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Department of Finance
Skyscrapers against a blue sky with clouds

Hi, I'm Owen. I graduated with a First Class Honours and studied BSc Finance with a placement year. A highlight of my academic experience would be achieving 85% for my dissertation where I compared market randomness and trading strategy performance across developed and emerging markets. I currently work at HSBC as a trading analyst within the Global Markets function.

Why did you decide to study at Durham University?

My decision was underpinned by various factors

  1. The strong employability prospects especially for finance
  2. Durham's outstanding reputation within both academia and industry
  3. The ability to complete a placement year with support from the business school
  4. The collegiate system
  5. The option to study a programme that allowed me to delve deeper into my specific interests within finance

What were your ambitions?

  • To gain a comprehensive understanding of finance, not only through academic study but also through practical experiences like a placement year in the financial sector and hands-on university seminars and workshops.

Tell us about your career path since graduation from Durham University?

After completing a placement year at EY in their Wealth and Asset Management consulting sector, and an internship as a Wealth and Personal Banking Analyst, I am now working as a Global Markets Trading Analyst at HSBC in their London office.

What motivated you to choose your current/future field or industry? 

  • The challenge and excitement of working in a fast-paced industry
  • The intellectual stimulation the field offers
  • The opportunity to apply mathematical concepts in real-world scenarios
  • To deepen my understanding of financial markets, particularly how they are influenced by macroeconomics, geopolitics,  and behavioural psychology

What skills or qualities do you think are most important for success in this field? 

Based on my current experience, I believe that resilience, critical thinking, strong communication skills, attention to detail, and curiosity are essential. I’d also emphasise that students from various academic backgrounds can find success and opportunities in this field.

Any interesting stories you would like to share from your time at Durham?

One memorable experience was serving as the team captain of Durham’s Mixed Martial Arts team, which was both a challenging and rewarding leadership role.

Is there anything that you know now that you wish you’d known when graduating?

Attending networking events/career insight sessions provided by the university.
Utilising Durham University’s Careers and Enterprise Centre for guidance and support.