S&P Global is a multinational firm operating across several financial and data-driven sectors. During my work discovery week, I had the opportunity to work within the Market Intelligence division, gaining first-hand exposure to how global financial data is created, analysed, and delivered to leading institutions.
S&P Global has developed two major data analytics platforms, Visible Alpha and Capital IQ. These databases are used by major financial institutions such as JP Morgan and Morgan Stanley and provide access to financial records, forecasts, and estimates for approximately 8,000 to 30,000 companies, covering past performance, current data, and future projections.
Throughout the week, I worked closely with the Sales Support team, assisting with client management and responding to questions regarding the functionality and application of the databases. This role helped me understand how data products are tailored to meet client needs and how strong client relationships are maintained.
I also spent time within the Market Intelligence team, where I was introduced to financial modelling. I created cash flow models for various companies and used LinkedIn to research professionals and organisations, compiling structured data on company employees and organisational structures.
In addition, I visited S&P Dow Jones Indices, which manages and calculates indices such as the S&P 500. Observing how global indices are constructed and maintained was a truly remarkable experience and deepened my understanding of how markets are benchmarked.
Key Experiences and Achievements:
- Gained first-hand insight into how consensus estimates are formed within Visible Alpha
- Worked alongside the Head of EMEA Banking Sales, supporting relationships with clients such as Morgan Stanley
- Learned how to build a simple Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model at the age of 16
Finally, I had the privilege of attending a talk by Warren Breakstone, Global Head of Data & Research at S&P Global. He discussed the company’s strategic improvements planned for 2025 and its goals for 2026. I also had a one-to-one conversation with him, during which he offered valuable advice on goal management and how to use Excel effectively as a professional tool.
This week of work has opened my eyes to a whole new sector of finance, data analytics and banking, and my aspirations of possibly becoming an investment banker are growing alongside. I look forward to returning to S&P soon.
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