Interview - Ben

Ben joined Triland in 2022 and as Front Desk Assistant

Following on from A-levels, I studied Economics and Maths at the University of Nottingham and graduated in 2022 with a 2:1, where my modules had emphasis on macroeconomics and time series analysis. I’ve been at Triland since June 2022.

Having always had an interest in trading, I did some research into the company and started the application process.

Conducting your own research on the industry will be invaluable for when it comes to the interview process. You may not be expected to pitch a brand new trading strategy but having an awareness of the core business and how we create an impact within the industry will go a long way! Keep your eye on any relevant stories in the news and relish the opportunity of being in a room with a few very experienced individuals by asking questions. Not only will this help your understanding of the industry, but it will help demonstrate your enthusiasm for the role.

I am positioned in the Front Office across the Structured Finance, Precious Metals and Triland’s new Carbon Trading Desk where we trade EUA credits within the secondary market. Being a part of three very different products gives me diverse exposure to a number of markets within the physical and derivates sides.

On the Structured Finance Desk, I’m responsible for facilitating Sale and Repurchase “Repo” transactions with a select few clients within Triland’s extensive customer base. This role required a high attention to detail as when dealing with physical metal, there is a greater risk of fraud and errors can have large knock-on effects. On the Precious Metals Desk, I manage position and P&L reconciliations and speak to our clients directly through taking orders and reconciling each month’s business.

Each morning I will process all precious metal trades executed by our other subsidiaries, then I will aim to agree our trading positions and daily trading P&L. Throughout the day, I will be handling deals and orders directly with our clients, studying price movement and key news around the sometimes-turbulent markets and discussing Repo solutions with our customers. I might be meeting with internal carbon analysts, discussing market sentiment while utilising fundamental and technical analysis to ascertain key prices levels to put on trading positions.

Some of the things I enjoy the most about my working day would be the strategy and calculated risk behind proprietary trading and liaising with clients, figuring out ways of orchestrating Repo transactions that would be of most benefit to both us and the client. Aside from this, Triland hosts several social events throughout the year with the annual golf day being a personal favourite.

A high attention to detail is paramount when working with high volumes of numbers on a daily basis. One wrong number can have large implications if not picked up quickly, so a focussed and careful attitude is essential. Being early on in your career it’s natural to make mistakes but make sure to ask lots of questions so that next time you will have a fuller understanding and avoid making the same mistake again. Perhaps the most important thing I’ve learnt is that no matter how much you learn there is always room for more so always put yourself forward for opportunities where you can look to develop yourself as a professional and as an individual.

I hope to elevate my trading skills, currently I’m undertaking a course in technical analysis with The Society of Technical Analysts, alongside my day-to-day responsibilities to further my understanding and apply to proprietary trading. I intend to build on my relationships with the Precious Metals and Repo customer bases and onboard new customers where possible.

Approach the graduate program with an open mind as your experience in each department will be useful no matter where you find your place. Make sure to ask a lot of questions along the way and try and soak up as much knowledge as possible without being overwhelmed. Prepare sufficiently before you start the application process – start with some basics around the key metals we trade, for example, what are their main uses? Try and link your own experience to skills that could be useful within Triland and finally once you get into the interview room, relax and be yourself!