A Career Kick-started by FDM

FDM Alumnus Jonny Corsane completed the Murex programme in 2013 and was placed at Credit Agricole in London for the duration of his two years with FDM. In 2015 he moved to Hong Kong and began working with MUFG Securities. Here he tells us more about his career journey since leaving FDM.

Having successfully completed my FDM training, I was placed for two years with Credit Agricole in London as a Murex Business Analyst. With the experience I gained during this role and with the training and knowledge I picked up during my FDM career I managed to land a job with MUFG Securities Asia Limited in a Murex BAU Support role in Hong Kong.

I hold a BSc Sport and Exercise Science degree from the University of Leeds and since graduating I have also completed a number of short courses and modules through City University London (Java) and Washington University (Fundamentals of Financial Mathematics). My interest in technology started in my teens alongside a passion for physical activity. Due to my A-level and degree choices I wasn’t sure if I could turn my passion for IT into a career. FDM Group helped arm me with the skills needed to be a valuable asset in a large organisation and opened doors to the IT industry despite not having a STEM degree. Now I wouldn’t consider a career in anything else! Technology is the future.

Jobs aren’t easy to come by if you have no experience. A large number of graduate schemes have limited availability and competition in the UK was very high when I first started looking for work. FDM helps graduates with both the soft and hard skills needed to fill the roles they are put forward for.

I underwent the 14-week Murex course completing the first four foundation weeks in the London centre and completing the 10 weeks of Murex training in Brighton. FDM, using their partnership with Murex, provided my full Murex Support accreditation. Without this I would not have been placed as a Murex consultant on-site. The in-depth training provided by Mike and Alastair (Murex relationship managers and trainers) was second to none. The UNIX scripting for me was the most challenging but also the most exciting to learn. Once I finished my training I was keen to get on-site and start using the tools FDM had given me to start making a difference in a blue-chip company.

To this day FDM continues to have a close-knit family feel which I think comes from its humble beginnings. I had close contact with my account manager before and after interviews and throughout my training. He kept me well informed throughout my time in training. I still keep in touch with him today. I am hugely grateful for the help and support they gave me throughout my time with FDM as well as advice given to me once I had been placed.

Having completed my two years with FDM I have since moved onto a role with MUFG Securities Asia Limited where I have been working since January 2016. I support the Murex trade platform during business as usual. I have also been in charge of a number of small projects which I develop and release both by myself and with help from the team in London. I cover a wide-range of asset classes. The most fulfilling part of my job is keeping a stable system and constantly striving towards improving the timing of our overnight batch. I also enjoy being given the responsibility of developing and testing changes to the system.

My advice to anyone embarking on the FDM Graduate Programme would be to ask lots of questions about how the academics link to life on site. Get an idea of what your day to day might be like. Most of the trainers have worked in the field and have a wealth of knowledge and first-hand experience – things you don’t learn in the university classroom. Also take advantage of consultants who are back in the academy honing their skills between projects. Go grab a coffee and get them to share their expertise of life as an FDM consultant.