HedgeServ Job

Shamrock776

I am a graduate and likely to get a 2:2 and been called for an interview. Just after doing a quick google and their reviews are terrible i.e long work hours, bad management, higher turnover etc

Anyone here work/worked for them. Would they for example be a good place to start off for a year and get my Cap2's and possible 1 Cap 1 done and then prehaps move on into the a Big 4 or somewhere else.

THanks

DublinGirl1991

People write reviews when they've something negative to say, and not when they love their job, so I'd take all that with a pinch of salt.

I work there, as a grad and its like any other grad job- you work hard and benefit from it. Their package is good and some useful benefits like health insurance and a reimbursement for Gym membership.

Great place to get your accounting qualification- I'm doing ACCA but you can do ACA or CIMA too- all fully supported with fees and exam leave.

Progression is good too- its a fast moving industry so if you work hard you'll be promoted and rewarded in salary.

Shamrock776

DublinGirl1991 wrote: »

People write reviews when they've something negative to say, and not when they love their job, so I'd take all that with a pinch of salt.

I work there, as a grad and its like any other grad job- you work hard and benefit from it. Their package is good and some useful benefits like health insurance and a reimbursement for Gym membership.

Great place to get your accounting qualification- I'm doing ACCA but you can do ACA or CIMA too- all fully supported with fees and exam leave.

Progression is good too- its a fast moving industry so if you work hard you'll be promoted and rewarded in salary.

Yeah they were really nice in the interview, I was really shy and I really messed up that MCQ test, stupid mistakes so just waiting to hear back now.

I hope to do ACCA as I expect to have full Cap 1 exemptions so I am hoping that it may help but if it's largely based on MCQ I haven't a chance.

Which office are you based at? Had the interview in G Dock.

MySandwich

Never worked there myself (although I did interview there once) but used to work in the industry, so I knew a few people who went to work there. By and large it seems like a decent place to work, good pay/benefits and casual dress in the office. For a graduate role it should be a good opportunity.

ros260

Shamrock776 wrote: »

DublinGirl1991 wrote: »

People write reviews when they've something negative to say, and not when they love their job, so I'd take all that with a pinch of salt.

I work there, as a grad and its like any other grad job- you work hard and benefit from it. Their package is good and some useful benefits like health insurance and a reimbursement for Gym membership.

Great place to get your accounting qualification- I'm doing ACCA but you can do ACA or CIMA too- all fully supported with fees and exam leave.

Progression is good too- its a fast moving industry so if you work hard you'll be promoted and rewarded in salary.

Yeah they were really nice in the interview, I was really shy and I really messed up that MCQ test, stupid mistakes so just waiting to hear back now.

I hope to do ACCA as I expect to have full Cap 1 exemptions so I am hoping that it may help but if it's largely based on MCQ I haven't a chance.

Which office are you based at? Had the interview in G Dock.

I went in to a hedge fund job in a similar position to yourself a number of years ago. I experience would be went you get in it can be hard to get out or get a job in a other industry/practice. High pressure for not that much reward. I was doing the acca finals and I was treated the same as if I was doing basket making. No support and only study leave given was the day off the exam and the day before. Even i wanted to take 2 weeks holidays before the exam but had to travel back to Dublin for a couple of days as it was month end. While I worked for a different fund it may be different but something you should keep in mind.

doc22

ros260 wrote: »

I went in to a hedge fund job in a similar position to yourself a number of years ago. I experience would be went you get in it can be hard to get out or get a job in a other industry/practice. High pressure for not that much reward. I was doing the acca finals and I was treated the same as if I was doing basket making. No support and only study leave given was the day off the exam and the day before. Even i wanted to take 2 weeks holidays before the exam but had to travel back to Dublin for a couple of days as it was month end. While I worked for a different fund it may be different but something you should keep in mind.

Would the pay not increase in time with qualification? What do fund accountants make

ros260

doc22 wrote: »

ros260 wrote: »

I went in to a hedge fund job in a similar position to yourself a number of years ago. I experience would be went you get in it can be hard to get out or get a job in a other industry/practice. High pressure for not that much reward. I was doing the acca finals and I was treated the same as if I was doing basket making. No support and only study leave given was the day off the exam and the day before. Even i wanted to take 2 weeks holidays before the exam but had to travel back to Dublin for a couple of days as it was month end. While I worked for a different fund it may be different but something you should keep in mind.

Would the pay not increase in time with qualification? What do fund accountants make

I have no idea about the above mentioned fund but in the fund I worked the qualification meant no extra money then a person who wasn't doing accounting exams. You would get the normal increases for a job. Indeed in my fund if you failed a exam once the would only pay half your course/exams fees and if you failed it twice you would have to refund then in full.

doc22

ros260 wrote: »

I have no idea about the above mentioned fund but in the fund I worked the qualification meant no extra money then a person who wasn't doing accounting exams. You would get the normal increases for a job. Indeed in my fund if you failed a exam once the would only pay half your course/exams fees and if you failed it twice you would have to refund then in full.

What difference is it once you pass. Sounds awfully tight you'd be better not to bother.

somesoldiers

ros260 wrote: »

I have no idea about the above mentioned fund but in the fund I worked the qualification meant no extra money then a person who wasn't doing accounting exams. You would get the normal increases for a job. Indeed in my fund if you failed a exam once the would only pay half your course/exams fees and if you failed it twice you would have to refund then in full.

I work in fund admin and can confirm that doing accountancy exams makes feck all difference in my company.some do, some don't.yes it looks good on cv but cv is only good to you if you are leaving.
I've been in my job 10 years and have been promoted 5 times without ever doing an exam though I am in a role that requires a broad knowledge of all areas rather than specifically FA

ros260

doc22 wrote: »

ros260 wrote: »

I have no idea about the above mentioned fund but in the fund I worked the qualification meant no extra money then a person who wasn't doing accounting exams. You would get the normal increases for a job. Indeed in my fund if you failed a exam once the would only pay half your course/exams fees and if you failed it twice you would have to refund then in full.

What difference is it once you pass. Sounds awfully tight you'd be better not to bother.

Well if you are doing a exam with a very high failure rate and combined with a high pressure job. It is something you have to consider. As for the accounting exams as the poster above says you don't need it for funds but it is for your own career direction.

callaway92

Friend of mine worked there in Fund Accounting after moving from an asset management company. Just wanted the move to Dublin but didn't like Hedgserv at all. Happy in Citibank now though.

DublinGirl1991

The Fund Admin industry is moving much more towards qualifications being very important, and so I would recommend them. It does benefit the company and the individual. I don't really see other opinions about it being pointless- its a recognised prestigious industry focused qualification and you basically get it for free, when others would be paying 8k and up! Why wouldn't you take advantage and see it as a benefit.

Afaik, HedgeServ do recognise people's success in exams and reward it. Its not a barrier to promotion, but it is an advantage to be qualified or studying. I don't know about the other fund admins people above have worked in, but its definitely strongly recognised in HS.

@Shamrock776, glad to hear the interview was enjoyable. I don't know about the testing. Fingers crossed for you. I'm not in GD. Just to say to you, ACCA are not the Cap1 and 2- that's ACA. ACCA there are 14 different exams- most business degrees exempt you from 8 or 9.