“When I was in university, I remember myself thinking – I will never work in a bank after I graduate, because it seems so boring. Now that I have worked five years at SEB I realise that back then I couldn’t have been more wrong – both about the direction of my career and supposed boredom of working in a bank”, says Elmīra Gasanova, manager of the Settlements Nordic team of Sub Custody Operations department.
How did you join SEB?
My friend who was already working at SEB recommended me to join as well. I started as a bank operations specialist working with securities transaction settlements. Before joining I only had a general idea of what securities are and how they work. That is the beauty of SEB – many positions are available even if you lack previous experience. You will learn everything from your team.
After a year I moved to another team and started working with securities income. After another year I felt I already had the knowledge, experience and confidence, so I applied for a process area specialist position in Tax, Accounts and Issuing and Paying Agent Services team. I spent two years in this position, and it involved a lot more technical work than my previous role.
I learned a tremendous amount, however, during this time I realized that I want to work with people more. Throughout my career in SEB I have been lucky to have fantastic managers who have seen potential in me, challenged and motivated me to grow. So my manager at the time played a huge role in encouraging me to apply for a team manager position within our department. I did it and since February I am working in my new capacity.
Elmīra Gasanova
Title: Sub Custody Operations, Settlements Nordic team manager at SEB Global Services Riga
Education: Bachelor’s degree in business administration, BA School of Business and Finance
Personal interests: Taking walks in the forest, geocaching and cooking
Tell us more about your responsibilities!
The kind of services we provide are unique for Latvia. If you want to get hands-on experience in working with securities and serving top-level international customers, this opportunity is only available with us.
Our clients are banks and financial institutions from around the world, which are investing in Scandinavian securities. Our job is to ensure that our client transactions are carried out quickly, securely and precisely.
On average 90% of all transactions are processed automatically, and we are handling only about 10%. We get involved in cases when one of the buying or selling parties has made a mistake, which needs to be corrected or processed in a non-standard way before the transaction can be completed.
What keeps you motivated and energized?
SEB’s ambition is to deliver world-class service to our clients. In our area it means that we are #1 provider of security transactions in Scandinavia.
My part in this mission is to enable my team to perform at the best possible level, encourage them to improve and develop, and foster a sense of team where each colleague can rely that he or she will receive the necessary support and advice.
If I can help to create an environment where my team members not only deliver the expected result, but also feel appreciated and willing to grow – this is the best motivation for me.
What do you enjoy doing after work?
I like doing sports, hiking and taking walks, especially in the forest. Being in nature recharges me and gives me energy. Since high school I have been doing geocaching from time to time, and it is great fun. When the pandemic is over, I will go hiking in the mountains. I also enjoy cooking for my family and friends.
