This file contains a description of a current Citi employee and description of the employee experience through a set of questions and answers. 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.

 

]]> 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.

 

]]> 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.

 

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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.

 

]]> 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.

 

]]> 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. 

 

 

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Name: Susan Kingman

Title: Associate

Education:

Program: Global Transaction Services

Level: associate

Region: Western Europe

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. 

 

 

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