Suzanne Findlay

Assistant Fund Manager

Graduated 1995

What is it about having the word “mathematics” in your resume? After completing my masters and with far more relevant information in my resume, that word seemed to prompt interviewers to comment, “well you’re obviously intelligent”. They also associate mathematics with logical thinking and problem solving skills. Which is good, because despite working in financial services, the most complex mathematics I have used is compound interest.

Having worked as an actuarial analyst, I moved into consulting about the investment administration arrangements provided by global banks to superannuation funds, investment managers and investment banks. One aspect involved comparing providers – those of us with mathematical backgrounds approached this qualitative and quantitative comparison with more structure and logic than those without. As a result, I believe we were able to communicate the results more clearly to our clients. However, the aspect which most appealed to me was obtaining the best service and relationship between the client and service provider. Understanding what was required and negotiating to make it happen involved problem solving, albeit in a more practical way than at university.

Having returned from four years in London, I have commenced as an assistant fund manager with an Australian equities manager. At school, I wanted a job which combined maths and history. In this role I have found that there is obviously a numeric component in the valuations we do on the companies in which we potentially invest. We use spreadsheets for these valuations. Further, the analysis of companies and the industries in which they operate has similarities with history and how people react to social phenomenon. What I do with this knowledge is recommend whether or not my companies are included in the investment portfolio for potential investment.