Career Journeys: working in Investment Management

Marek Vosicky works in Investment Management. Here he shares his experiences of modelling investment risks as well as how current affairs impacts his role.

What path has your career taken since graduation?

I decided to pursue a career in investment management. As a student of economics I was keen to continue learning about macroeconomics, data analysis, and business in general. Investing in financial markets provides many avenues for exploring these interests. I began as a risk analyst responsible for reporting and monitoring investment exposures, and then moved to a more specialised technical role focussing on the modelling of investment risks.

I am currently a member of the quantitative risk team which helps with investment oversight by ensuring that the mathematical models and analytics used for monitoring market risks are set up and performing as required. My individual focus is on stress testing which involves measuring how the investment portfolios managed by the company would perform in various, usually negative, scenarios. For example, how would a UK equities fund react to a breakdown in UK-EU trade negotiations or what would the impact be of a lower oil price on the government bonds of commodity exporters such as Brazil and Russia?

What experiences do you feel helped you get to your current position?

I believe that the fourth year of my MA degree followed by the 12-month MSc programme prepared me very well for entering the workforce. After spending one year as an exchange student it was only my fourth year that determined the classification of the MA degree. This pressure helped me develop a solid work ethic. The MSc course was even more intense with 9 exams in May allowing me to further improve my efficiency as a student. After graduating I was keen to build on this formal education by learning more about finance and data analysis. I completed multiple online courses for computer programming as well as studying for a professional certification. Acquiring the technical skills of coding, econometrics, and financial modelling over the years allowed me to move to my current job where I can continue to pursue my interests in economics and markets.

What do you think was the most valuable aspect of your time at Edinburgh in preparation for your career?

My dissertation! Having to having to personally manage a longer-term project that was intellectually demanding and stressful. The most challenging and important aspects were determining a realistic scope, using the available resources efficiently, and then meeting the deadline.

What advice would you give to students who are interested in your area of work?

Get into a regular habit of following current affairs in the world, particularly stories related to business and geopolitics, to develop a better understanding of the real world and the jargon used. Many news providers now maintain YouTube channels and other social media accounts that are easy and entertaining to follow.