Fund accounting at Saltgate - what's it like?

 

12 May 2021

 

We spoke to Luke Felix, a Fund Accountant in our London office, about his career and journey at Saltgate.

 

What is your professional background?

I was an intern at a financial software company during my placement year at university. After I graduated, I went back there as an accounts assistant. The first time I had heard of Saltgate was when I was contacted on LinkedIn by a recruitment agent – I then joined as a Trainee Fund Accountant.

 

What’s your role and what are your responsibilities within Saltgate?

I’m a Fund Accountant and I’m responsible for a few things: prep for financial statements, bookkeeping for various entities, map managing, and completion of investor queries from Europa – the main client I work on.

 

What advice would you give to someone who wants your role?

Make sure you’re organised and don’t let the pressure get to you. If you listen to what you’re told and are attentive and willing to learn, you will do well in this role.

 

What’s your favourite thing about your role?

My favourite would be how varied it is working with the client – you get to do many different tasks and there’s scope to learn also.

 

What’s the biggest misconception about your job?

I find that when I tell people I’m an accountant they’ll ask me “where should I invest my money?” or “how shall I save my money?”. They think I know all about general finance or can advise on it, but it’s not my area as I’m not a personal accountant.

 

Why did you go for the role you are in?

Before I joined Saltgate I was looking to move into a different industry. I liked the sound of Saltgate itself and the actual job specification matched the things I wanted to get into.

 

What’s the strangest or funniest thing that’s happened to you at work?

In the London office we have downstairs toilet and the door frame is quite low, so I’ve managed to bash my head on it a few times coming out of the toilet!

 

What trait in a person do you most admire/dislike?

I admire someone who listens well and has good attention to detail, someone who takes stuff on board, makes notes, and doesn’t have silly questions because they’ve listened. I dislike people who don’t listen or aren’t proactive, so if you ask them to do something and they don’t do it, having to keep reminding them can be annoying.

 

What do you do for fun?

I’m enjoying reading and playing video games – I can’t do much else right now!

 

What’s your hidden talent?

I have a black belt in karate.

 

Who’s your hero?

My dad – he’s a good role model.

 

Who’s your favourite author?

Lee Child – author of the Jack Reacher novels.

 

What makes someone succeed at Saltgate?

Hard work and the appetite to progress. I would say the willingness to help fellow team members too – they’re all traits that will help you succeed and progress at the company.

 

What’s your favourite part of Saltgate culture?

For me it’s definitely the relationships between the team in the London office – everyone gets on well.