ALEX BERESFORD


Alex Beresford is a Technology Analyst for Financial Services in the City of London. Working for Excelian on a financial trading, risk management and processing system known as Murex, his clients include HSBC Investment Bank and Daiwa Capital Markets. He joined the company in 2010 after securing an MBA from UWIC. He was born in Cardiff and grew up in the city.


After graduating in International Business Management with French from the University of Bath in 2009, Alex chose a UWIC MBA course to give himself a competitive edge in the jobs market. He says: “Following countless job applications during my undergraduate degree, I was keen to differentiate myself from other similar candidates and to invest further in my career.


Being fortunate enough to meet members of UWIC staff before applying, I was aware of the friendly and warm atmosphere there. I was confident that the course would nurture my existing degree and prepare me for a career in my chosen field of technology consultancy.”


At UWIC, he found that his initial positive thoughts about the staff had been correct. He says: “What stood out was the approachability


of lecturers and the community feel of the university. Within the MBA, questions were always answered and lecturers encouraged group work in the form of discussions and presentations. Every attempt was made to mix groups to cover the range of skill sets. People who had spent many years in industry and were now using the MBA to enhance their business knowledge, gave me a priceless insight into the business world. Equally, I was able to share academic and practical knowledge with individuals and this reinforced my learning. On one occasion I asked a lecture to help with my preparation for a job interview. The lecturer didn’t hesitate in suggesting a meeting over a coffee on a Sunday afternoon. I think this frames the


People who had spent many years in industry and were now using the MBA to enhance their business knowledge, gave me a priceless insight into the business world


friendly UWIC MBA tuition quite nicely.”


Key responsibilities in his work now include assisting clients with implementations and upgrades of Murex which supports their


capital markets activities across asset classes. This includes testing, reporting and problem solving.


His MBA has been crucial to success. He says: “The MBA meant I had the ability to fit seamlessly into a team working environment; that’s a quality which will always be attractive to employers. When deciding on a potential career path it is important to recognise one’s weaknesses as well as strengths. The concept of a rounded individual is important too. As well as this, demonstrating an open-minded and passionate approach to learning sets an MBA student part from other candidates. Academic achievement, work experience and team participation all contribute to one’s employability but it’s the variety that provides the fruit and not the disciplines in isolation. Through an MBA, students are ultimately investing in their most valuable asset, themselves, and with the right guidance and range of experiences this sets them in good stead for a successful career in any professional working environment.”


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