Cindy Jiang: From accounting to banking

About

Name: Cindy Jiang

Nationality: Chinese-Canadian

Programme: MFin 2021

Education: Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, Ivey Business School, Western University, Canada

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Jiang Yueyi Cindy.

Tell us about your pre-MFin career – what was your pre-MFin background?

Prior to the MFin, I was a Senior Accountant in Assurance Services at Ernst & Young Canada, focusing mainly on financial institutions and healthcare organisations. I hold a Chartered Professional Accountant designation. Through my audit engagements and interacting with clients I became interested in the banking industry. Therefore, pursuing a Master of Finance degree was a great way to enhance my technical skills and switch my job.

What stood out about the academic learning experience for you?

I appreciated the blend of practical and theoretical knowledge offered across the different courses. The lecturers would speak about recent news and events that had an impact on a topic or adjust their teaching materials when significant events occurred. This helped bring real life perspective to textbook concepts. For example, I recall during an Advanced Interest Rate Derivative class when the Federal Reserve started their series of rate raises, the lecturer stopped to show us market reaction and discussed live changes.

What were your favourite courses, what impact did they have on you?

I honestly can’t pick a favourite. The curriculum covered all aspects of finance, so I chose a variety of subjects (elective courses), from Understanding the International Economy and Financial System to Private Equity, Sustainable Finance, and so many more. These classes broadened my perspective on what finance means and how one can contribute to the society with their experiences.

What aspect of the MFin learning experience would you say you find most useful now in your professional life?

The diverse curriculum, in my opinion, has been most useful in my professional life. My current job allows me to rotate within 3 different business areas within the bank, so it is important to have familiarity with the entire banking system. I have just completed my first rotation in Business Banking where, in addition to strategic casing, I also used financial modelling skills to support my recommendations. I will start my second rotation in Risk Management and then transition to Wealth Management. The MFin has relevant courses in all these subject areas, which means that I have gone into these new roles with a skillset that has given me a great foundation to deliver quality work and continue to improve my financial knowledge.

Did you switch any of the following after your MFin – function, sector or country?

Yes! When I returned to Canada, I switched industry from accounting to finance, and transitioned from a more technical and guideline-based role at EY to a strategy-focused role at Scotiabank.

Would you recommend the Cambridge MFin and why?

I would 100% recommend the Cambridge MFin. In addition to the outstanding academic environment, Cambridge has so much more to offer for a full student experience. I enjoyed attending different College formals after a day in the classroom. It was a great way to learn about Cambridge’s 31 colleges and meet people from diverse backgrounds. My MFin year was filled with amazing peers, knowledge, and personal development. This is an opportunity one wouldn’t want to miss.

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