Alison Sherry

Five years into my First Derivative journey, I’m part of the Senior Leadership Team in the Transaction Reporting practice and juggle Delivery Manager and Business Analyst roles on my current assignment. Safe to say, there’s never a dull moment. Anyone who knows me will tell you I’m happiest with a backpack on, hiking boots laced up, and heading somewhere mainly off the beaten track - otherwise you are most likely to find me on a paddleboard whatever the season.

After six years in my previous role, I was ready for my next adventure. When a colleague mentioned an opportunity at First Derivative, I was curious as to what this involved. The chance to jump into a variety of projects, learn new skills, and keep things interesting sealed the deal and I haven’t looked back since. Five years on, no escape plan in sight, First Derivative must be doing things right.

I joined First Derivative as a Business Analyst in the transaction reporting regulatory space and, from day one, was straight onto a client site with a major global bank. Joining during the height of the pandemic meant starting fully remote, working on a large-scale regulatory rewrite project where I helped drive this programme forward. About 18 months in, I was sourced for another regulatory project on what was initially a six-month contract. Almost four years later, I’m still in the role - proving that “short-term” roles can turn into longrunning, rewarding journeys packed with continuous learning.

A big part of the role is building a strong, trusted partnership with the client, making sure their strategic goals aren’t just met, but delivered day in, day out. Alongside this, I keep the resourcing plates spinning, working closely with FD Sales, FD Resourcing, and senior client stakeholders to match the right skills to the right role, while supporting consultant development. I also roll up my sleeves and operate as a senior business analyst, tackling complex issues and driving timely analysis.

London was already home when my FD journey began, and it’s where I’ve continued to build my career ever since. The city’s fast pace, constant buzz, and ever-changing landscape have perfectly mirrored my experience here. London has always pushed me to embrace new challenges, adapt quickly, and continuously develop both professionally and personally. With endless opportunities to learn, collaborate, and grow, it’s been the ideal playground for building my First Derivative career.

Leading the team on my current client assignment has been one of the real highlights of my time at FD. They roll up their sleeves, jump into challenges without hesitation, and collaborate brilliantly to keep things moving. The energy, commitment, and can-do attitude the team brings every day are what make this engagement tick and being part of a team that works hard, has each other’s backs, and still manages to have fun along the way is something I’m hugely proud of.

Put yourself forward before you feel 100% ready, because waiting to feel “ready” often means waiting forever. The real growth happens just outside your comfort zone, and confidence has a habit of showing up fashionably late, once you’ve already taken the leap. So raise your hand, say yes, learn as you go, and lean into the experience - the rest will follow. That’s exactly what First Derivative encourages you to do (sometimes gently, sometimes with a little extra enthusiasm!).