When we support each other, we’re Stronger Together. We asked Sinead Glennon, CFO at RiskSystem to share with us some insights on her experiences and how she draws inspiration from the environment around her, role models she had during her careers, the best advice she received since Covid-19 hit the world, and what does the slogan “Stronger Together” means to her.

RiskSystem is a specialist provider of risk management and regulatory reporting services to the global funds industry via a proprietary cloud based platform. The core competency of the firm is producing in a timely fashion valuable risk information necessary for investment funds to comply with their regulatory obligations. Since their founding in 2013 they have been providing solutions for AIFMs, AIFs, UCITS as well as regulatory reporting such as Annex IV, Form PF, CPO-PQR, PRIIPs and Open Protocol reporting. Providing a dashboard view across multiple funds and asset classes ensures those charged with managerial supervision or governance have vital data at their fingertips such that remedial action can be taken if required. Their clients range from small self-managed investment companies to large tier one global asset managers such as Credit Suisse Asset Management. RiskSystem currently have over 200 funds on their platform with assets monitored in the region of €36 billion.

Voltedge: What is your current role and how long you have held this position?

 Sinead: My role is Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in a company called RiskSystem. I joined the company in June 2019 after returning from Australia.

 RiskSystem is a specialist provider of risk management and regulatory reporting services to the global funds industry via a proprietary cloud-based platform. The core competency of the firm is producing in a timely fashion valuable risk information necessary for investment funds to comply with their regulatory obligations. Since our founding in 2013 we have been providing solutions for AIFMs, AIFs, UCITS as well as regulatory reporting such as Annex IV, Form PF, CPO-PQR, PRIIPs and Open Protocol reporting. Providing a dashboard view across multiple funds and asset classes ensures those charged with managerial supervision or governance have vital data at their fingertips such that remedial action can be taken if required. Our clients range from small self-managed investment companies to large tier one global asset managers such as Credit Suisse Asset Management. We currently have over 200 funds on our platform with assets monitored in the region of €36 billion.

 Voltedge: Where do you draw inspiration from?

 Sinead: From other people. I have a great network of people in my life both personally and professionally and I place a huge amount of value on that. I am a sociable person and I get a great energy and strength from the people in my life. Life is full of challenges and people will continuously surprise you with what they have managed to overcome in their lives.

Voltedge: During the course of your career, was there a role model or mentor that stands out for you?

 Sinead: I have been fortunate to have had more than one person look out for me throughout the earlier stages of my career. Before I moved to Australia, I worked in a company for 10 years and I had a great boss during that time. He was a very different personality and skillset to me and although my role was an accountant for his department, he challenged me to approach my job from a wider business partner perspective rather than just strictly accounting. It was the origins of my move towards strategic finance, CFO and directorship roles.

Another person that comes to mind is a senior female manager in the same company who put me forward for a role shortly after I returned from maternity leave. There were two roles available at two different levels. At that time, my self-confidence was low as I was adjusting to returning to work and I completed an application for the more junior role and brought it to her for approval. She refused to approve it as she felt I was underselling myself and insisted that I apply for the more senior role. It was a pivotal moment for me in my career. It gave me such a confidence boost at a time when I needed it most and it led me to pursuing similar roles at this level and higher when I moved to Australia.

The best thing about these two people is that they have no idea of the impact they had on me personally or on my career. They were not actively trying to be a mentor. I will always be grateful to them and they influenced me in a way that I will always try to support or encourage others if I can.

Voltedge: What is the best piece of advice you received since Covid-19 hit the world?

 Sinead: Don’t procrastinate! If you get the opportunity to do something, then do it. We are all guilty of putting things on the long finger or saying “I must look into doing that” but I think 2020 has shown us how life can get in the way of best made plans!

Voltedge: Can you share with us 2 or 3 positives in your personal life that you have discovered during the pandemic?

 Sinead: I appreciate the value of being able to say that I am content in my life. I realise how fortunate I am to be able to say this at the moment, especially after a couple of particularly challenging years for me, family-wise.

The past year has made me realise the things I took for granted eg travel, socialising, gym, events etc. I feel a lot more grateful for these things now than I ever did before.

Months of isolation and restrictions have encouraged me to try new hobbies and activities and push myself outside my comfort zone. On one hand, jigsaws and crosswords and on the on her hand, headstands and the flying trapeze. So, quite a variety really!

Voltedge: In light of so much remote working and social distancing, what practices or approach have you taken to try to communicate and collaborate effectively during this time and to support employees?

 Sinead: The reduction of social interaction among staff has been challenging for everyone. We have implemented a phased return to the office which has helped staff immensely. In general, we are communicating a lot through virtual means and trying to keep some of the office banter going in that way!

 Voltedge: What does the slogan ‘Stronger Together’ mean to you?

 Sinead: The key to surviving any challenge is the network of people around you. We are all individually stronger when we work together towards a shared purpose or a shared goal. At the earlier stages of my career, women were always pitched against each other and a competitive environment existed.  This is changing and women are supporting each other more now. There is recognition that we are not all striving for the same goals and success looks different for everyone. Combining different skillsets improves us all individually and gives us an opportunity to learn from other people’s skills and knowledge. We don’t have to be in competition with each other in order for us all to succeed at our goals.

Voltedge: What is your favourite quote and why?

Sinead: My former boss used to say “Don’t bring me problems, bring me solutions”. It changed my mindset on how I approach a lot of things both workwise and in my personal life. I found it shifted my focus from only seeing the negative aspects, to approaching it in a way of how I intend to get past it, or resolve it. It is not about assuming I will be able to fix something, but it is more about the mindset it has created for me. If you approach something with a negative mindset, you are more likely to find only negatives. So, on the flip side of that, you are at least making your best attempt to resolve or improve the situation.