What course did you study?  

I graduated from Queen’s Business School in 2018 with a BSc Finance with a Year in Industry. 

 

Why did you choose this course?  

I was significantly influenced to study the Finance course by growing up during the Global Financial Crisis. I was driven by curiosity to comprehend the reasons behind the crisis, its mechanisms and the possibility of its recurrence. 

Additionally, my family members who attended Queen's University Belfast were able to tell me how beneficial it was and what I could expect from my time there. Queen’s University Belfast is also in the Russell Group, which assured me the quality of the education I was going to be receiving.  

 

Did you do a placement whilst at Queen’s? 

During my time at Queen’s Business School, I did my placement year within Queen’s University Belfast. I worked in the Student Finance office and the Tax office. This experience provided me with a solid foundation for my career, allowing me to learn at my own pace in a positive and constructive environment. 

In the Student Finance office, my responsibilities included handling student fee calculations, managing income to the university from students and external bodies, and contributing to the student support fund. In the tax role, I dealt with shipments entering the university from outside the EU, addressed tax implications and reported to HMRC. 

The support and advice from my workplace mentors and the placement office played a pivotal role in my professional development. I am grateful for the early career support I received, as it has played a significant role in shaping where I am today. 

 

What has your career path been since graduation? 

After graduating in 2018, I took some time off for introspection and planning my future path. A few months later, I started a role with Funds-Axis in Belfast as a Risk and Compliance Analyst. My responsibilities included monitoring and evaluating the risk profiles of numerous large-scale investment fund clients, ensuring compliance with various EU regulations and risk metrics. Over the course of 2 and a half years, I progressed to the position of Team Lead before moving on.   

In early 2021, I transitioned to a role as a Consultant at Behavioural Finance Ltd, a Fintech company in the Financial Advisory sector based in Edinburgh. I specialised in assessing and advising on data management, I focused on recommending strategies for optimal utilisation of the extensive data collected to meet the company's business needs. My fascination with data and its practical applications, since my university days, discovered a meaningful expression in this position.

In early 2022, I found an opportunity with the Assured Skills Academy, under the Department for the Economy, I undertook a reskilling initiative to become a Big Data Engineer at ASOS, the global fashion giant. I saw this as a great opportunity to pivot my career while leveraging the skills gained from my degree and prior experiences, especially in data and analysis at scale. Currently, as a Big Data Engineer, my daily tasks involve analysing and extracting insights from extensive customer data, developing and maintaining data pipelines, and providing support for the experimental endeavours of data scientists throughout the business, among other responsibilities. 
 

How did your degree prepare you for your current job role?  

 My degree provided me with a valuable asset – the confidence to approach data and computationally challenging tasks with a logical and clear-headed perspective. At Queen’s, we were consistently encouraged to embrace new challenges and explore unconventional paths to arrive at solutions, whether it was structuring an essay or predicting a company's share price under specific market conditions. 

This proves incredibly beneficial in my current role, particularly given the coding-intensive nature of my job. I've learned that the most apparent solution may not always be the best or correct one. My education at Queen’s instilled in me the ability to think laterally and approach tasks with a fresh perspective.

 

What were your favourite courses, modules or educational takeaways from your time at Queen's and why were they impactful?  

The modules taught by Dr Alan Hanna (Fixed Income Instruments), Dr Alan Fernihough (Econometrics), and Aine Gallagher (Behavioural Finance) were my favourites. These courses offered a comprehensive and insightful perspective, not only of the world of finance, but the world itself at large and my role within it. 

 

Did you do any extra-curricular activities whilst at Queen’s? How did this help you to advance personally and professionally?    

 During my times at Queen’s University Belfast, I actively participated in Social Rugby as a member of the pirate's team. This experience helped boost my self-confidence, and adapt to balancing my academic commitments, and making lifelong friends.

Additionally, I achieved a DegreePlus / Future Ready award during my time at Queen's University Belfast. I undertook extra responsibilities in the Tax and Student Finance office post placement, allowing me to manage a flexible part-time job. This not only supported my studies but also provided an opportunity for me to contribute and give back to the community. 

 

What advice do you have for someone considering studying at Queen’s Business School?   

Keep an open mindset when selecting your degree within the school, as the possibilities are vast. You have the potential to reach great possibilities and explore various paths. Throughout your academic journey, you'll acquire lifelong skills and make friendships that will stay with you. 

  

What career advice would you give someone looking to go down a similar career path as you?    

Be persistent in your goals and intentions and you can be sure that you will end up somewhere great. External learning is your best friend and although coding may seem daunting at first the resources for it are immense online. 

  

What has been your career highlight so far?   

My highlights include graduating the Assured Skills Academy and starting my new role within ASOS. Data has always been a key interest of mine and I love that I get to work with it day to day in a supportive and inclusive workplace. 

 

 

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