Minal Karlekar – Analyst, Sales, Sydney

I knew that Barclays Capital had a strong UK / European presence and learned more about the financial institution post the Lehman acquisition where it got a lot of press and exposure globally. Like many people I am also familiar with the Barclays brand, through its sponsorship of the popular Barclays Premier League football tournament.

Deciding to pursue a career in Commodities Sales was driven by the fact that I have always enjoyed working in the public markets side of banking. I wanted a balance between a highly technical / analytic role and a client facing role, therefore I knew sales was the right thing for me. What interests me most about working within commodities is that it is a dynamic, tangible market which covers energy, base and precious metals, agriculture, emissions and more.

Currently, my role is that of a Commodities Sales analyst working in the Sydney office which comes under the broader Barclays Capital Global Distribution group. The role is a multifaceted one, but the overarching function is to help Australia and New Zealand corporate clients manage their exposures to various commodity prices using swaps, options and other tailored derivative products.

My typical day involves coming in early and reading the financial press, getting up-to-scratch on all the overnight market movements in commodities, FX and broader equity markets. Throughout the day, I send ad hoc market updates on specific commodities to our clients as well as respond to client requests for analytics. I send through daily pricing sheets and call clients to update them on significant moves in price / fundamental data. I put together presentation pitches for clients which we may be pursuing for new business, track the exposure limits on existing clients, talk to the traders on their market views, read research, make sure all the previous day’s trades are booked, attend client meetings, organise client entertainment and tend to the administrative issues such as settlements/documentation. I answer phone calls throughout the day and execute, recap and sometimes book the flow trades, whether it is a small spot gold trade or an FX-linked agricultural forward trade. I also provide indicative pricing when requested by clients and closely track all the intraday working orders that we may have on.

The role of my team within the firm is to facilitate the distribution of commodity products to corporate clients across the region. Given that Australia has a globally dominant mining industry, our team plays a vital role in generating revenues for the Asia Pacific Global Distribution group and wider firm.

On a daily basis, I interact with existing clients, new clients, colleagues from FX and Investment Banking as well as trading, operations and regional sales within the firm.

The best part of my job is getting to meet new people and learning about their business. Working within a fantastic team with supportive colleagues makes every day not only a good learning experience but a lot of fun! I love the volatility and dynamic nature of the commodities markets and learning about the catalysts of price action. Also, the travel and the ongoing soft skills and product training that Barclays offers is invaluable.

The graduate programme has equipped me with a network of contacts all over the world within different divisions and roles at Barclays, who help each other by sharing information, resource and knowledge. I have also received technical training on various asset classes within financial markets as well as soft skills training to help me develop a more well-rounded skill set. The program for me, enabled a smooth transition from university to workforce, thus has given me a strong foundation to drive the future of my career at Barclays Capital.

Some of the most important skills that are necessary to work within this role are organization, ability to multi task, think quickly, and communicate effectively in stressful situations. A financial background also comes in handy for this role and helps with the understanding of different structures and products we can offer to clients as well as the intricacies of broader markets and financial institutions.

The biggest challenge would be the act of balancing the needs of internal stakeholders and client expectations on a daily basis. Some of the best projects I have been involved with are the structured deals which are executed in collaboration with the Metals and Mining Investment Banking team. The complexity and scale of these deals have provided a fantastic learning experience.

Having worked at various domestic and international investment banks, I can honestly say that Barclays Capital is the most proactive in making sure their graduates are happy within their roles. The firm is committed to making sure that each individual achieves job satisfaction and provides plenty of volunteer opportunities, training and development programs, networking opportunities, open lines of communication to senior management, suggestion boxes, diversity groups such as the Women’s Internal Network, lifestyle events and other programs to foster activities outside of the day-to-day job function. The culture of the firm is unlike any other investment bank and really motivates graduates to develop their skills as well as pursue their interests and hobbies beyond the workplace.

Graduates should join Barclays Capital as it is one of the leading global investment banks which is currently in an active growth phase, unlike most other institutions in the industry. The firm has an excellent graduate programme which is committed to developing talent and ensuring that individuals achieve their career goals.