Jay Hirani

Name: Jay Hirani
Job: Analyst, international private banking
Employer: Barclays Wealth
University: BSc Banking and International finance, Cass Business School (2007)

I completed an internship in 2006 at a leading investment bank, which allowed me to apply the finance skills I gained during university in the ‘real world’. To take the next step in my career, I began conducting research and networking with people in different parts of the industry. I identified sales as an area that interested me with a particular focus on wealth management (private banking).

My job

My current role is as an analyst in the international private bank for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), directly supporting a senior private banker in managing a portfolio of high net-worth clients. This involves providing clients with up-to-date information on the markets, preparing investment proposals, acting as the first point of contact for clients and developing strategies with the private banker for assets under management. I like wealth management because of the client-facing aspect of the job and the exposure to several areas of finance.

Lottery winners and footballers

The ability to listen is crucial in wealth management. You need to ask open-ended questions and not make any assumptions to come to the right conclusions rather than pre-empt what you think the client needs. People gain their wealth in all sorts of ways, and so the variety of people we meet with can vary from lottery winners to footballers.