FinArchives

1. In plain English, please describe your current role and function.

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I am a Risk Manager for Morgan Stanley's Investment Management division. I provide oversight for risks that fall under Cyber, Information Security, Technology, Resiliency, Third-Party, Data Management & Privacy, Cryptocurrency, Artificial Intelligence. My job is to review these risks and challenge the other risk teams when necessary. The overall goal is to reduce the risk for the firm and make sure we operate within our risk tolerance. 

 

 

2. On average, how is your time divided across quantitative work (e.g., financial analysis), qualitative work (research and writing), presentations (to investors, management, etc), and other tasks? Please describe what falls into ‘other.’

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I spend approximately 50% of my time reviewing materials and participating in committee meetings that update me on various topics. I spend about 40% of my time analyzing materials and reviewing data to look for control gaps and assist other teams in finding a path forward that minimizes resistance to business needs while still reducing the overall risk posture. The last 10% is used to prepare presentation material to showcase my work to the broader management teams.  

 

 

3. Where did you attend college and what was your major/minor? Did you participate in any clubs in school or internships that you believe helped you decide what you wanted to pursue as your career? 

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I attended Pace University and studied Information Systems with a minor in Business Management. I graduated with a BS degree. I worked part time for Nordea Bank during my college years, which turned into my first full-time opportunity. 

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4. Do you have a graduate degree, and if so, what type?

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No, I do not have a graduate degree, and it is not required for risk management. Some of my peers do have JD or MBA degrees but I never felt I was lacking that credential. I do have my CISSP certification which is an industry respected security certification for senior managers. 

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5. What about certifications like as a chartered financial analyst, certified public accountant, or other similar certifications? 

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I think those are all credible and can enhance your growth, but I do not think they are required. Many people in our division have their CPA, JD, or CFA. I did have an active Series 7, but it is no longer active. 

 

 

6. What did you wish you had known in college that would have made your transition into the working world smoother? 

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While in college, I think it's important to get perspective from anyone and everyone. I feel that I did not even know many careers that could have been an option. It is also important to try to see what the day to day of each option looks like. So, internships and summer jobs in the field of interest are very important.

 

 

 

7. How will the rising prominence of artificial intelligence (“AI”) impact your job and entry level jobs in your industry?

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AI is a widely used tool, but it is far from replacing human talent. There is still a lot of reasoning that needs to be done and a human is still the best resource for that. I would say to think of AI as any other skill, it is vital to know how to leverage the tooling available to us and I think those who can do a better job utilizing AI will have more opportunity. 

 

 

8. What skills or qualities do you look for when hiring for an entry job level candidate?

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I think for an entry level job you will likely have few skills, the most important thing is showing up and working hard. The nuances you will learn on the job. You should focus on showcasing why you want the opportunity and why you would be great at it. 

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9. Is there any other information you would like to share that hasn’t been shared through the questions above?

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Try to find what you love and see if there is a way you can do that professionally. If you can find that you will do great and be successful before you know it.