Janice Robinson-Longmore, vice-president, funds administration of First Global Financial Services (FGFS) since September 1, 2006, is a chartered financial analyst with over fifteen years of knowledge and experience in banking and investment as well as regulatory compliance.

She opines, "My position is a little bit obscure because not a lot of people in high school would think of managing pension and mutual funds."

But, for those with an interest in investment management as a career, the banker notes that the area in which she works is an interesting one because of the legal, regulatory and investment issues which need to be taken care of. It is the complex nature of this job which provides her with the most satisfaction.

Responsibilities

As the vice president for funds administration, Robinson-Longmore's main responsibilities include establishing and administering the suite of the company's collective investments inclusive of mutual fund products, pension and GraceKennedy funds, and unit trusts to ensure a reasonable return on investments whilst deepening client relationships.

"The most interesting aspect of my job is being able to do two things: one is to solve problems which may have been long-standing and seem impossible and the other is to also help people - both clients and my working team - to move from one level in terms of knowledge and ability," the banker states.

Before taking up her current responsibilities with First Global Financial Services, Robinson-Longmore worked with the Bank of Nova Scotia (Jamaica) in such capacities as vice president and general manager of Scotia Jamaica Investment Management Limited.

Achievements there included the introduction of a group of mutual funds which became a major product offering of the company.

She also worked with the Royal Bank of Canada in Alberta, Canada where she states that her analytical skills, among others, was honed.

It was in 1987 Robinson-Longmore achieved a bachelor of Arts degree in commerce in marketing, and in 1994 she received her master's degree in business administration in finance from the University of Calgary, in Alberta, Canada.

She advises those with an interest in investment to focus first on the business subjects and then move on to do a degree in finance and economics, as well as the chartered financial analyst programme after university.

She also believes that it is very important to qualify oneself to work both in Jamaica and any country in the world as this provides more career flexibility.

This can be accomplished, Robinson-Longmore notes, by attending a university abroad for your master's in business administration or the master of science in finance. In addition, the chartered financial programme is offered by the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts in the United States and provides guidelines for professionals all over the world to work in careers in investment management.

Upwardly mobile

A chartered financial analyst is an individual who has passed tests in economics, accounting, security analysis, and money management, administered by the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts of the Association for Investment Management and Research.

Such an individual is also expected to have at least three years of investments-related experience, and meet certain standards of professional conduct. These individuals have an extensive economic and investing background and are competent at a high level of analysis.

Robinson-Longmore states, "My education has given me the opportunity to do different things. What I value most right now in my career is the opportunity to choose as opposed to being upwardly mobile."

Progress in her career has not been without its challenges. Early in her career, and still to a great extent today, she notes that being a women is a challenge as most of the senior people in investment are men.

"It meant I had to work harder to make an impression. Men tend to get the attention. One does have to know more than people who are merely competent."

As a female manager, she also refers to the challenge of juggling job responsibilities along with that of family. "You need to be fulfilled in other areas of your life in addition to your career," states the mother of one child and two step-children.

avia.ustanny@gleanerjm.com