. The most effective people build a professional trust with their colleagues, and given the geographical scope of our business, many colleagues work in different countries and continents and you never get to meet face to face. Consequently this ability to work effectively within cross border teams is a very useful skill.

 

What non-work related activities do you get involved in through Citi (community, mentoring, charity)?

Employees at Citi are actively encouraged to take on non-work related activities. Everyone can spend a day each year providing voluntary work for a charity. This year I joined the GTS EMEA Associates and Analysts painting a school in East London, which was good fun and gave me an opportunity to interact with colleagues in a different environment, as well as being worthwhile for our wider community. I am a member of the Coaching for Success committee of Citi Women, which provides development opportunities for high performing female AVP level managers to prepare them for promotion to middle management positions.   I also act as a coach for this programme. I believe this is a valuable initiative, as we need a large pool of very competent women at the middle management level to source the female directors and managing directors of the future.

 

What do you enjoy doing outside work?

I am the mother of three children between the ages of 10 and 2 so most of my and my husband’s time outside the office is spent with our children. We have a sailing boat that we keep in Falmouth and we all enjoy sailing in South Cornwall. 

 

 

Anubhav Mehrotra MBA, IESE Business School Associate

What advice would you offer prospective candidates on transitioning from school to the workplace?

Come in with an open mind, ready to experience and explore various opportunities on offer at Citi. Deliver and demand. Remember to enjoy as you go along.

What do you consider Citi's competitive edge?

To our clients, Citi is the only organisation that can offer an unparalleled range of financial services in most geographies in a trusted manner. To the employees, Citi is the only organisation that can offer opportunities across the entire banking spectrum in any part of the globe. It is truly remarkable how a 300,000-employee organisation can remain One Citi.

How would you describe your team and the people you work with?

Balanced. Driven. Ambitious. Fun

What other groups do you liaise with regularly within the Firm?

The great thing about working with the FIG is that you are the client’s touch point to the firm. During the course of any project there is continuous interaction with Product, Credit, Legal, Technology and Operations. Plus as my current role as the head of the Business Management there is an ongoing interaction with FINCON, Marketing, CRM and HR.

 

How has Citi supported your career development?

I mentioned earlier what I thought all new joiners should keep in mind – to deliver and then to demand. I have found over the course of the last year that senior management is extremely conscious of your career development. Having delivered my initial set of goals in the Business Management Unit, I was entrusted with a client project from start to end. The experience has been invaluable. And now as I successfully end this project, when I asked for the opportunity to explore a different area of the bank, my manager made sure that I got access to the necessary people to facilitate that move.

Describe your experience in your specific training program.

I joined the GTS Associate program in 2006. My first and current rotation is with the Financial Institutions Group. I feel that this is a job tailor made for a recent MBA graduate.

• Accountable to senior management for a host of tasks ranging from coverage management for 22 teams across 13 countries to dealing with people in various parts of the organisation to push new initiatives through.

• As the head of the Business management unit, responsible for a team of analysts and summer interns – from setting and reviewing their goals to their final appraisals.

• Considerable client interaction through new initiatives and projects

How did your summer internship help you make the decision to pursue a career at Citi?

Having spent the summer with the FI Coverage Organisation, it was a relatively easy decision to make when offered the full time role. My first consideration was the people I worked with – driven and focused while enjoying the process day in and day out. The summer period was also instrumental in giving me a good idea of the GTS organisation and the various opportunities within it. And finally, I enjoyed my time in London, which made the return even more exciting.

Ermias Mengistu MBA, IESE Business School, Barcelona Associate

What advice would you offer prospective candidates on transitioning from school to the workplace?

Be flexible. Whether it is getting the job done, juggling between your personal and professional life, or managing your career within a complex, multi-geographical organization, a flexible and open-minded approach goes a long way.

If asked about your career at a dinner party, how would you describe it?

My career started off in IT consulting before moving into the financial sector after a break to complete my MBA. I now work in the team that provides corporate clients with solutions to their Import / Export Trading needs from confirming plain vanilla Letters of Credit to structuring more complex Supply Chain management solutions. I focus on the African market where a relatively important portion of our Trade business is with local Financial Institutions.

What do you consider Citi's competitive edge?

Global reach. I can’t think of any other financial institution that comes even close to the number of locations, markets, corners of the world that Citi covers. With its ability to innovate locally and disseminate, replicate and rollout innovations across geographies, Citi is better placed than any of its competitors to take advantage of the increasingly global world.

What other groups do you liaise with regularly within the Firm?

In my current role in Trade Product Management, I interact regularly with Sales, Legal, Compliance, Risk, Processing, Operations and Customer Service, across several geographies such as London, New York, Tampa, Penang, Mumbai, Dublin, South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Turkey, Pakistan, Egypt, Dubai and many other locations. 

What skills have you found to be the most useful in your position?

Citi is a powerful organization with all sorts of resources invested in people; technology and processes, which if harnessed properly give you powerful tools to succeed. As such, I find that communication and personal skills to influence others are not only useful but also critical to succeed.

Describe your experience in your specific training program.

I am part of the GTS Associate class of 2006, and as such I am given the opportunity to do medium-term rotations within different business groups to give me a good overview of the products, geographies and functions that make up the GTS world. Having started my program last year, I have spent 6 months in Trade Services in London and another 6 months in Johannesburg working with the Sub-Saharan Trade team.

What is the most interesting fact about yourself?

An Ethiopian, with a high school degree from the South of France, a Bachelors degree from Ohio, a Masters degree from Barcelona Spain, with work experience in the US, Africa and Europe in IT consulting for the public sector, and the financial sector, and now employed by one of the most global and dynamic financial institutions.

Preeya Shah BSc McGill University, Montreal, Canada; MBA Judge Business School, Cambridge Associate

If asked about your career at a dinner party, how would you describe it?

I work as a Product Manager in the GTS EMEA Trade Finance Team. Trade is basically the exchange of goods and services. Trade Finance is the process of making credit or other financing available in order to meet the needs of buyers and sellers. I currently manage two products, both at very different stages of the product life cycle. This provides for an interesting set of challenges and allows me to experiece the full spectrum of managing both mature as well as new products. 

How would you describe your team and the people you work with?

The knowledge, talent and professionalism of everyone I have interacted with at Citi constantly impresses me. The Product Managers in the team have a deep and extensive knowledge of their products as well as the business and use a consultative and partnership approach to provide sophisticated banking solutions to satisfy client needs and build long-term relationships. Teamwork plays a key role in this area and it is extremely interesting to observe the interactions between people to harness complementary skills and use these in a way that is beneficial to the entire team. The team is drawn from diverse backgrounds and there is a genuine willingness to mentor and pass on knowledge and experiences.

What about your career excites you the most - gets you out of bed in the morning?

There is a lot of focus on the GTS Business within Citi, which makes it a very dynamic and challenging environment to work in. Our clients are industry leaders in their respective sectors and it is very exciting to know that the work we do here contributes to their success as well. I have been involved in a variety of the projects spanning regions, countries and products over the last two years. The comprehension that comes out of putting in the effort to understanding a particular product / client / industry sector and the ability to apply this knowledge to my day to day tasks is extremely satisfying and motivating. I am constantly learning something new and interesting and through this, making a contribution to the business. This is what makes the difference for me.

 

 

What other groups do you liaise with regularly within the Firm?

The Product Management team is tasked with managing current products as well as developing new products in order to generate more business and thus we interact with a wide range of different groups, from the Global Corporate and Global Commercial Banks, the sales teams as well as other product groups within GTS. We have daily interaction with the Trade Teams in the various countires in EMEA. We also work with the marketing, operations, legal and implementation teams within GTS.

 

How do you apply your degree to what you're doing now?

I graduated with an MBA from the Judge Business School, Cambridge University. The MBA provided me with a basic set of problem solving and analytical skills that I use in my day-to-day work (surprisingly much more than I thought I would). There was also an emphasis on case based examples and teamwork on my MBA and these skills have been invaluable to me when working in GTS.   The MBA has also given me access to a large network that I can draw upon at any time for information that I may require as part of my job. 

What skills have you found to be the most useful in your position?

Motivation, dedication and the ability to learn quickly are some of the key aspects of this position. Good communication skills are essential, as well as the capability of understanding the interpersonal dynamics that are a part of working in a large organization. The ability to communicate acquired information to a group of stakeholders accurately and effectively is essential. Being a team player is extremely important, as is the ability to operate in a cross functional environment with people from diverse regions and backgrounds. The GTS business focuses on global and regional solutions for our clients and we can only provide these as seamlessly as possible by working as a team.

 

 

What do you enjoy doing outside work?

I have a great interest in photography as well as travel and I attempt to combine the two as much as possible!   London, with its unique geographical location, offers an amazing list of destinations to travel to, quite easily and cost effectively, and I’ve taken advantage of this (extensively) in the last two years.   

 

 

Isabelle de Champlain Chemical Engineering Degree from University of Waterloo in Canada and MBA from IESE Business School in Barcelona GTS Associates

If asked about your career at a dinner party, how would you describe it?

An engineer by training, I decided after my MBA that I wanted new challenges, a faster pace environment some managerial responsibilities and international exposure. I joined the Citi Global Transaction Services Associate programme which has allowed me to enter the financial industry in a growing division, given me a lot of exposure to senior level managers, varying and challenging projects with different products group and work on developing Funds services expansion strategy in various countries.

How would you describe your team and the people you work with?

For me, one can not emphasize enough the importance of a good working environment where there is a team atmosphere. I work with a great team of very busy people but found that they always have the time to explain new concepts and help me gain a better understanding of the industry.

What about your career excites you the most - gets you out of bed in the morning?

Following my MBA, I hesitated between starting a career in banking or returning to industry. GTS has been the perfect mix for me. We have products that meet customers needs but we work in the fast paced banking environment, our customers are sophisticated and challenging, my colleagues are extremely knowledgeable and professional and every day I learn more about the dynamic and evolving financial European market.

How do you apply your degree to what you're doing now?

After my MBA, I wanted something challenging that would use some of my newly gained knowledge. Most of my work has to do with strategy whether it is market expansion, client segmentation or product introduction. Financial skills are a prerequisite to understanding the products and the customers needs and where the industry is heading.

Describe your experience in your specific training program.

I am one of the first GTS Associates in Europe. Unlike many training programs where one rotates for a few years without having fixed responsibilities, this programs allows us to prove ourselves in a set function whilst also being able to work for a few months on other projects. I have just completed 3 months in Milan where helped with the development of our Funds Services offering. In addition, the program gives us the opportunity to regularly meet senior managers. So far, the experience has been great.