Joseph Sanders

Tell us about your degree - why did you choose it?

After completing my BSc in Economics and Finance at the University of Leeds, I decided to continue my studies with the MSc Finance and Investment. During my undergraduate degree, I found myself particularly drawn to the finance side of the course, especially areas such as investment analysis, financial derivatives and corporate finance. I wanted to build on this interest and develop a deeper understanding in these areas.

I wanted to challenge myself academically while gaining experience with tools and techniques used in the industry, including financial modelling and data analysis. Having already enjoyed my time at Leeds as an undergraduate, continuing at the University felt like a natural choice.

The course allowed me to explore finance in much greater depth while developing the analytical and technical skills that I hope to take forward throughout my career.

What did you enjoy most about your course?

One of the biggest highlights of my MSc was the opportunity to complete my dissertation in collaboration with the Bank of England Research Support Programme. My research looked at the pricing of bank capital and whether the traditional Modigliani and Miller framework continues to hold during periods of financial and regulatory stress.

Working on a research project with a real world application was an incredibly valuable experience. It allowed me to take something I had learned about during my degree and apply it to a much more complex and current financial problem. I worked extensively with large datasets and used Stata, Excel, Bloomberg and Capital IQ throughout the project. I also had the opportunity to engage with researchers at the Bank of England, which gave me an insight into how financial research can be used to understand issues affecting the wider financial system.

Another highlight was the practical nature of the course. I particularly enjoyed the opportunity to put theory into practice through financial simulations and applied projects. Through the AmplifyME Finance Bootcamp, for example, I managed a simulated cross asset portfolio and competed against other students from across the country. It was a great way to experience the pressure of making investment decisions and managing risk in a fast moving environment.

I was also fortunate to receive the award for Best Overall Performance on the MSc Finance and Investment programme, which was a particularly rewarding way to finish my time at Leeds. Overall, I really valued the combination of academic learning, practical experience and the opportunity to work alongside other students who were equally passionate about finance.

What did you enjoy most about your life as a student at the University of Leeds?

Some of my best memories from Leeds came from getting involved in university sport and societies alongside my studies. I was heavily involved with the Economics Society football team, and it became a huge part of my university experience. We went on to win our league and the University’s Champions League-style competition, which was a brilliant experience. Although winning was obviously a highlight, what I enjoyed most was everything around it. Playing football each week gave me the chance to meet people from different years and courses, while the socials afterwards became a big part of university life. Going out with the team, meeting new people and playing football together made it such a memorable part of my time at Leeds.

More broadly, I loved the experience of living in Leeds. There is a great balance between university life and the city itself, and there was always something happening. Some of my closest friendships came from my time at Leeds, and I think the people I met and the experiences I had outside the classroom were just as important to my university experience as the degree itself.

What professional skills and experience did you gain?

Through my Finance and Investment studies, I developed practical experience using Excel, Bloomberg, Capital IQ and Stata, particularly for financial modelling, data analysis and investment research. This has given me a useful head start in my first rotation at Centrica, allowing me to apply skills and knowledge I developed at Leeds to a professional environment from the outset. My dissertation, completed through the Bank of England Research Support Programme, also gave me experience working with large financial datasets and using tools such as Power Query in Excel, which I am now using in my role at Centrica.

Alongside my studies, taking part in the AmplifyME Finance Bootcamp gave me a better understanding of different careers within finance and what employers look for during the recruitment process, which helped me prepare for applying to graduate roles. My studies also gave me exemptions towards professional qualifications and a strong foundation for pursuing the ACA, which I am now studying alongside my graduate role.

The combination of my academic experience, practical skills and the support available through Leeds gave me the confidence to apply for a range of graduate roles, ultimately receiving multiple offers before deciding to begin my career in finance at Centrica.

How did your time at Leeds prepare you for the future?

Leeds prepared me well for the challenges of starting my professional career. The combination of a demanding workload, independent study, group projects and working with people from different backgrounds helped me become more adaptable, organised and confident in unfamiliar situations.

It also taught me to approach new challenges with confidence. Moving from university into a professional environment has required me to learn quickly, meet new people and take on responsibilities I had not experienced before, and I feel my time at Leeds gave me a strong foundation for doing this.

How has your career progressed since leaving the Business School?

After completing my MSc, I took a year out before beginning my professional career and have recently joined Centrica as a Finance Graduate. I am currently in my first rotation in FP&A, where I am gaining practical experience in financial planning and analysis, working with financial data and reporting, and building on the technical skills I developed at Leeds. Although I am still at the beginning of my career, receiving multiple graduate job offers after completing my studies was a particularly rewarding highlight, as it gave me the opportunity to choose a career path that aligned with my long-term ambitions.

I was particularly drawn to Centrica because of the opportunity to develop across different areas of finance while also gaining experience within the energy industry. Being part of a sector undergoing significant change through the energy transition adds an interesting dimension to finance, as financial decisions are closely linked to changing markets, technology and the future of energy. Alongside the graduate programme, I am also working towards becoming ACA qualified, building on the exemptions and knowledge I gained at Leeds. I am excited to continue developing both my finance skills and broader commercial understanding as my career progresses.

What are your ambitions for the future?

In the short term, my ambition is to become ACA qualified and gain experience across a range of areas within finance. I would particularly like the opportunity to complete a future rotation within M&A, building on the analytical and commercial skills I am developing in FP&A. I would also be interested in gaining experience within the investment team, allowing me to build on the investment knowledge and skills I developed during my MSc in Finance and Investment.

In the longer term, I want to build a broad understanding of corporate finance and investment before deciding which area of finance I would like to pursue in greater depth. This was one of the things that attracted me to starting my career at Centrica, as the rotational structure will allow me to gain exposure to different areas of finance while also developing a broader understanding of the energy industry. I am keen to use the early stages of my career to gain as much varied experience as possible, develop a strong technical foundation and ultimately find the area where I can add the most value.

What was your biggest highlight of studying at Leeds?

Leeds gave me the opportunity to challenge myself, take on new responsibilities and get involved in things outside of my course, while meeting a huge range of people along the way. By the time I finished my MSc, I felt that I had developed a much clearer sense of what I was capable of and the direction I wanted to take.

A particularly memorable part of this was getting involved with Leeds Economics Society. I started playing football with the society, and what began as simply joining a football team turned into one of the most enjoyable parts of my time at Leeds. We built a team from a small five-a-side league into an 11-a-side side that went on to win our league and become the number one social football team at Leeds University. The friendships and experiences that came from that are memories I will take with me long after graduating.

Academically, the biggest highlight was finishing my MSc as the top overall performer on the programme, which was a particularly rewarding way to finish my time at Leeds. A key part of achieving this was the opportunity to complete my dissertation through the Bank of England Research Support Programme. I was able to work on a genuine research project looking at the pricing of bank capital during periods of financial and regulatory stress, bringing together many of the skills and ideas I had developed throughout my degree. Performing strongly in the dissertation and achieving one of my highest marks on the project gave me a lot of satisfaction, particularly because of the level of independent research involved and the real-world relevance of the topic.

I think my lasting memory of Leeds will be the people and the opportunities. Leeds gave me the chance to push myself academically while still having a really full university experience, and I think that combination is what made my time there so memorable.

Would you recommend Leeds University Business School?

Definitely. For me, the best thing about Leeds is the combination of the university and the city itself. There is a great student atmosphere, and being surrounded by so many people, with so much going on both on and off campus, made Leeds a really enjoyable place to live and study. I think the people I met and the experiences I had outside of my studies were just as important to my overall university experience as what I learned in the classroom.

At the same time, the academic reputation of the University and the opportunities available through the Business School have had a huge impact on me. The academic foundation I developed at Leeds, combined with the opportunities to challenge myself and get involved beyond my degree, has helped me both personally and professionally. I would definitely recommend both the University of Leeds and Leeds University Business School to anyone considering studying there.

My biggest piece of advice would simply be to get stuck in, both academically and socially. Take your studies seriously and make the most of the opportunities available, but be confident and don't be afraid to step outside your comfort zone either. Get involved in societies, meet new people, try things you wouldn't normally do and take opportunities even when you're not completely sure where they might lead.