Summarize your academic and professional background.

I was born in Barcelona and studied at Col·legi Montserrat until the end of high school. I decided to pursue my degree abroad and, due to the language, chose to study Economics and Business at the University of Exeter. When I finished, I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to stay in the UK, return to Spain, or start my professional career elsewhere. When I came across the Chamber’s program in Luxembourg, I thought it would be a great opportunity to clarify what I wanted to do and where. I’ve now been here for a year, and I would like to stay at least one more.

At what stage of your academic or professional journey were you when you decided to participate in the “Introduction to the Luxembourg Financial Market” program?

I was in a transitional stage, as I had just finished my degree (three years plus one abroad) and wasn’t sure whether to pursue a master’s degree or start working. Because of this, I didn’t apply in time to many UK programs, which usually require submitting applications a year in advance. When summer came, I urgently needed to decide what I was going to do in September. That’s when I found the Chamber’s program and saw it as an opportunity to start gaining experience in the financial sector — the industry I wanted to be part of — while also discovering a new environment and improving my French.

What motivated you to enroll in this program?

Several factors motivated me. Firstly, the desire to start working in a financial environment and the opportunities to learn that come with it. In addition, I enjoy discovering new places, and I thought Luxembourg would be a comfortable choice because of its strong international atmosphere, while also having a large Spanish community. On top of that, living and working away from your home city is a challenge — one that I feel I’ve been learning a lot from.

What would you highlight about the training component? Was there any session, topic, or speaker that had a particular impact on you?

Overall, I think the training course was very useful. It was very realistic, and we really left the program with a clear understanding of the work that companies and professionals in Luxembourg do in relation to investment funds and finance.

Beyond the theoretical knowledge gained, which has been very helpful in my role as a fund administrator at Alter Domus to better understand what each company does in Luxembourg, I have also maintained contact with some speakers — which could always be useful if one day I decide to explore other opportunities.

After the training, you completed an internship in Luxembourg. Where was it and what were your responsibilities?

After completing the training, I immediately joined Alter Domus as a fund administrator.

The role of a fund administrator at Alter Domus involves a mix of accounting tasks and client relations. On the one hand, we handle the “back office” side, doing the fund accounting to obtain the NAV (Net Asset Value) and managing transfer agency tasks, such as registering fund investors and processing subscriptions.

On the other hand, we are in constant contact with the other players in Luxembourg’s investment fund ecosystem: the bank, the custodian, the auditor, the AIFM, legal advisors, etc. We provide them with the information they need to carry out their work and assist them with any questions they may have.

How was it adapting to an international environment like Luxembourg? What challenges and lessons would you highlight?

Honestly, I think it was quite straightforward, since I was already used to interacting in an international environment during my studies.

That said, although in international companies that are not French, people generally speak English, in everyday life French is the most commonly spoken language — especially in shops and restaurants. That’s why I think if someone plans to stay here for a while, it’s useful to be able to understand or speak French.

To what extent has this experience influenced your future plans?

I think this experience has reinforced my desire to work in finance. In fact, while being here, I have started preparing for the CFA I exam to strengthen my CV and knowledge.

Do you think this experience has changed your view of the European financial sector or your professional expectations?

I believe that being in Luxembourg, so close to European institutions such as the European Investment Bank, makes you feel more connected to the European financial landscape.

Although what I have been doing is quite specific to alternative investment funds — particularly Private Equity and Private Debt — I believe much of the knowledge I’m acquiring will be transferable to other areas of finance if I decide to change in the future.

What advice would you give to a student or young professional who is considering participating in the next edition of the program?

I would tell them not to think twice: it’s an incredible opportunity, and the risk is minimal. Personally, I have learned a lot after a year working in Luxembourg, and I think it’s an ideal place for anyone who knows they want to work in finance. It’s also a great opportunity to meet people and help you decide what you would like to do.