Chester Business School students given expert advice in insightful Bank of America trip
A former student at the award-winning University of Chester Business School has helped inspire current learners with an educational trip to Bank of America.
Edward Gray, who graduated from the school in 2024, has since gone on to be Prime Financing Product Lead at Bank of America. He recently returned to the University of Chester to give a guest talk to Finance with Banking BSc students, on the subject of 'Credit Risk Management & Regulatory Framework’.
In the talk, he highlighted key opportunities from students to find graduate roles and how to build experience which current employers are seeking. He also gave an insight into the day-to-day aspects of his role, providing students with valuable knowledge on different aspects and roles within the bank.
He further invited students to Bank of America at Chester Business Park, where he works, to see for themselves the pace of a working office and hear directly from experienced practitioners in the Chester and London teams.
The team of 16 students, plus Finance with Banking Course Leader Dr Vivian Ariguzo and Senior Lecturer Ann Qian, listened to a range of speakers including Bank of America Director Mitchell Rusu and Senior Vice President Chirag Shah. Insights were provided on stress testing, trade experts who shared the bank’s operations, plus HR practitioners who showcased entry-level options for students into the bank and the finance world in general.
Students also enjoyed open discussions with employees on the Graduate Scheme, such as Edward and colleague Anya Pasternak, both Chester alumni. They joined fellow colleague Conah Burton to talk about their graduate experiences and engaged with students in a Q&A session.
Following the visit, Dr Vivian said: “Our students stood tall, asking intelligent and thought-provoking questions, which made me confident that they are gaining the right skills and competencies to face the challenges the industry presents.
“Experiences like this build confidence, create connections, and bring career into focus – as the course Finance with Banking BSc prepares students for four main entry points, investment banking, retail/commercial banking, fintech and finance practice.”