How I became a fund administrator
Vania Batista
Vania joined Kleinwort Benson in October 2007 and has been working in the Fund Administration team in Jersey. She was born in Portugal but has lived in Jersey since she was six. She studied Spanish and Portuguese at Southampton University for four years.
Before she graduated she spent a year teaching in Seville and then once Vania returned to the Island she secured a job with a firm that enabled her to use her language skills. Many clients were British ex-pats living in Spain and Portugal who often needed assistance in contacting their local banks and Independent Financial Advisers (IFAs).
Vania moved to Kleinwort Benson for the opportunity to develop her knowledge of the funds industry further and to work for a company whose name she had recognised for a long time within Jersey. Vania has recently taken the first module in the Certificate of Offshore Administration at the Jersey Business School. The module ?Introduction to Fund Management? is part of the course that is intended to inform and introduce students to the Finance Industry. The next module will teach the Regulatory Environment for the funds industry, which Vania will begin at evening classes in September.
?I first became aware of Kleinwort Benson when I was still at school following a Careers Fair that was held whilst taking A Levels. Since then I have always been aware of the name and have known a lot of people that work there, so when I saw the opportunity in the Fund Administration team advertised, I was keen to give it my best shot. It has proved to be the right decision to take and I have thoroughly enjoyed the beginning of my career here?.
?The opportunities at Kleinwort Benson are much better than I first thought. I have had a lot of support to help me fully understand my job role and I have been given a lot of tuition about the Industry. As a Fund Specialist, I have contact with a lot of clients and my day-to-day role includes taking deal instructions, placing deals, updating the share register and sending clients contract notes. I also deal with clients? queries and issue statements. I don?t do this in isolation and every day I am learning more and more from my colleagues in the team who are able to share and pass on their knowledge and experience to me.?
?I love living in Jersey and the opportunity at Kleinwort Benson has given me a career with excellent prospects in an Industry that I find fascinating. I am also able to balance my work life with my home life and can take advantage of the lifestyle that Jersey offers including the fabulous beaches ? which as summer is upon us is an important consideration!?
