Asset management is the practice of managing investments on behalf of an individual client or a corporation. An asset manager may be responsible for maintenance, growth or the proper disposal of assets, which could be anything from a personal savings plan, property or a corporation’s pension fund. Whilst graduates will often come from a financial background to enter the field, training provided by larger firms is generally extensive and includes a number of industry examinations, meaning that the right graduate from any background could apply for schemes. Let’s take a look at insights taken directly from graduates working in asset management…
‘Typically either looking at current processes and creating alternatives or improvements, creating proposal and following the plan through, in the appropriate way. I work closely with my team and those stakeholders involved in each of the projects and those whom the changes will affect.’
Future Leaders Graduate, at AXA
‘On a day to day basis, I am now dealing with the moves in the head office buildings across London and co-ordinating these movements with suppliers. I am also monitoring the incidents reported across Santander UK and analysing the ones that are business critical. I am in charge of the governance of the projects that are being undertaken by the team, ensuring there are adequate RAID logs in place and these are updated on a local sharepoint. I collate the project details and relate these to the senior executives in a monthly meeting to discuss what property has been doing.’
Graduate, Property at Santander
‘I have to liaise with the entire DC team in order to compile the best proposition for our clients. Sometimes I have to liaise with the asset management teams as such for a better understanding of our ‘tailoring’ services. I spend 80% of my time at my desk, the other 20% I am at meetings which can be both external and internal.’
Associate, Defined Contribution at Fidelity Worldwide Investment
2. Best and worst things about your job
‘Meeting senior management from companies. Travelling to different countries across the world and meeting a variety of very different people. Probing into business models despite having limited experience yourself. Making calls on multi-million dollar investments despite being fresh out of University. The work never really stops since you can always do more to understand a company better. There’s pressure in getting your calls right, not many jobs can be measured on a single +ve/-ve number at the end of every month.’
Equity Research Analyst, at Fidelity Worldwide Investment
‘Huge diversity of skills learnt from the rotational placements. Opportunity of an overseas placement. Enhanced business awareness through rotations. Friendly, welcoming, helpful teams – willing to help learning process. Social aspects of company are very well developed HR ensures as a graduate you are very well looked after. Requirement to be flexible in where you work – placement locations can be away from desired location, but the scheme is set up to help with every aspect of the transitions and the benefits of the experience of working in different locations and teams far out weighs this.’
Graduate Manager, Infrastructure Investments at Balfour Beatty
‘The support I get from every level, ranging from my team members to senior managers within my company and other Axa family companies. I have been here for 8 months and haven’t found any negative one yet.’
Graduate Analyst, Risk Management at AXA
8am – 6pm
£31,000 – £33,000
Application Advice: Be personable and inquisitive – a high academic standing is a given, ultimately the people that choose you want someone who they can get along with on a day to day basis.
Interview Advice: Bring you own personality and a bit of confidence (though not too much, arrogance does not come across well).
Graduate, at Schroders
Application Advice: Make sure you know what you’re going for. This isn’t investment banking. Be yourself and be truthful throughout the hiring process. Show an interest in the field, but also be proud of your interests and hobbies whatever they may be. You’ll soon find out that the people here are diverse and that there are many interesting conversations to be had.
Interview Advice: They asked me some questions I didn’t know the answer to (and that I now realise I couldn’t have possibly known the answer to at that time). They would much rather you admit you don’t know the answer and show your willingness to learn than try to blab your way through an answer that you (and your interviewer) know to be wrong.
Graduate Trainee, Wealth Management at Schroders
Application Advice: Research what makes the firm stand out vs its competitors (i.e. heritage) When recommending investment decisions, include more that just the fundamentals (i.e. market positioning and any inefficiencies.
Interview Advice: Stock selection Heritage
Analyst, Investment Management at Schroders
Click here for the full range of job reviews for graduate positions in the asset, fund and investment management field and take a look at Schroders’ video below for more of an idea of what asset management involves.
