Name: Graham Lloyd
Age: 25
Job Title: Treasury Markets Dealer
University attended: The University of Manchester
Degree obtained: BA Economics, MSc Economics

Brief career history:

Joined Nationwide in September 2006 on its Management Development Programme as a Treasury specialist. The idea of the specialist scheme is that you spend the majority of the 2 years in your chosen area before moving on to a substantive post within that discipline. Placements included roles in the following teams: Market Risk, Derivatives, Corporate Tax and Money Markets.

Current role:

My current role is on the Money Markets desk in Nationwide’s Treasury department. Treasury is an exciting and demanding area of the business, providing funding and liquidity for the Nationwide group as well as managing balance sheet risk and substantial investment portfolios. We transact in a range of financial instruments including deposits, securities and derivatives - in sterling and other currencies.

What attracted you to Nationwide?

Whilst fulfilling a life-time ambition of travelling round New Zealand it struck me that it would not just be the day-to-day work in a job that would provide me with satisfaction, but also the bigger picture: in terms of where a company is heading, how it operates and the treatment of its employees.

In terms of where Nationwide is heading, it has a strong appetite to maintain its presence as a competitive alternative to high street banks, evidenced by its recent merger with Portman Building Society and its continuing presence as major player in the financial services sector.

As a member-owned organisation, Nationwide has a strong ethos for putting customers first. I am content in the knowledge that we at Nationwide are all pulling in the same direction and driving the business forward by delivering best value to our members.

Nationwide views its employees as the future and invests heavily in terms of time and money in developing individuals technical and soft skills. There is a strong emphasis on work-life balance and a support structure that helps you succeed and aim even higher.

What has been your most challenging moment?

The credit crunch has provided many challenges both individually and as a firm. I moved from my placement in Corporate Tax to Money Markets to help meet some of the challenges generated by the current environment. Given the importance of Treasury functions during the current market conditions my role has generated opportunity to work with many senior managers within the firm, including board members. It was an extremely steep learning curve that went well beyond the skill set I had when I entered the team. Quickness and clarity of thought was and still is an absolute must.

Training:

Nationwide has a phenomenal record for investing in people. All my personal and professional development has been funded. I am currently studying for the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) qualification which is designed for investment professionals. The Society provides a number of coaching and skills training including leadership, presentation skills and specialist courses to sharpen business and technology skills.