Quantitative Finance Speaker Event with BECU

On January 9th, ABSA welcomed Nicole Ma, a Quantitative Financial Analyst at BECU, for an insightful conversation about breaking into quantitative finance, building technical skills, and navigating graduate school and internships. Nicole shared her academic journey, career pivots, and practical advice for students interested in analytical roles within finance. 

Meet the Panelist 

Nicole Ma 

• Quantitative Financial Analyst at BECU  

• Completed her first master’s degree in Money and Banking in Taiwan 

• Interned at a global investment company 

• Pursued a second master’s degree at the University of Washington 

• Transitioned from political science to business, ultimately specializing in quantitative finance 

Did you always know what you wanted to do for your career? 

Nicole originally started college unsure of her career path and began as a political science major. After taking statistics and business courses, she discovered an interest in finance and decided to switch her major to business, focusing specifically on finance. 

Within finance, she chose quantitative finance because it seemed challenging and intellectually stimulating. What began as curiosity about a difficult subject evolved into a clear professional direction. 

Are there any classes, RSOs, or resources you recommend? 

Nicole strongly encouraged students to take advantage of the Foster Business Library’s Bloomberg terminals. Gaining hands-on experience with Bloomberg helps students understand both how the system works and what is happening in the market in real time. 

She also advised students to explore courses across programs. Taking a wide variety of classes can expose you to different tools and perspectives, helping you discover what truly interests you. 

What does a typical product look like in quantitative finance?

According to Nicole, quantitative finance projects typically include three main components: 

• Variables (Inputs): A significant amount of time is spent defining input data, identifying variables, and making realistic assumptions. 

• Model: While academic courses often focus heavily on building models, in real-life work this is only one part of the overall process. 

• Output: Communicating results clearly and ensuring stakeholders understand the implications is crucial. 

She emphasized that in practice, data preparation and assumptions often take more time than the actual model-building itself. 

What would surprise students most about working in quantitative finance? 

Nicole initially believed quantitative finance would involve mostly independent work, focused on coding, and working alone at a computer. However, she was surprised by how collaborative the field actually is. 

A major part of the job involves explaining your work clearly so that colleagues and stakeholders can understand your assumptions, methods, and results. 

What are some important skills for quantitative finance? 

Nicole highlighted both technical and professional skills. 

Technical Skills: 

• Excel 

• VBA 

• Python 

• Bloomberg Terminal 

She also noted that AI tools such as Copilot and ChatGPT are increasingly encouraged in the workplace. However, she stressed that students must first understand coding fundamentals before relying on AI. Knowing how to code allows you to use AI more effectively and evaluate its output critically. 

How have connections throughout schooling impacted your career? 

Nicole shared that relationships played a significant role in her journey. 

Managers from her internship provided strong letters of recommendation and encouraged her to pursue international opportunities. 

At UW, she took courses taught by former employees of Russell Investments, which gave her insight into real-world industry practices. 

Mentors at BECU supported her growth and ultimately helped her secure a full-time role within her team. 

These experiences reinforced the importance of building strong professional relationships throughout school and beyond. 

What steps should students take if they want a role in quantitative finance? 

Nicole recommended taking courses in computational finance, developing strong coding skills, and networking with professionals in the field to determine if it aligns with your interests. She emphasized exploring internships early to gain hands-on experience and understanding the day-to-day realities of the role before fully committing to the path. 

How do you see AI impacting your role in the future? 

AI is already a valuable tool for researching projects and improving efficiency. However, Nicole believes the key is learning how to use AI effectively to enhance results rather than relying on it blindly. A strong technical foundation allows professionals to leverage AI responsibly and strategically. 

How do you reset during busy times? 

During school, Nicole took cycling classes, especially during midterms and finals, sometimes going three times a week to manage stress. She emphasized the importance of finding healthy outlets to recharge during demanding periods. 

Advice for students seeking internships in quantitative finance 

Nicole encouraged students to stay curious, develop coding and analytical skills, be reliable, and pay close attention to detail. She noted that managers do not expect interns to know everything. Instead, they look for individuals who are dependable, eager to learn, and willing to put in the effort to grow. 

We hope this event provided valuable insight into the quantitative finance field and inspired you to continue building both technical expertise and professional relationships. Stay tuned for our upcoming events, and we look forward to seeing you next week at ABSA’s quarterly philanthropy event!