Profiles

Assistant Manager
Guernsey International Fund Managers
HOW HAS YOUR CAREER WITH THE BANK DEVELOPED ? My first eighteen months were spent in the shareholder services department, during which time I worked on the registration desk and the dealing desk. We were responsible for receiving and processing deals from investors, which involved a high degree of client contact. I then moved to the valuations department where I stayed for three years before transferring to the central accounting unit. At this time I began taking accounting qualifications which I continue despite transferring eighteen months ago to a team responsible for client relationship management and developing new business. The company has always encouraged me to move around different departments to gain wider experience. WHAT DOES YOUR CURRENT ROLE INVOLVE ? Our primary role is to manage existing client relationships, which involves regular contact and meetings with the clients. In our business development role we have started to market ourselves at high profile conferences and regularly make presentations to potential clients. I enjoy my role in the company because it is varied and involves a high degree of human contact. The fact that I have experience in a number of different departments undoubtedly helps me to perform my current role more effectively.

Accountant
Ernst and Young
I wanted a structured profession and an accountancy qualification allows you to work in a number of different areas. You can stay with an accountancy firm or go into industry. For me the big thing is the ability to travel because an accountancy qualification is recognised in most countries.

Business Manager

I enjoy problem solving and dealing with people. This position means that I am managing the whole office so I get involved in all areas from HR to business development. It's very busy and there are so many things to do. We work very closely with our Jersey office so I spend a couple of days there every week. From having a background in client handling I understand the business so I am able to make the process and procedures more efficient.

Work Experience
Pricewaterhouse Coopers
I saw an advertisement in the Guernsey Press and e-mailed the address. Within a few days I received a reply asking me to come in for a chat, which I did, and shortly afterwards received a call with the dates. I was surprised with the amount of responsibility that I am given. That, and the interesting work, has made my experience enjoyable.

Marketing Assistant
Kleinwort Benson
I support the Marketing Division in the project work that it does. We organise lots of corporate hospitality events such as the Dresdner Yacht Challenge. I also get involved in copywriting and printing flyers, designing marketing materials and working on the Intranet.

Trainee Accountant
Pricewaterhouse Coopers
Having spent 18 years in electrical engineering I wanted a new challenge to broaden my knowledge and experience in a completely different discipline. It's been a steep learning curve but I've found it challenging and rewarding. It's crucial to manage your time effectively in order to achieve an optimal life-work balance.

Administrator
Barings (Gsy) Ltd
Every year I work within a different department within Barings Guernsey. I get guaranteed work during my holidays and also a bursary, which is paid in instalments at the beginning of each term. Whilst being in Frankfurt as a ‘Praktikantin’ I have worked for the sales department and then more recently the marketing department of BAM AG. I have helped redesign the client database that they use here and now I am working on an analysis of the competition that BAM AG has in Germany.

Accountancy
PricewaterhouseCoopers
When I left school I went to work at Guernsey Electricity and completed a five-year apprenticeship as an electrician. I then decided to go to university and was able to get an adult grant because I had been working for three years. It was a bit of a culture shock because I had been earning for five years. But by that stage I was going because I wanted to not because it was something I was expected to do, so I think it was the right time.

Accountant
PricewaterhouseCoopers
The firm has a global secondment process. I looked at the areas I wanted go to – it was a choice between Toronto, Edinburgh or Zurich. I had to submit a resume and have the support of the Guernsey Office. I wanted a secondment because I wanted to travel and see a bit more of the world.

Business Manager
RBS International
After travelling overseas, 29-year-old James Ingrouille worked in various financial institutions before he was offered a permanent job with RBS International. Having gained experience in the retail unit of the group, he now manages a portfolio of business customers as one of the bank’s business managers. This is a job that he enjoys greatly, and he sees his immediate future in the retail division, where he believes that there will be ample opportunity to develop his career. James particularly enjoys meeting clients face to face. He says that many of these people are very busy indeed, so he visits them where they work. This not only allows him to get out of the office but also helps him to understand the core nature of a great variety of Island businesses. He has, meanwhile, some valuable advice that he would like to offer to people keen on entering the banking world. He said: ‘I think that the most important thing for secondary school students is to use work experience as a way to find out more about the different aspects of banking. Always listen to free advice. And be patient. Opportunities are always available, so it is important to stay focused and seize chances at the right time for you. Don’t be rushed into making premature decisions.’ As far as RBS International is concerned, James says ‘You always get the feeling that you are looked after.'

Corporate Manager
Royal Bank of Scotland
At the age of 22 Nick Bougourd already has the status of corporate manager with the Royal Bank of Scotland and is the first point of banking contact for a number of high-net-worth clients. He works with a team of five, dealing principally with transactions in excess of £5 million and specialising in real estate finance both in Guernsey and the United Kingdom. Nick’s skills are founded not only on experience at the bank but also on his AAT qualifications and a period that he spent in the British Army, which he joined aged 17. He is now embarking on a course of RBS International-sponsored study that will lead to qualification as a chartered accountant. People starting out in a career should always remember that training opportunities are vital. ‘I would advise young people to choose an employer who is willing to invest in your future,’ he said, adding: ‘But you need to be committed because it’s tiring attending evening classes while working full-time – but it’s well worth it.’ He also says that life at work is made much easier if you are fortunate enough to find a firm with a good office atmosphere and colleagues who are willing to help when you find yourself under pressure. Explaining what he enjoys at work, he said: ‘Ensuring that all our clients are one hundred per cent satisfied with the service we provide.’ And he confirms that he is more than satisfied with the level of job satisfaction. ‘Looking back, I am absolutely delighted with the path I have taken,’ he said.