What is your day to day job?

As an integral part of the Internal Operations Department in Corporate and Investment Banking, I am involved in Total Quality Management (on the trading floor, back office, and international trade). I analyse and evaluate various operating procedures, to see that they run as efficiently as possible, finding solutions in order to improve the services, which we provide for our clients, and optimising the quality and safety of Corporate and Investment banking procedure.

In my sector, we tend to improve hi-tech operation systems in different departments. I try to standardise systems, making them compatible, and I also try to increase the efficiency of our hi-tech tools and appliances.

My tasks are extremely varied, from the drawing-up of simple reports to large-scale operations. At the moment, I am working in the treasury and foreign exchange service for European Derivative Products. It involves re-organising the back-office teams who deal with currency operations in Europe. Thus internal consulting has a very prominent operational dimension within it. In order for us to help specific teams, it is important to set up a system of targets in a Total Quality Framework.

What are the main attractions of your job?

What I enjoy about the job is the size of the sphere of activity in which I operate. My job deals with a cross section of all kinds of banking activity, so I get to see all areas of the bank without focusing or specialising upon any one in particular. In addition to this, my job allows me to look at banking activity slightly more objectively. Not being focused on one area in particular, similarly means that I can operate outside the pressure, which this particular service may be under. As I work in Corporate and Investment Banking, the international aspect of my job also constitutes an added attraction.

Why BNP Paribas?

I had heard of BNP Paribas, but I was first introduced to the company at a careers fair at my University. What really attracted me to them, apart from their undisputed status as a large worldwide banking organisation and a European leader, was the importance they placed on career management and evolution. A young graduate, such as myself, thus had the chance to look towards the future, with the scope for change. This, I felt, offered a sense of security, which is quite unique...

What is your academic background and what qualities are required for your position?

I graduated with a degree in Industrial Organisation but I then went on to specialise in a School of Technical Engineering and Applied Quantitative Methods, which helped me to get into Corporate and Investment Banking. Even if it is very useful to have a sound computing background, in the service there are graduates from all types of business school and university. The main qualities that an Internal Consultant should possess are a fluency in English, thoroughness, organisational skills, excellent communication and listening skills and a good analytical sense.

What is your intended career path?

Perhaps remaining in a similar position, but in one of our foreign offices, so that I can augment the sphere of my activities and have a true experience of working abroad. Yet I could similarly see myself remaining in the same business line, but being directed towards the trading floor, for example, or maybe towards General Inspection and Auditing.

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