First Derivatives

First Derivatives is a leading provider of products and consulting services to the capital markets industry. Focused on financial institutions that work cross-asset, often with multi-system and/or high volume trading activities, the Company scopes, designs, develops, implements and supports a broad range of mission critical data and trading systems across front, middle and back-office operations.  Incorporated in 1996, First Derivatives has served the capital markets industry since its incorporation.

Student:  Jonathan McCrink

Jonathan McCrink with his Partner in Business (Mentor) Naomh Forshaw, MIS Officer, First Derivaties

Jonathan's experience:

I was first introduced to the Career Academy programme by my personal tutor, Karen McGivern in the Southern Regional College. I found that the information that my tutor provided was very interesting and I knew from then that I would be keen to be involved with the IT Career Academy!My Partner is Business is Naomh Forshaw. Naomh is the Manager of Information Systems in the global company, First Derivatives. First Derivatives is a leading provider of products and consulting services to the capital markets industry. Focused on financial institutions that work cross-asset, often with multi-system and/or high volume trading activities, the company scopes, designs, develops, implements and supports a broad range of mission critical data and trading systems across front, middle and back-office operations. I met Naomh once a month from February 2012 right through until the end of the Career Academy programme. Each meeting was a good experience and I think that I learned something new each time. On some occasions we went out for lunch and that was a relaxing atmosphere as we got away from the work for a short period of time. Naomh is a really pleasant lady who helped me with some of my assignments, and I  went on to get top grades in these!
My six week internship was with First Derivatives and I also worked alongside Naomh and her team. One area that I was strongly involved with was programming. I was writing code to create a website for the current client. I hadn’t had any experience at all in this area before I started my internship. However with the continued help and encouragement from Naomh and each member of her team,  I quickly picked up some tasks and was working quite well. I was also involved with a few system administration tasks throughout my internship and although this was an area I had studied and was comfortable with, the fact that I was applying my knowledge in a real-work situation helped me understand the theory better and gave me confidence.
I would definitely agree that my internship with First Derivatives has exceeded my expectations. There are many reasons for this but most of all I agree because of the brilliant experience that I have received. The fact that everyone has been so nice and helpful to me is amazing and most of all because I was treated as another valued member of the MIS Team within First Derivatives.The Career Academy program has definitely helped to progress my skills in IT and I attribute  this is to the internship which is said, quite rightly, to be the ‘jewel in the crown’ of the Career Academy  programme. I also strongly believe that my confidence has largely improved because of the programme. I would recommend it to any student and employer thinking of getting involved in the Career Academy as it will benefit them a lot.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all involved in the program for helping me throughout. This includes my teachers in SRC, all at First Derivatives and all involved in the Career Academy!
Thank you!