Aoife Martin

I am a Business Analysis Manger within the Regulatory and Compliance practice, based in Newry. I’ve worked in the Regulatory space for the last 13 years and really enjoy the constant challenge of upcoming rule changes and having to think on your feet. I have recently returned from my third maternity leave so my weekends involve discovering new playparks and chasing my little angels… Other than that, I have a big love of travelling and enjoy taking some down time exploring new places with the family.

I joined First Derivative in 2013 as part of the Graduate Options Programme. After graduating, I found the breadth of opportunities within finance a little overwhelming, and First Derivative provided an excellent platform to gain exposure to different areas and discover where my strengths and interests lay. Within my first month, I was placed in a Regulatory Solutions role in Canary Wharf, which proved to be an incredibly rewarding experience, which then went on to shape my entire career.

There’s a lot of good memories from my grad days in FD. One example was the unofficial rule of having to buy a Shelbourne chocolate fudge cake when you were assigned to a client project. I genuinely don’t think I’ve ever eaten as much chocolate cake before, or since! Another great memory was of my first Christmas party. After the main night out, Brian Conlon somehow managed to get the pub beside the office open. He then ended up behind the bar serving pints to everyone. There was a great social side to FD and never lacking a bit of craic – or a sore head the next morning. The Friday run to the butchers for sausage rolls was always a must!

After graduating, I started my career in an accounting role, before very quickly realising it wasn’t for me as I was looking for something a bit more fast paced and challenging. I then made the move to FD’s Graduate Options programme involving a lot of intensive training which suited me a lot better. I was placed into a Regulatory solutions role as my first placement (lasted 8 years!) and haven’t looked back since. I have grown my career within the Reg space and have gained great experience and contacts over the years. I’ve had opportunities of working independently on client site, as well as leading a team of consultants. More recently, I was involved in a Transaction reporting role where I successfully led a team of consultants to assist the client with the EMIR Refit implementation.

During my time with First Derivative, I’ve had the chance to live and work in both London and Newry. Early in my career, I spent eight years in London working in Canary Wharf. It was a great environment to learn quickly, gain hands-on experience, and build strong relationships with clients. I relocated back to Newry during the COVID pandemic, which suits my family lifestyle much better. It’s been just as rewarding in a different way, as I’ve been able to continue developing in my role, still working with teams across the US and Europe, while also maintaining a better work life balance.

I’ve been lucky to have quite a few highlights during my time at FD, things like automating reporting tools, working on the EMIR refit, and helping streamline various regulatory reporting systems, have all been really rewarding. But on a more personal level, what I’m most proud of is how far I have come within FD. From starting off in their graduate programme to now being a BA Manager and helping to guide and progress others in their careers. Being invited into meetings with senior leaders and having my perspective asked for, has been a bit of a “wow” moment at times. It puts into perspective how far I have come.

Trust your own abilities. Having confidence in yourself allows you to apply your skills more effectively and take on opportunities you might otherwise shy away from. I’ve also learnt the value of stepping into roles that initially feel daunting, as they often provide the steepest learning curves and the greatest growth. It’s important to remember that asking for help is not a weakness. From my experience as a consultant, a big part of the role is learning on your feet, so you are not expected to have all the answers straight away. Asking for help, whether from your immediate team or colleagues within FD, is not just accepted, but encouraged. The more I have leaned into that, the more I have grown and it has reinforced how collaborative and supportive the environment within FD is.