I am applying for admission to the MSc. program in Mathematical Trading and Finance because I want a career in the area of mathematical finance. In particular, I am interested in the application of mathematical methods to the various areas of finance. In order to gain an appreciation of these and related issues, it is essential for me to have a strong grounding in the areas of advanced mathematics as well as to gain a Finance perspective.
I believe that my educational background has instilled in me the qualities required to meet the rigor of this demanding profession. Graduation in Engineering has provided a strong foundation in Mathematics and Computer Programming. During the course of my Engineering education I took up a project with Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), India’s premier centre for atomic research. This project of developing the software for processing reactor data, requiring extensive use of C programming language and Unix, for the first time gave me a real world experience of programming. This association helped a lot in consolidating my programming skills, especially in C language. Thus, it inculcated in me problem solving and analytical abilities.
After completing my graduate degree, I joined Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Asia’s largest software firm as an Assistant Systems Engineer. After a 3 month intensive training in software methodology and management skills, I joined a team which was building a Trading System for a Stock Exchange. I played an integral part in the development of the system, starting from assimilation and analysis of the requirements, design and implementation, marketing of the product and customer relations. Finance as a subject has always fascinated me from the beginning, but it was association with this project that my fascination turned to interest. I became familiar with financial markets and instruments like equities, equity based derivatives, commodities and index derivatives.
After this project, I then joined a project developing a Broker end Front Office system. I worked at client site with a leading brokerage firm, dealing in diverse portfolios. Here I realized how derivatives play an important role in optimising a portfolio’s performance and help managing risk. I also learnt about risk models and structured financial products. It was at this time that I realized the importance of mathematics and programming as invaluable tools in Finance. I had always felt that applying my technical knowledge to the field of Finance would be highly satisfying. The knowledge I gained here helped me crystallize my goals as I decided to make a career in risk management.
I strongly feel that the MSc program in Mathematical Trading and Finance at Cass University is a highly structured program because it provides the right balance between theory and practice. The Bloomberg sponsored dealing rooms would give me ample of opportunities to apply my knowledge to real world problems.
Given the confluence of my personal and professional interests, my goal is to obtain a master’s degree and then to work in the finance industry as a financial risk modeller with a leading financial institution. In addition to this I plan to use my private time to prepare for a PhD in the area of mathematical finance.
