Harnessing the future

As financial markets evolve towards an increasing level of sophistication, complexity and automation, there is a need for very specific quant skills.

The academy was launched as a pilot last September with six interns currently part of the bank from that programme, and the first now a full-time employee.

The criteria for choosing candidates includes excellent academic background and graduate qualifications in computer science, mathematics, statistics, physics, financial economics or similar. Strong quantitative background, analytical and modelling skills and problem-solving capacity are also required.

Standard Chartered is working or in discussions with IIT Bombay, IIT Madras, National University of Singapore, Fudan University (Shanghai), Xiamen University, Nanjing University and Warwick University in the UK.

The programme compares to a similar initiative launched last year by University College London with Credit Suisse, Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley and Reuters.

UCL's Masters in Financial Computing provides the grounding in IT, management and financial systems necessary to embark on a financial services career. It is also aimed at broadening out the talent pool encouraging applicants from a diverse range of bachelor degree subjects.