Experienced Hires - Meet the Associates

Steve Smyth
Senior Director, UK Card

"What I have liked from the start since coming here is our 'truth-seeking' culture. Associates want to solve business problems collaboratively, using fact-based data.

Our analysts are a core element of how we tackle business problems. They are embedded in the organisation, making decisions and seeing them through to implementation, rather than merely sitting on the sidelines doing analysis. The combination of intellectual challenge and ownership to make things happen gives distinction to these roles.

We have 50 analysts in my department and around another 30 people in analytical roles spread across the company. Part of my job is to recruit people into these roles, which span three key areas: assessing which marketing media deliver the best results for us; product development; and decisions on people applying for a product such as a credit card - and if we accept them, what credit limit to give them."
 

Richard Donovan
Associate Communications

"The best thing about my job is the environment in which I work. I never thought I would ever work in a bank but I was sold on the open, liberated philosophy where you can really be yourself.

My role is to ensure that the organisation sends out consistent messages internally. I brief our business leaders so that they can be clear and accurate in the messages they deliver. I'm also responsible for the different channels through which we talk to our associates and I am in charge of the Associate Satisfaction Surveys. Through these surveys we keep a check on how people feel about working here.

The type of person I want in my team will develop new ideas, be able to manage relationships with many stakeholders and have the ability to commit to a project and deliver on it.

A major bonus when working here is the potential for flexible working. We try hard to help associates get a work life balance and strive to make it easier for them to work around their family commitments."
 

Vicky Mitchell
Chief Risk Officer

"I love the variety of my role. One minute I'm dealing with the financial regulators, the next I'm checking contracts and the next sitting down with the media relations team. I like the fact that I'm always in meetings with different, interesting people who work across the business.

Our success is built on the importance of different departmental teams working together. No department is considered more or less important. People are taken on their merit. Anyone can - and does - challenge anyone else. That openness to challenge anyone at any level certainly makes life interesting and keeps the senior management on their toes!

I've been here since the beginning in the UK. One of the reasons I've stayed is that we treat our associates very well. We're also a very friendly place. If you want a good social life, then you can definitely get it through working here. I've got two kids so what appeals to me is that although my job is really important, it fits around my family life."
 

Sharon Elliott
Marketing Specialist, Brand Marketing

"My role as Marketing Specialist sits within the Customer Communications Team, marketing to existing customers. I'm concerned purely with the delivery of marketing campaigns and the creative strategy for marketing a product.

I like the fact that I see a campaign through: from media recommendation, creative execution to completion. The biggest challenge in our industry is being creative within the constraints of financial services marketing regulations, of which there are many.

We are very supportive of flexible working. It's given me the opportunity to come back to work after having my little girl and gain the right balance. I work three days a week and that feels right for me. Unlike working mums at many companies, I don't feel I'm putting my career on hold either. In fact, since I've returned I've already been given extra responsibilities in my new role. We are a meritocracy where you get out what you put in."