Financial Sales Analyst
Tell us a little bit about yourself
My name’s Jordan Berry, I studied BSc Hons Economics, Politics and International Relations from 2019-2022. I was a choral scholar with the RHUL Chapel Choir, and as part of my degree I worked part-time as a policy researcher in the House of Commons.
Why did you choose to study Economics at Royal Holloway and what did you enjoy most about your course?
I chose to study Economics at Royal Holloway because of a very strong employability focus. The corporate finance and accounting modules were particularly useful, featuring CIMA accreditation that leaves you exempt from certain professional examinations. The department offered a wealth of course choices, allowing me to tailor my studies directly to my interests. My favourite aspect of the course was the joint honours dissertation, which I wrote on the link between fossil fuel subsidisation policies and financing flows. I also loved the campus – there’s a distinctly friendly atmosphere and it’s situated within exceptional countryside given the proximity to London.
How was your personal experience of being part of the Economics community as a close-knit group of staff and students?
I had a fantastic personal experience of the Economics community. I developed a close working relationship with my personal tutor / advisor, and I attended many extracurricular events through the department – for example group competitions, an economics ball, and collaborative projects. I went on to help run the Economics Society, which hosted visiting speakers and promoted career opportunities.
How did Royal Holloway help you to discover opportunities and prepare you for life after university / to find your purpose in life?
Royal Holloway did so much for me in this respect. Everything felt ‘up for grabs’, from receiving seed funding for a start-up, to holding a choral scholarship with a first-rate choir. I developed considerable analytical skills – for instance, the economics department guided me into a paid summer internship with senior economics researchers who were linked to a leading business school. Likewise, the placement in the house of commons was an incredible experience in its own right. These opportunities were only possible thanks to academic staff who are driven to provide their students with the best opportunities possible.
Tell us about your career journey since graduating and what you do now. What do you enjoy most / find most rewarding about your current role?
I’ve just started my graduate career in financial sales. I’ve joined a team in London that sells financial information products and proprietary research to key decision makers in the investment industry. The most enjoyable aspect about the role is that it’s very socially outgoing – for instance you get to hold calls with C-Level executives pretty much daily. The most rewarding aspect is probably the commission structure, it really gets you excited when you can bring a deal to a close!
