Upon the completion of my 6-week internship here at Puma Capital Group, I look back fondly on the experience and perspective I have gained, and a passion for an industry I had little to no knowledge of prior to my time at Puma Capital Group. 

My time at Puma Capital Group was spent within the Puma Investments division where I learnt about the tax efficient products that Puma offers and the whole stage of the investment process, from the day an application is received to the day of allotment. Beginning with the Client Onboarding team, I was able to gain an insight into the intricacies of the application process, which included conducting Anti-Money Laundering checks to ensure that there is client suitability. Here I was able to develop and enhance my analytical skills, my attention to detail and organisational skills to ensure that Investor details were processed onto Puma’s database. With the support of the fantastic Client Onboarding team, I was able to process applications efficiently and gain a great introduction to using systems such as the CRM platform.

My time with the Fund Operations team gave me the opportunity to see what is entailed during the investment process and how systems like Pershing, CRM and Exact are all used together. My time with Fund Operations has helped me see how important proficiency in Microsoft Office is, and I now hope to invest in myself by building up my skills in using the application. I was then fortunate enough to be a part of the Client Relations team, where I was given an insight into what the team does on a day-to-day basis and how they deal with clients’ queries and requests.

Through a variety of training sessions, from the differing products that Puma offers, to training sessions on the processing of death certificates, I was equipped with a better understanding of why Investors would invest in Puma products and how the team would then deal with any queries and concerns that may arise.  I engaged in tasks which would contribute to the risk reduction and enhance the efficiency of processes within the team.  This included using various formulas on Microsoft Excel to highlight any discrepancies that would be rectified. These tasks made me realise just how important each task is and how it contributes to the success of not only Puma Investments, but also Puma Capital Group as a whole.

My exposure to Puma was not only limited to the Client Relations team though. I had the opportunity to have scheduled meetups with professionals from different areas of the business which included Puma Public Markets, Puma Private Equity and Puma Property Finance, all of which provided me with a greater insight to the day-to-day dealings that each division engages in.

My time speaking with Chris Whyte especially gave me a great insight into the different processes that the PPF Team has in place to support the progress of development projects. In our conversation, I was given an insight into how development loans are funded, the kinds of projects that are funded (PBSA, care homes and co-living apartments), and the intricacies of the whole process. 

Being at Puma Capital Group has been an invaluable experience, one in which has helped me build a greater insight into the Investment Management Industry and has given me a good foundation on which I can go away and build my understanding of the products and services provided by Puma. It is no surprise that Puma Capital Group has been recognised as one of the best workplaces, with the great community of people that so wonderfully display the core values of the company, at the desk, in meetings, training sessions and even in the lift! 

My gratitude goes out especially to Kat, Ellie, Karen, Indya, Maicy, Mia, Samuel P, Samuel W, Samirah, Jeanne, Joseph, Laila, Bridget and my mentor Gavin who, without their welcoming and inclusive culture, I would not have made it through the programme. 

I would also like to thank Cara and the 10,000 Interns foundation for the opportunity to experience such an amazing firm