UCIM continues to invest in its team and all employees have tailored development plans. For example, five investment analysts have been supported to take the Chartered Financial Analyst Program while at UCIM. Three further team members have enrolled in completed apprenticeships and diplomas in HR, Investment Operations and Data Analytics.
UCIM has been kindly and ably supported by the Apprenticeship team at the University, particularly Colin Long, who has provided information and advice on apprenticeship standards, providers, and enrolment.
Several team training sessions took place this year, including presentation training, writing workshops to assist in the preparation of investment memos, unconscious bias training to support UCIM’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, and a fascinating session with a former member of the government secret service to understand body language and detect deceit, helpful for due diligence of fund managers.
In line with the University’s own sustainability strategy, UCIM has developed a Local Environmental Sustainability Plan (“LESP”), driven by a newly formed working group. UCIM measures its own emissions, the majority of which are due to team travel, and has a strategy and plans in place to reduce these over time.
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I first considered investment operations as a career path during my time on the graduate programme at a well-known global investment bank. I was drawn to the mechanics behind investment decision-making and enjoyed enhancing operational processes. It quickly became clear that this area aligned well with both my interests and strengths.
I first heard about the opportunity at UCIM in February 2021. After 14 years at a boutique asset manager working with numerous US endowments, I was inspired by their mission-driven approach and felt it was the right time to transition and further my career. The interview process was thorough, but what stood out to me was how professional yet genuinely caring the team were throughout the recruitment journey.
I lead the operational management of the CUEF investment portfolio across its full lifecycle, overseeing trade execution, reconciliation, cash management, and reporting. I’m also responsible for the strategic direction of the investment operations function and team development.
Operations teams often fly under the radar, but they’re absolutely essential. Without accurate execution, reliable data, and strong controls, even the best investment ideas can fall apart. When everything runs smoothly, we’re rarely noticed, and that’s exactly the point.
What I’ve enjoyed most about my time at UCIM is being part of a prestigious university that values collaboration, learning, and continuous improvement. It’s also been incredibly rewarding to help shape team culture, mentor emerging talent, and contribute to the long-term success of the fund and its mission.
Working at a university endowment fund offers a unique blend of purpose and complexity. I don’t ever feel I’m just supporting financial returns; I’m contributing to a long-term mission that funds education, research, and societal impact. Operationally, it’s diverse and intellectually engaging, with exposure to a wide range of asset classes and manager relationships.
My advice is to embrace the detail. It’s a role where precision, problem-solving, and particularly collaboration really matter. You’ll be at the heart of the investment process, ensuring everything runs smoothly behind the scenes. If you enjoy structure, working across teams, and making a real impact without being in the spotlight, it’s a hugely rewarding path.
University of Cambridge Investment Management Limited (“UCIM”) is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK with reference number 515843. UCIM is a private limited company incorporated in England and Wales with company number 06907395. Its registered address is The Old Schools, Trinity Lane, Cambridge CB2 1TN, UK. UCIM is the investment manager of the Cambridge University Endowment Fund (the “Fund”) which is an unregulated collective investment scheme as defined in section 235 of FSMA. The Fund is not available to the general public for investment. The purpose of this website is to inform visitors about UCIM’s business and activities. The information on this website, including all opinions or other content, is not intended to and does not constitute financial, accounting, tax, legal, investment, consulting or other professional advice or services but is for information purposes only. To the extent that this website contains information regarding past performance, you should be aware that past performance is not indicative of future results. UCIM and the Fund are not authorised or regulated in any country outside the UK and it may be unlawful to access the content of this website from outside the UK. If you choose to access information on this site, you do so at your own risk and it is your responsibility to comply with the applicable laws and regulations in countries outside the UK, including in particular, the United States of America. By entering this website you confirm agreement with the above information. For further detail, please read the Important Information page and our Privacy Policy.
