In the post-trade securities space, technical ability will always be important. But in a relationship-based business, candidates can stand out on the basis of their people skills – especially when client satisfaction depends on how they are handled by the operations team. Megan McGarthy, senior HR generalist at Zodia Custody, will be sharing her experience of shaping high performance culture and enabling strategic growth during a session looking at how the industry should go about developing individuals with the right skills and attitudes to succeed.
“Post-trade is constantly changing and we need to be able to adapt,” she says. “We need to make sure we are compliant in everything we do. For example, for certain licences there is a requirement to have specific people – say an IT manager – on the ground, even when the local business doesn’t yet have that profile of person.”
Location
Location is also a consideration. Applicants for a position in Luxembourg, for instance, may live in France or Germany but local regulations might require them to spend a certain amount of time in the country, so offering the right mix of incentives is crucial.
McGarthy says getting executive committee buy-in is critical to an effective HR programme and hopes other human resources specialists will be able to help their boards understand the issues that arise in the recruitment and retention process.
“They need to understand the legislative requirements in all the jurisdictions they operate in and be open to change in areas such as performance management,” she says. “As an industry we need to look at how we are improving our staff, helping them on their professional journey.”
Talent development recruiters
This also applies to talent development recruiters, who focus on attracting, selecting and developing employees to meet current and future organisational needs, bridging the gap between talent acquisition and talent management.
“It is important to consider the types of benefit that are needed in each country and how all these factors help shape organisational cultures and tie in with corporate values,” she concludes.
Have you signed up yet to be in Stockholm for PostTrade 360° 2025 on 3–4 September? It’s free for securities operations pros, both trading and investor sides! (Vendor firm representatives need a sponsorship agreement.) The powerful event website lets you register, see all other delegates, schedule sessions and meetings, and message. Find all related articles, including loads of teaser interviews, here.
