Zhongren Zhang
Current Employer/Organisation Name
State Street
What have you been doing since leaving Exeter, and what are you doing now?
Now I am working at State Street, the American Custodian Bank, which has a branch located in Hangzhou (China) and serves multiple clients such as JP Morgan and Blackrock. As a fund accountant, my daily job involves calculating management fees, preparing cash files, and processing audit packages.
Why did you choose this career? And what do you enjoy most about your work?
My dream job has always been in Finance. Luckily, as I wished, I found a position in State Street which is one of the biggest Custodian Banks in the United States. It expands and operates worldwide and has many branches in different countries and regions. As for the job content, we mainly process private funds and serve a wide range of clients. This really helps me expand my horizons and obtain more knowledge in the areas of Finance and private funds.
Please tell us if you were a member of any societies, groups or sports clubs?
China Society, Piano Society and Korea Society.
What did you enjoy most about your programme and what was the biggest highlight?
I mostly enjoyed the group assignments that built cooperation and communication skills. The biggest highlight was that as a group, we cooperated and strived to make a better team work with 85 score return in Accounting.
What did you enjoy most about studying here?
So much, but especially the wonderful campus environment. This usually relaxed me even when there were a lot of assignments waiting, and cheered me up when upset or stressed.
Why did you choose to study at Exeter?
JK Rowling, programme rank, lovely campus.
What skills and experiences have been most useful for your career?
Cooperation skills, communication skills, Excel, written English and the most important one – the open mind.
What advice would you give to a current student who wishes to pursue your career?
Getting ready in major, both soft and hard skills.
What are your plans for the future?
Learn more in Finance and expand networks and get promotion as soon as possible.
