William Edwards

Your time at Imperial College Business School

Why did you choose to study your programme and why specifically at Imperial College Business School?

Having previously studied in London I was aware of the School's international presence and reputation. Meeting previous students allowed me to have a clear idea of what I would expect in terms of teaching. I chose the MSc Finance & Accounting in order to develop those respective skillsets, which is something I felt needed to be done following my previous internships.

What was the most important learning point you took with you from the Business School?

Asides from the programme content, interacting with peers both in class and socially allowed for a deeper understanding of the current industry and markets. This knowledge was necessary during hiring processes. The distributed workload also helped me develop a strong work discipline.

What advice would you give to a prospective student considering studying the same programme as you?

I would strongly recommend taking part in as many extracurricular activities as time allows. Whether that be the student funds or the various projects and incentives in progress at the School. This helps cement knowledge, use and get used to concepts you may have just learned in class.

What was the most surprising thing about the programme?

A surprising aspect of the programme was the extent to which the programme team and the lecturers were responsive to demands and issues raised by the cohort. For example, when students mentioned that they felt underprepared in programming lessons, additional tutorials were rapidly arranged.

Tell us about your current job

How has your programme contributed to your career success? 

Prior to the MSc I had very limited practical financial knowledge and despite a string of internships felt very much on the backfoot on the subject matter. The MSc gave me the confidence and skillset to pursue specific roles that I would not of been aware of or even understood previously.

"The MSc gave me the confidence and skillset to pursue specific roles that I would not of been aware of or even understood previously."

How do you plan to use the skills and knowledge you gained during the programme within your career going forward?

I was fortunate enough to secure a role which employs many of the skills developed in the MSc. I am looking forward to being able to enhance and build on this foundational knowledge throughout my career

What do you enjoy most about your current work and what are the main challenges that you face?

My current role involves challenging and troubleshooting different and often conflicting information related to Fund management and administration. Therefore being able to have a wide understanding and attention to detail is critical.

Alumni community

In what way is remaining connected to your alumni network important to you?

I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Imperial and hope to stay in touch with the peers and friends I have made. I hope to stay involved and take part in events and incentives in the years to come. I think I have much more to learn from my ex-classmates and the Business School even after years in industry.