Insider profil
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Top Insider Advice
Whatever you’re good at, whether it be organisation or leadership or analytics, try your best to draw on those skills within your current role to really showcase what you do well. And not just in your role, look at other roles such as championing or volunteering to provide additional opportunities to really highlight what you are good at. This may then give you the chance to consider where you have improvements to make and think about how that can be achieved through shadowing, mentoring or further education / courses. There are so many opportunities at First Central to shine a light on our talents or improve our weaknesses. Take them!
Career path
Risk & Compliance Governance Manager
First Central
Started 04/2022 to PresentCompliance Monitoring Manager
First Central
From 01/2020 to 04/2022Compliance Business Partner
First Central
From 06/2018 to 01/2020Company
What do you like about your job and the company?
I really enjoy that, while I have a series of tasks I must complete each month, I have so much variety in what I do because I am supporting different teams. Risk, Compliance and Data Protection are very different in terms of requirements as well as how they work and collaborate and I think my people management skills and co-ordination are effective here. I also feel like I am supporting the business, even if it’s only in a small way through the training of Protecht or the reporting of actions. A part of my role is to ensure rigour is applied and I can achieve that in those tasks.
Greatest achievements
I came up with the idea of needing a champion role in the business that would be a contact point in each pillar for the risk and compliance teams, driving improved risk culture and communication across pillars. This developed into the idea of having a ‘Rigorously Running Your Pillar Champion role’ which was presented to and approved by our Execs. Champions and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) from the risk and compliance teams will meet each month to discuss any initiatives they’re rolling out and track the progress of Strategic Driver KPIs discussing changes in performance and reasons for this. We’ve had two meetings so far which have been beneficial, already providing further knowledge about in-pillar activity and driving better awareness of risk and compliance.
Ali C
Top Insider Advice
Volunteering in Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and Climate / Social Rights Groups can be an excellent way to get exposure to ESG and set yourself up for future career opportunities. Not only does it give you a chance to learn more about the issues at hand and the various approaches being taken to tackle them, but it also allows you to develop key skills such as leadership, project management, and communication - all of which are highly valued in the ESG space. By getting involved in ERGs and social groups, you can gain a deeper understanding of the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and how it intersects with ESG. You can also learn about the various ways in which companies are approaching sustainability, social responsibility, and governance, and gain valuable insights into how these approaches impact business performance and reputation. But perhaps most importantly, volunteering in ERGs and social groups is a great way to build connections and expand your network in the ESG space. By working alongside like-minded individuals who are passionate about creating a better world, you can forge relationships that may lead to future career opportunities or collaborations.
Adam W
Product Manager
Top Insider Advice
It sounds obvious, but sometimes it can be easy to perform the actions required for your role in a way that doesn’t best amplify your strengths. Be acutely aware of your own strengths and play to them, putting together a development plan for areas of improvement. I’d recommend developing your strengths too. Just because you’re naturally good at something doesn’t mean you should rest on your laurels. Have a mindset of wanting to move from the top 10% to top 1%. Always welcome feedback too whether it’s positive or constructive. Don’t take constructive feedback negatively, to be imperfect is to be human. We all have areas we can improve on.
Luke P
Test Engineer
Top Insider Advice
Going above and beyond in your career can be a game changer. It’s not just about meeting expectations, it’s about exceeding them consistently. When moving to the Test Engineering team I had a lot to learn instantly and a few things that I could pick up once I got more confident in the role. To be more efficient I wanted to make sure I could do the more complex parts of the role so I taught myself how to do database searches and automation testing using Selenium in my own time. Going the extra mile not only showcases your dedication but also your commitment to the department and company. Going above and beyond can set you apart and open doors to new and exciting possibilities.