Ahmad Alajdad

Current Employer/Organisation Name

JP Morgan Chase

What have you been doing since leaving Exeter, and what are you doing now?

Since graduation I have been building my career around product control in investment banks. My years of experience was spent in Bank of America Merrill Lynch, BNP Paribas and JP Morgan Chase.

Why did you choose this career? And what do you enjoy most about your work?

It’s the sweet spot between accounting and investment so relied on my accounting background to control the profit and loss (PnL) for various equities and fixed income products. I enjoy the control environment and dealing with different internal stakeholders to fix issues.

What did you enjoy most about your programme and what was the biggest highlight?

The care and support Finance Analysis and Fund Management (FAFM) students got during the year.

What did you most enjoy about studying here?

Peaceful green city, welcoming supportive university, helpful staff and thorough curriculum. 

Why did you choose to study at Exeter?

I was advised by my eldest brother who did his masters at Exeter too. I’m very glad to have listened.

What skills and experiences have been most useful for your career?

Investment product valuation skills. Bloomberg and Excel.  

What advice would you give to a current student who wishes to pursue your career?

Be prepared for automation; having programming tools like Python, R and data tools like a SQL is a massive win. 

What are your plans for the future?

The plan is to progress within product control function or the valuation team.