Analytics Engineer, Danske Bank
What does your typical day look like?
My day begins by prioritising the tasks allocated to me on our JIRA board. This can include working on data requests coming from the Financial Regulators, Danske Bank Board and tasks that help with strategic planning or with customer outcomes.
Each day the team has a standup meeting where we discuss our current tasks. This includes each team member updating the data requests they are working on, any deadlines and if they have any blockers preventing the completion of the requests. We also discuss any peer reviews that are outstanding and assign them to different members of the team.
The tools I use to complete my assigned data requests include using SQL within Alteryx, Python & Hadoop. We use these to create regular reports, many of which are on Tableau to help visualize the trends, outcomes and customer behaviours from the extracted data.
Another aspect of my role in the Data and Analytics team is to present data to various other teams throughout the Bank. An opportunity recently arose in the Bank where I could use my knowledge to upskill members of the Digital Academy, one of our apprenticeship programmes.
What are you currently working on?
I have just finished working on data for some significant projects that aim to provide detailed information about how customers use our products. As an organisation, this helps us make decisions about which product or service enhancements will have the biggest impact on our customers.
I’m currently dealing with data requests from various areas of the bank, helping to provide insights for customer communications. Another one of the requests I am working on is to help refine target markets for our products. The results of these requests will be provided to our Commercial Development team for upcoming campaigns.
What inspired you to join this company in particular?
Danske Bank is a very customer-focused organisation. I wanted to work for a bank that listens to their customers and uses their feedback to improve their offering.
The culture within the Bank is one of providing opportunities to progress and to give back to the community. One of the opportunities I was given was to complete a Higher Level Apprenticeship (HLA) in Software, Cloud and Application Development. In giving back to the community I’ve helped deliver a guest lecture to students at Ulster University, and I took on a mentorship role for three placement students through the NOW Group Digital Academy for three months. I’m also actively involved in our racial equality network, Origins and our Gender Diversity Network working mainly in a Women in Tech workstream.
Did you always want to work in this industry (tech)?
No, I initially studied Criminology & Sociology at university. I had never really thought of a career in IT. Once I graduated, I realised that the future was in IT. I didn’t think I would get a chance to work in the sector as I didn’t have the relevant IT qualifications.
While working in Danske Bank’s contact centre an opportunity arose to become join the Bank’s ‘Tech Future’ apprenticeship programme. This sounded perfect for me and I was successful in my application. I worked with the Data & Analytics team four days a week, with the fifth day spent studying a Higher Level Apprenticeship (HLA) in Software, Cloud and Application Development at Belfast Met.
Applying for this role was the best career decision I ever made as I can’t see myself wanting to work in anything else.
What’s your favourite part about your work?
Every day is different, and I am constantly learning and improving my skillset. I enjoy challenging tasks and problem-solving, particularly when I overcome those challenges.
I work with a great team who are always offering to help. We have a great mix of work and fun in our team, this ties back to the great culture within Danske Bank.
What would you say to other people considering a job in this industry (tech)?
There are so many different areas you can go into within tech, it’s not all coding!
I believe if you are interested in working in IT you should take the risk and do it, it has worked out great for me and I wouldn’t change the path I have taken to get here.
How do you see this technology impacting on our lives?
Speaking from a Data Analytics view, data is used for everything. It is used to suggest movies on Netflix, to staff businesses, to track our health, and so much more. Our lives revolve around data.
Who inspired you to work in this field?
I’m very self-driven. Once the opportunity to complete the HLA came up, I knew I should apply to do it. It was a new challenge for me and completely outside of my comfort zone.
I’m glad I did it as the risk paid off.
What do you consider to be the most important tech innovation or development in recent years?
The growing developments within AI are really exciting. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next in that area and how we develop our own AI solutions here at Danske Bank.
What tech gadget could you not live without?
My phone, I use it for absolutely everything.
