Sharon Associate, Credit Risk Management and Advisory Finance division, London

No day is the same. I might be analyzing legal documentation one day and an equity derivative portfolio the next. I am constantly learning about the industry and the markets. It keeps me on my toes.

Background

I received a BA in Geography from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Working in Finance

I work in the Credit Risk Management and Advisory Department as a risk specialist. At a high level we look to mitigate against and monitor counterparty risk for the firm. The role combines product analysis with industry analysis.

I am currently looking into the risk involved in trading specific products. The most challenging part of my job is time management and prioritizing: understanding which tasks need to get done first and completing requests in a timely manner. The most rewarding part of my job is the brilliant people I get to work and interact with.

The most interesting aspect of my role is that no day is the same. I might be analyzing legal documentation one day and an equity derivative portfolio the next. I am constantly learning about the industry and the markets. It keeps me on my toes.

Teamwork

Teamwork is something that is encouraged at Goldman Sachs and this was one of the first things I noticed when I joined. In our department, we work together within and across teams. However, within the teams that we are part of, we each have our own responsibilities or specialties so we work individually as well.

Opportunity

Regardless of how senior you are, you are given a lot of responsibility and have opportunities to take part in projects and other initiatives. For example, I have found myself involved in interesting projects where I have helped to shape the infrastructure of the department. This allowed me to work with a wider range of people than I had before and helped develop a number of other skills, including my system knowledge and soft skills such as leadership skills.