Ryan de Bruyn – Global Transaction Services
Why did you choose to work at Citi?
I was looking to join a corporate and investment bank that had a global footprint and Citi ticked all the boxes. I had just arrived from South Africa where I had worked for a client of Citi's and saw it as a great opportunity.
How long have you been here and how has your career changed in that time?
I've been with Citi since 2007. I joined as a Management Accountant in the Business Planning & Analysis team of Global Banking and looked after the Global Transaction Services (GTS) and Corporate Banking businesses. A year into the role, I was offered a Business Analyst role with GTS to fill a position that had become available.
Over time that role has grown into the current Business Unit Manager role which now includes the co-ordination of all Risk & Control requirements as well as co-ordination of other business activities such as the annual budget process, preparation of business reviews, strategy & planning sessions and various other deliverables that come from our local and regional teams.
What is about Citi that stands out for you?
The people and the product. Members of the team are extremely talented and driven. Having a team of this calibre on your side makes you believe that you can do anything. From a capability perspective, there is no other bank that has the global reach and offering of Citi. It became the world's first NY-headquartered u niversal b ank in 1998 and has continued to lead the way since then, but there is still much more that we can do.
What do you enjoy doing out of work and how does Citi make it work for you?
Family time is my number one priority at the moment as we have a baby girl (Bella). I have a fair bit of flexibility between the ebbs and flows of my role and try to work a day from home once in a while when the schedule allows. Fitness is also very important to me. Six of us in the team just completed the Sydney to 'Gong bike ride and raised nearly $3,000 for charity. Many of the team helped by contributing towards our fundraising drive. I also enjoy swimming, running, golf, travel and music although there is never enough time in a day to do everything I'd like!
What is it about Citi that drives you to succeed?
There is a clear vision to succeed with a spirit of excellence and a sense of urgency. The culture is focused on challenging and improving the accepted way of doing something, which is an approach with which I identify .
What is the work environment like in your division/department?
Professional but fairly informal. There are different teams on the floor that each have their own sub- culture and group personality. But there is also a definite sense of the bigger team which works hard and has fun.
What personal successes and achievements has working here provided for you?
I picked Citi initially out of four job offers as I saw the work as most satisfying and thought there would be more opportunities. This has proved to be true as there have been a number of opportunities offered to me since joining and a great amount of learning and development. Being promoted to Vice President in January was a rewarding recognition of the efforts I've put in over the past few years.
What is the most important message for someone interested in a career with Citi?
Citi is a place where you can go anywhere and do almost whatever you'd like providing you get some grease on the elbows, be bold and put your hand up when opportunities arise.
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