Meet our People at KBC Bank Ireland
Our colleagues in their own words. Find out what life at KBC Bank Ireland is really like.
Graham Fitzell
Tell us about your Career to date
I entered KBC Bank Ireland’s Graduate Programme in September 2008 after completing my degree in Management and Marketing in Dublin Institute of Technology in May 2007. I completed the 18 month graduate programme and was offered a permanent contract within the Corporate & Commercial Relationship Division in February 2010 as I had developed my preference for lending during my work experience and the graduate programme itself.
In September 2010 I was seconded to the Mortgage area of the Bank, specifically on the Large Balance Restructure / Collections team where I worked with customers to restructure their loan facilities. It was a fantastic opportunity to experience the collections side of the business from which I gained further insight into the lending world.
What's your current role?
After 12 months within the Mortgage area I have now moved back to the Corporate & Commercial Division, working within the Commercial Team. This specific team deals with the existing Commercial Portfolio and provides an opportunity to meet with clients and to work with them in order to achieve the optimum outcome for both the client and the Bank. Like most departments and teams within KBC, the team is small with only four members which means you are always directly involved, getting hands on experience and are working with largely experienced people from whom you can acquire a significant knowledge base.
I have gained a lot of experience in many different areas of the Bank. I feel this has given me a broad knowledge and understanding of how the Bank operates as a whole, rather than just seeing one department and being somewhat narrowly focused. Dependent on your specific career preferences, the Bank will endeavour to position you within that department whilst also affording you the opportunities to move around the Bank and acquire further knowledge and experience.
What's your education and training background?
KBC has been very supportive with providing training and education towards my further development and to improve my performance of my role. The Bank is willing to provide assistance, both financial and with study/exam leave, to allow staff members to study and complete certain qualifications such as QFA, ACCA, CFA, CPA etc. I am currently studying towards the ACCA qualification and hope to have completed my exams in summer 2012
What advice would you give to people thinking of a career in financial services?
I would definitely recommend a career in the financial services industry. Because KBC Bank Ireland operates all its functions under one roof, it provides any prospective employee a great opportunity to easily get a wide range of experience in different areas within the organisation. KBC’s ethos is to actively encourage communication between senior management and junior members of staff from the outset. This is of huge benefit in a graduate’s development.
Clare Quinn
Tell us about your Career to date
I always had an interest in finance and economics and so I was naturally drawn towards the financial services industry as a career. I started working with KBC Bank Ireland in 2005 as a banking officer in Banking Client Services and since then I have progressed to Manager in the Real Estate Customer Solutions Unit.
During my time in Client Services I dealt with Treasury, Banking Operations and lending on a daily basis providing support services to the lending teams. I identified Lending as an area in which I would like to develop my career and applied for the graduate programme within the Bank. As I was not long in the Bank I was initially nervous about seeking to move sections so soon but everyone in the Bank was very supportive and encouraged me to apply. Nine months after joining KBC Bank Ireland, I started the Graduate Programme and began working with the Commercial Banking team.
The Graduate Programme was a mix of formal training and on the job training and it gave me the opportunity to develop my analytical and credit writing skills. As I didn’t have a commerce or pure business background I decided to ‘upskill’ during this time and commenced the ACCA exams – it was difficult juggling studying with work but the Bank provided study days which helped and my team were always supportive if I needed extra time off.
From day one in Commercial Banking I was given responsibility for certain tasks and was continually challenged. While it was daunting initially, the support received from my colleagues was brilliant – there was always somebody available to discuss any issues that arose or anything that I was unsure about.
During my 3 and half years in Commercial Banking I was involved in a number of different transactions. No two deals are ever the same. I was constantly learning while developing a broad range of skills – just some examples include information gathering, analysing accounts and appraising applications, writing and presenting applications to credit committee, documenting deals and liaising with clients post approval.
What's your current role?
For the last 2 years I have been working in the Real Estate Customer Solutions Unit, where I have been promoted to Manager.
Working in KBC Bank Ireland has been a very positive experience for me – I have developed a vast array of skills over my career in the bank to date thanks to the training (both on-the-job and formal) that I have received, not to mention the huge support and encouragement of my colleagues. I hope to continue to develop my skills within my current role and seize further opportunities to enhance my career within the bank in the future.
What's your education and training background?
I completed a BA in Politics & Economics in Trinity College Dublin and then went on to University of Limerick to complete the Graduate Diploma in Computing. I am also an associate member of the ACCA and have completed my QFA qualification.
What advice would you give to people thinking of a career in financial services?
There are may different career choices within the financial services sector and my experience within KBC Bank Ireland has been that they want to work with you to develop your career. The financial services industry is competitive and constantly evolving so there are always new opportunities which will allow you to develop your skills and your career further.
Garrett O’Donohoe
Tell us about your Career to date
Having joined KBC Bank Ireland in 2001 on the Graduate Programme I initially worked within the Installment Credit Department as an Underwriter. As KBC Bank Ireland has high credit standards, this was an excellent training for credit skills.
The Graduate Programme offered opportunities to move within KBC Bank Ireland and I transferred to the Business Banking Department after a year. Over the next number of years KBC Bank Ireland provided training in any areas that were required and I gained huge knowledge from senior colleagues. This allowed me to take on additional responsibilities as my own skills progressed. I ultimately became a Senior Manager of a team within the department managing a large business banking portfolio and responsible for further business development. Since late 2009 I have headed up the Homeloans Underwriting Department in KBC Bank Ireland.
The advantage of KBC Bank Ireland to me as a graduate was the opportunity it gave me to interact with senior colleagues within the organisation from the very beginning of my banking career. This meant that I benefited from their experience and knowledge, particularly as KBC Bank Ireland has a strong credit culture, which has been critical in all areas of the Bank in which I have worked. As KBC Bank Ireland is a centralised bank, there is significant exposure to all departments within the organisation. Graduates gain experience in many areas of the bank, meaning they have huge opportunities across the organisation.
What's your current role?
As Head of Underwriting, which forms part of KBC Bank Ireland's Credit Department, I direct new business in line with the Bank’s credit policy and risk appetite. In addition, I am involved in the overall credit perspective of the homeloans’ business.
What advice would you give to people thinking of a career in financial services?
A career in financial services is challenging and hard work. But it is also rewarding and KBC Bank Ireland provides an opportunity for any graduate to establish a successful career.
