Dear Mr Kolade,

It is my great pleasure to write to you detailing my journey through the intense and brilliant past year I’ve had at the University of Exeter studying for my Masters in Financial Analysis and Fund Management (FAFM). Firstly, I would like to extend my utmost gratitude to you – as without your support, this journey would not have been possible.

In the first semester, we explored important financial principles and implored a practical approach to develop understanding of the applications of these theories. A certain weight was bestowed on group work within these projects, which allowed me to explore working in multi-cultural and multi-national groups. The breadth of knowledge and personal development this approach provided me was immeasurable, and certainly a personal highlight of the course. To add to this, I felt great pride in myself and my team-mates to achieve the highest grade out of the cohort in both group projects in the first semester. Within our Financial Modelling project, we created a portfolio optimisation model which incorporated an analyst’s views on two assets within a portfolio; this skill became very useful when I created a similar model within an interview. In our Financial Statement Analysis project, we analysed Diageo’s financial accounts with reference to their CEO statements (we found these statements to be much more positive than their financial accounts).

In January we received our exam results, a day I remember fondly; I achieved 80% in Principles of Finance, and 83% in Financial Statement Analysis. Combining these results with all other coursework results up to this point meant I had achieved a straight average of 78%, receiving 70%+ in every graded piece of work bar one. This grade average combined with a strong application made me successful in being chosen to complete an Applied Project on behalf of J.P. Morgan Asset Management this summer. Within this project, I will be creating trading signals based on common factors in emerging markets. This achievement is one I am incredibly proud of, partly because of the associated prestige, but mostly due to the amount of work it took to achieve it.

Second semester seemed to bestow more responsibility on the individual, perhaps it seemed this way because of the exam-heavy modules. I enjoyed this structure as much as the previous one, it allowed me to explore a more theoretical approach and test my knowledge in a written examination. Exam results in July followed a similar pattern to the previous one, I achieved 70%+ in all four modules, and particularly excelled in Portfolio Management and Portfolio Optimisation where I achieved a grade of 88% in the exam.

Whilst academia is great, it is important to note that FAFM has provided much more than an academic experience. Throughout the year I was fortunate enough to attend BBQs, social activities, team-building exercises, and end-of-year parties! The social interaction encouraged within the course, and the collegiate approach fostered in group-work, has made this year the best experience of my life to date. In June, I was fortunate enough to attend the Euro Study-trip where myself and the cohort spent a week in Switzerland (Zurich and Zug). During this trip, we received extremely beneficial lectures from various companies, some of which included the Swiss Stock Exchange, Bitcoin Suisse, and the Swiss National Bank. We also managed to do some swimming in the Lakes, visit the Rhein Falls, and of course, see some bars in the city. I would consider the feeling of ‘community’ to be the quintessence of FAFM.

Very early in the course I elected to become a student representative for the FAFM cohort, and subsequently became an active part of the Student-Staff Liaison Committee. I found this experience a tremendous way to give back the current cohort, as well as the cohorts to come. During this experience, I advanced the current offering on the course by conducting a survey with current students to explore different approaches we could take with module selection. I concluded the results in a report for the Programme Director and discussed the best way forward. As well as this, I was able to offer mental support to members of the cohort when they were struggling and aid in organising social activities.

I am now coming to the end of my studies, and whilst this journey ends; another begins. As the year progressed, I realised my strengths as well as the areas of finance I found most enjoyable – this allowed to formulate a career plan to reach my goal. I have accepted an offer from Deloitte to enrol on their Audit & Assurance Graduate Scheme 2022 within the Bristol office, where I will be moving with my girlfriend who started a grad scheme there last year – it will be a huge relief to live in the same city again after a year of travelling to see each other. I plan to continue my development at Deloitte by completing my studies with the ACA, as well as learning fundamental knowledge surrounding companies’ activities, growth strategies and asset allocation. I see this as the perfect foundation to achieve my career goal of becoming a CFO in the future (expect a return to university to complete an MBA sometime in the future).

I cannot express how grateful I am to you for the opportunity you have afforded me. Without this support I would not have been able to enrol on this course and would not be any closer to achieving my goals: the impact felt from this scholarship truly is immeasurable. The kindness and the generosity that you afforded me are the same principles I will carry forward with me; with the hope that I can make people feel the same joy and warmth as I did the day I received this scholarship. I look forward to keeping you updated on my progress through my employment with Deloitte, studies with the ACA, and ventures beyond this.

Yours Faithfully

Jack Collins