SOP Sample for MS Finance in UK | Fresher Profile

Coming from a family of self-made entrepreneurs, I have been always intrigued by the idea of effectively using existing funds to create wealth. Hence, as a 16-year-old, I used to try and persuade my dad to involve me in all his business planning activities. I started with basics of accounting by using his financials to build up a foundational understanding of business operations. Over time it became clear to me that the people who understand the monetary and banking system are ahead in understanding the policy shifts made by governments and private sector to boost wealth creation. Hence, I took up a Bachelor's in Commerce with a specialization in Banking and Insurance.

During its three years, my course covered areas of business as Marketing, Finance, Human Resource Management, Operations, and others. To make the classroom experience truly interactive, we were offered case studies, group presentations and projects, debates, and discussions on various topics of the different subjects. As someone who always welcomes the opportunity to interact with diverse people, I thoroughly enjoyed and excelled in these group presentations and discussions as I had the opportunity to strengthen my leadership skills and understanding the importance of working together for a common goal.

I also took up courses on Valuation, Corporate Finance, Derivatives, and Investments to build a solid theoretical background in Finance. I proactively searched for ways to grow beyond textbooks and took my first internship as a Financial Analyst at [COMPANY_NAME] to gain corporate experience. Not just wanted to limit myself to academics, I decided to take active part in extra-curriculars. I actively took part in my college fests where I was a committee member for Personal Relations and led a team of 4 people for the college fest named '[EVENT_NAME]', where I efficaciously liasoned with various sponsors and their representatives to deliver a successful event. I've participated in a number of contests outside college to contribute back to the community. I've volunteered for many social work events held in my city, one of them was a clean-up drive with over 500+ participants working together to clean the city. Lastly, I also was a committee member for a Social Event in [CITY_NAME] named '[EVENT_NAME]' where I was representing my college.

I would always grab any opportunity I found, and this led me to secure 3 internships during my college. My professional experiences gave me broad exposure to Finance and ignited my interest in pursuing a career in the field. This newly developed professional passion eventually led me to my first job with a Startup Investment Bank – [COMPANY_NAME] in the Secured Debt Department. Here, I experienced the field from a banking viewpoint, which, complementing the corporate viewpoint gained in the previous internship, allowed me to have a comprehensive understanding of the panorama in the financial industry. My role was comprehensive as it was a startup, and we had all hands on deck most of the days. Moreover, working in a team on money generation for clients worth INR 50 million to 100 million and performing financial statement analysis, financial modeling, and primary business intelligence research, I was able to strengthen my analytical and problem-solving skills. Most conspicuously, being on the sell-side of the industry, the goal was to guide the clients of the bank in their debt structure, and all this was very intriguing to me. Inspired by growing affinity, I wanted to have the opportunity to work in a bigger avenue working with giant multinationals with greater funds, and I felt that I was lacking in advanced financial skill sets to take me there.

Hence, I believe that studying in the UK for my master's degree is the ideal next step for me. The UK boasts perhaps the most prestigious education system worldwide, and its robust and reputable financial sector has avoided many of the pitfalls that have stricken other countries. I am eager to further develop my knowledge of the principles and practice of finance, learning advanced techniques from world-renowned instructors while interacting with top students from around the world. [UNIVERSITY_NAME]'s broad-based Banking & Finance program will help me develop a combination of business banking skills alongside advanced financial skills, leading to financial management roles for organizations outside of the finance industry. It will fill all the existing gaps in my knowledge, train me to be a part of the global corporate arena and equip me with the weapons to conquer its many challenges. I shall learn to forge my way through the many unexploited avenues of international business.

Thanks to my internships and educational pursuits, I have the right basis to succeed in this goal. However, these experiences made me also realize that to be competitive in this challenging field, I need to go beyond my graduate degree and develop a powerful practical understanding of finance. Accordingly, the theoretical teaching method of my university was crucial to build solid foundations in banking and management.

I am excited to join [UNIVERSITY_NAME] especially because of the high level of commitment the program demands. My determination and hard-working attitude along with my experiences and skills make me a perfect fit for this program and I seek to harness every opportunity I get from studying at [UNIVERSITY_NAME]. I look forward to hearing from you and sharing this exciting journey with [UNIVERSITY_NAME].