University of Sydney team makes history by advancing to CFA Challenge global finals

A team of University of Sydney Business School students have become the first Australian team to advance to the CFA Institute Research Challenge global finals.

The CFA Institute Research Challenge is a one of the most prestigious finance competitions in the world, and provides university students with hands-on mentoring and intensive training in financial analysis and professional ethics.

The University of Sydney team, comprised of undergraduate students Sahil Arora, Jeffrey Brown, Jassis Chen, Tom Luo and Jessica Wu, who are all majoring in Finance, won the Asia Pacific finals after preparing a stock pitch of CBA over nine months.

Sahil Arora, Jassis Chen, Tom Luo, Jessica Wu and Jeffrey Brown

“We owe our success to the phenomenal work of our faculty mentor, Dr Angelo Aspiris, and the USYD Finance Faculty," the team said.

"Being the first Australian team to reach the global finals speaks volumes about the quality of teaching at our university and the opportunities provided to us.

"Most importantly, it highlights that we are a school of contemporary learning, able to contextualise our classroom learnings in a highly dynamic setting.”

The team will now go on to represent Asia Pacific at the global finals, which will be held via video conference on 22 April 2020.

"It has been a long and wonderful journey," Jeffrey Brown said. "We are honoured to be flying the Asia Pacific flag and for the opportunity to continue sharing our research with the wider community."

University of Sydney team finishes second at Alpha Beta Psi Regional Meeting

Beta Alpha Psi (BAP) is a United States-based organisation which acknowledges outstanding academic achievement and promotes best practice in the study of accounting, finance, and information systems. It was founded in the United States in 1919 and celebrates its 100th anniversary this year.

Lily Zheng, Sachin Samarawickrama, Minqiu Zhao, Alex Zhao, Janine Coupe, Jeff Brown and Dhivyen Aaron

Along with students from UTS, University of Melbourne, Monash, Deakin, University of Auckland and Waikato University, the University of Sydney team attended the Beta Alpha Psi Oceania Regional Meeting themed "Inspiring Future Leaders to Leave a Legacy of Excellence," hosted by Monash University in Melbourne, Australia.

Presenting in the Best Practice competition with the metaphor of planting a tree that gives shade to future generations, the USYD Chapter, represented by Jeff Brown and Sachin Samarawickrama, placed second in the category of "Branches" while Alex Zhao and Lily Zheng placed 3rd in the category "Roots." USYD finished as the 2nd ranked University amongst the Oceania chapters.

"I was extremely proud of the team," said Janine Coupe, USYD Faculty Advisor.

Dhivyen Aaron, Alex Zhao, Lily Zheng, Minqiu Zhao, Jeff Brown and Sachin Samarawickrama

With a keynote presentation from Andrew van Dinter, EY Global Mining and Metals Tax Leader, and professional development activities provided by Tiago Devesa and Matt Gaffney, the team gained deep insights that they plan to implement and share with the USYD community at events.

USYD Beta Alpha Psi also held a Design Thinking Workshop with IBM at the start of April. In late March, members took part in the Diversity & Inclusiveness Conference, sponsored by EY, with a panel of practitioners and academics sharing their experience.

To find out more, or sign up to become a student member, visit the USYD Beta Alpha Psi website.

Written by Minqiu Zhao

All-female Sydney team triumphs against world’s most prestigious universities

Representing the University of Sydney in a global finance competition has been one of the most enriching experiences of my commerce degree. My team and I had the privilege of participating in the 'William and Mary Stock Pitch Challenge' in Virginia, where we competed against top universities including the University of Pennsylvania, UC Berkeley, Stanford and Cornell. Our recommendation to buy Nike’s shares placed second.

Over the last couple of months, I worked closely with my team which comprised of Alice Cao, Chloe Segal and Nola Xie. Based off our research and analysis, we identified what the market had under-estimated with respect to Nike’s stocks, and from this we formulated a buy recommendation. We were judged on our investment recommendation, valuation and presentation skills.

It was humbling to present to the judging panel comprised of industry leaders, many of whom were senior women leaders in the world’s most recognisable organisations. Our hard work was validated when one of the judges said "[I] asked the hardest questions I would ask professional managers and they nailed them."

Alice Cao, Nola Xie, Chloe Segal and Wendy Yang

This competition aided us in developing both technical and soft skills. This included improved proficiency of modelling, to developing a stronger understanding of the quantitative impact of a transformative supply chain strategy on Nike's different geographical segments.

Participating in the challenge has increased my awareness of opportunities for women pursuing finance as a career, enhanced my curiosity for global financial markets and allowed me to apply my technical knowledge derived from Business School courses (such as 'Valuations' and 'Mergers and Acquisitions') in a practical setting.

What differentiated this stock pitch challenge was the Leadership Summit component of the event. We participated in workshops regarding 'Women Helping Women' and 'The Key to Networking Success,' panelled by senior women leaders in investment banking, fund management, management consulting and law. Mentors were drawn from firms including JP Morgan, UBS, IBM, Blackrock, CFA and Morgan Stanley. Particularly as we are at the initial stages of our finance careers, it was very helpful to hear about the personal and professional experiences of senior women leader, as well as tips and advice they picked up along the way.

This challenge has enriched my university experience. It was so inspiring to be surrounded by supportive and competent women in the form of other participants, academic and industry mentors and the judging panel. Experiencing college life in America, meeting local students, and travelling more generally just made the experience even more memorable.

I would recommend this challenge to any student who wants to see what they can achieve when they compete against the best in the world.

Written by Wendy Yang

Why delaying my graduation was one of the best decisions I have ever made

Six months ago, we were presented with an opportunity by our lecturer, Andrew Ainsworth. “One of the world’s leading asset management firms is recruiting an intern for a six month stint”, he shared.

I thought of applying immediately – what better way to gain more professional experience than to immerse myself in the financial world and apply what I’ve learnt there? It was like a litmus test – would I make the cut?

Concerns flew through my mind at the very same time – I had to take a semester off from university and delay my graduation – would I lag behind my peers after this internship? The fact that I had never heard of Wellington before that day was, in all honesty, unsettling as well.

I quickly reached out to a friend who was working in the fund management industry hoping for some advice. His response was clear – a six-month programme within the financial services industry was an incredible opportunity to distinguish myself as having a genuine interest in finance and commitment to your future employers. He also emphasised that the firm was of high calibre and reputable – that was all I need to hear to seal the deal!

The role
In my role, I have the opportunity to work with two different teams - investment administration in the mornings and externally facing global relationship duties in the afternoons. No two days are the same, making the experience very unique. My typical morning involves facilitating the flow of clients’ assets, corporate actions processing and ensuring that trades and assets are priced correctly. My role in the afternoon covers a broader range of tasks. For example, I could be engaged in performance reporting or working on projects that focus on industry analysis and contemporary trends. I have since realised that the only way to gain in-depth knowledge and experience would be to stick at something for a period of time.

I have been at the firm for only three months but have learnt a great deal – the opportunities to understand financial markets and investment vehicles across a range of asset classes never cease to excite me every day at work. To an ambitious undergraduate, this experience is also an eye-opener to the diverse avenues and career paths within Wellington and financial services that exist all over the world.

Having had prior exposure to other corporate internships, I can also confidently claim that the culture at Wellington on a global spectrum is unique – the firm is made up of incredibly genuine and intelligent people who are always willing to offer guidance. Being able to build a professional network of mentors who have been nothing but supportive is invaluable. 

Would I do it again? Absolutely.

Sam Archibald
Current student at the University of Sydney, studying Agricultural Economics and majoring in Corporate Finance. He unabashedly declares that FINC3017 Investments and Portfolio Management is one of his favourite subjects that kick-started his interest in investment management.

Apply for the next internship at Wellington.
Applications close on 30 April 2015. 

FMAA App Launch - Connecting students to the finance industry

"Heavyewight firms are increasingly relying on internships to test prospective graduates".

So what are we, the students of the business school, doing about trying to secure that internship? Well as a commerce student myself,  my first option was to join The Financial Management Association of Australia (FMAA) which gives me the opportunity to network with over 44 sponsors at keystone events throughout the year, whether it be over formal cocktails or a 3 course luncheon at The Hilton. But we believe we need to connect to members on a more personal level.

So over the last 2 years, I have had the privilege of working with the executive team of The FMAA as the first student society in Australia to develop an app. This gives 44 sponsors the opportunity to reach out to students in an even better way, and the value for the students of the business school increases exponentially.

This is an exciting time for any student to be entering the finance industry, and by listening to the needs of its members, the FMAA inaugural app has launched and is facilitating this process. I’ m excited about the potential of this app, but just to get started, this is what you can expect…

Firstly, it opens swiftly to a clean and intuitive calendar that offers users at a glance information that is colour-coded to represent upcoming networking events or application deadlines.

Then, by clicking on a 'networking event' item, students can check not just the time and place, but also the purpose and style of the event, and which sponsor firms will be in attendance. Students no longer have to register manually on their computers - they can RSVP and input their details right within the app, and will receive handy push notifications to remind them as the date draws closer.

Application items can also be accessed from the calendar view, and this this provides a concise summary of the application criteria, job position and relevant information, as well as a direct link to the website to apply right away. Students can also elect to be reminded via push notifications as the date comes closer.

The 'FMAA' app is also an intuitive and convenient way to discover our sponsor firms, with a dedicated section offering brief summaries of each sponsor firm, as well as direct links to useful sections of their website (e.g. applications, contact information), and a summary of their upcoming events.

The 'FMAA' app brings the reach of our sponsors to our members’ pockets. Recruiters will be able to track attendance to their networking events, as well as gauge the backgrounds, degree progression and the calibre of prospective applicants. According to FMAA's Gold and Founding Sponsor, the Macquarie Group, “Here at Macquarie we value innovation. The FMAA App combines creative thinking and functionality by providing a tool that consolidates internship and graduate applications, events and sponsor information all in one place.”

Staying on track to success has never been so easy. ‘FMAA’ launches today, free for iOS and Android'. Download the app on iTunes.

Billy Kovanis
Current student at the University of Sydney Business School, and Sponsorship Director, Financial Management Association of Australia Ltd (FMAA)

KPMG International Case Competition: Team Ignite Advances to the Nationals, with a Chance to Compete Internationally in Brazil

Entering a competition while at university was something that each of us had on our bucket lists, so when we heard about the annual KPMG International Case Competition (KICC), we knew we had to give it a shot.

KICC is a global competition run by KPMG that replicates the work that KPMG consultants do, calling for teams of four students to analyse a case study, develop solutions and pitch it to their consultants - all within three hours. This year, the winning team of both the state and national heats has the opportunity to represent their country in Brazil for four days of competition and networking.

As great friends, and having worked as a group for the Business School’s management consulting capstone unit, we formed Team Ignite. Our team consists of Jeremy Dean (Accounting & Finance) as our IT expert, Matt Juchau (Finance (Hons.) & Accounting) as our finance guru, Charles De Souza (Marketing & International Business) as our budding management consultant, and myself, Katie Russett (Accounting & Law) bringing the accounting focus. 

In our application, we were able to convince the judges that we had the necessary skills and experience to potentially be the top team for Australia, and were invited to the state heats.

To kick off the competition, we had a day of training at the Sydney KPMG office, consisting of an intensive workshop on how to analyse case studies and solve business problems. The next day, we faced our first case study: a 20 page case asking us to advise TripAdvisor on how best to ensure their success amidst a rapidly changing environment in each of their lines of operation. Despite seeming reasonably achievable at first glance, after taking half an hour to simply read through the case and the details of the appendices, we realised that this was really going to test our business knowledge and whether we could put what we had learned from university into practice. To complicate things further, we were not allowed any internet access or notes. Despite our best efforts to budget our time, it was definitely a rush to the finish, and at the three hour mark, we had to face the judges, hoping to convince them that we had the best solutions for TripAdvisor.

To our delight and amazement, we won the state heat! And now, a few months later, we will face the national finals this Friday, with the prize being the chance to represent Australia in São Paolo, Brazil.

It was such a great experience working under intense pressure and seeing how we were able to perform, so we were happy to have just participated in the competition, let alone be announced as the winner for NSW.  Credit also goes to Team Monopoly, another University of Sydney team, who were announced as the runners up.  Now, with a chance to represent Australia on the line, it is back to the study notes and practice case studies for us, and fingers crossed for Team Ignite from NSW!

Katie Russett
Current student at The University of Sydney Business School.

Beta Alpha Psi - The year that was in accounting, finance and information systems

My year as President of Beta Alpha Psi has been one of the most unique and fulfilling experiences I've had whist studying at the University of Sydney Business School. There have undoubtedly been the odd challenges and sleepless nights trying to juggle my Presidency alongside study, work and social commitments, but now as I reflect on the year that’s past, I am proud of everything the executive team has achieved. 2013 has been an exciting year for Beta Alpha Psi at the University of Sydney Business School, and we have accomplished a great deal.

The Sydney University (Lambda Omega) Chapter is one of only two in Australia, and this year I am thrilled to have witnessed a significant increase in our membership base, with only more rapid growth to come in the future. Although fraternity-style societies do not play a big role in the traditional Australian university culture, having been a part of Beta Alpha Psi has not only given me access to a global community of high-achieving students and professionals, but has also provided me with opportunities I never would have thought possible.

In addition to managing the strategic direction of the Chapter and overseeing budgeting and reporting processes, over the course of this year, my team and I worked directly with firms such as Ernst and Young, Bloomberg and the Commonwealth Bank to organise networking events for our members, held numerous technical workshops on campus (including SAP, negotiation skills and client interviewing workshops), and jointly hosted community service days with The Salvation Army. We also held our annual induction ceremony for members at the University of Sydney Business School MBA Campus in the CBD.

It was our privilege to host the Oceania Regional Conference in April. This was a three-day conference that brought together Beta Alpha Psi members and faculty advisers from the University of Sydney, UTS, the University of Auckland, Victoria University of Wellington and the University of Waikato. The Regional Conference gave members the opportunity to develop networks with neighbouring Chapters, share best practices and growth strategies and gain valuable insight into topical issues in accounting and finance through various sessions and workshops run by guest speakers.

In August, I represented the University of Sydney and our Beta Alpha Psi Chapter at the Annual Conference held at the Hyatt Regency, Orange County in Anaheim, California, along with three members of the executive team. The 2013 Annual Conference brought together over 1000 Beta Alpha Psi executives from all over the world for three days. Building on from the successes of the 2012 conference held in Baltimore, Maryland – which I also had the privilege of attending – this year’s theme was “Dreams of Tomorrow Becoming Reality Today”. My team and I attended concurrent sessions on varied topics from social enterprise to forensic accounting, participated in professional development and community service events hosted by major corporate sponsor KPMG, and listened to inspirational presentations from keynote speakers including Ralph De La Vega, CEO and President of AT&T Mobility and Clark Jones, Vice President of Finance at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. We also had the privilege of presenting a session entitled “Surviving as a Small Chapter”, where we shared our unique successes as a chapter Down Under to an enthusiastic audience of our American colleagues. It was an amazing experience to be, once again, surrounded by so many other like-minded students as well as to witness first-hand the strength and prestige Beta Alpha Psi has in the accounting and finance industries on a global scale. One of our executives was also able to participate in the renowned Project Run With It competition. The opportunity to engage in a real-world consulting project in a team with students from other countries was unlike anything she had previously experienced.

On another note, I am excited to announce that this year we established a University of Sydney BAP Facebook page and that our new website is going to be launched early 2014. It’s amazing to see the response we have already received and how the Facebook page has improved our communication with existing and potential members, by providing them with a resource to deliver the most current event schedules and information on relevant topics on a regular basis. I look forward to further extending our online presence and engaging with more members, as this will play an important role in our quest for Gold Chapter Status, which is the highest status any Chapter can achieve.

This year has been one of the most rewarding and satisfying years of my academic career, and I am finding it hard to believe that my year as President is winding down to a close. As much as I find it difficult to leave the idyllic University lifestyle and such a fabulous organisation that has helped me to transition from student to professional in every way possible, I know that the Beta Alpha Psi Alumni community will keep me connected and involved for life. Through attending Beta Alpha Psi international conferences and regional events I've made so many lifelong connections and friendships, and the Beta Alpha Psi Connect online alumni portal will allow me to keep in touch with fellow members and alumni from around the world. It also provides access to webcasts, leadership information, information on local chapters’ activities and discussion forums. There is also a BAP Newsletter which is distributed quarterly and ensures members and alumni are aware of upcoming opportunities and the latest news.

I would highly recommend eligible students to get involved and take advantage of all the organisation has to offer.  In the coming months (March 2014) we will be holding elections for the new executive team and nominations will be distributed to existing members shortly. If you’re interested in joining Beta Alpha Psi please visit our Facebook page or our website or the Beta Alpha Psi University of Sydney Chapter website for instructions on eligibility and how to apply.

On behalf of the Beta Alpha Psi Lambda Omega Chapter, I would like to sincerely thank the University of Sydney Business School, our faculty advisor Pearl Rozenberg (Sub-Dean), and the Global Board of Directors for their ongoing support. I would also like to personally thank my executive team and our current members for their considerable commitment, enthusiasm and involvement in Beta Alpha Psi this year.

I hope that all of our valued members will continue to be involved in our organisation as it grows from strength to strength and we look forward to welcoming new members in the year going forward.

By Sumita Theagesan - President, Beta Alpha Psi, Lambda Omega Chapter, the University of Sydney Business School.