Though their paths to Zurich were quite different – Jessica draws on a consulting background in Germany and Switzerland, while Billy from south-west Ireland brings experience by way of Wall Street’s leading banks – they are united by a passion for meaningful work, curiosity, and a conviction that working at Julius Baer offers something special: the chance to make a difference while working in an environment that values personal interactions.
Risk and compliance in practice
Jessica’s mandate as a team head in compliance brings together all topics related to conduct and employees: from identifying conduct issues and potential for breaches of policy to reinforcing risk culture. “Compliance is much more than enforcing rules and regulations,” she says.
“It’s about enabling sustainable growth. Our aim is to empower our employees to uphold the highest standards of ethics and conduct, despite the fast-changing environment we face today. In the end, compliance is about providing the best environment for our employees to succeed – and working closely with them is key to this success.”
Billy describes his leadership role in the area of market risk as understanding the interplay between Julius Baer’s positions, the broader financial environment, and human behaviour. “Our wealth management focused trading unit has exposure across all major asset classes, so there’s always something happening, something shifting. A big part of my job is clear and transparent communication to senior stakeholders across the bank – explaining how markets are evolving, and where the risks are, including forward-looking emerging risks. You need quantitative skills, yes, but you also need to understand human behaviour and how that comes into play. Capital markets run as much on formulas as they do on expectations, emotions, and human decision-making.”
Balancing rigour with a focus on people
Jessica and Billy’s roles, and their teams, are both integral to the bank’s strategy of embedding a risk ownership culture even deeper throughout the organisation. In an industry where regulatory scrutiny constantly intensifies, sound compliance and risk management are a prerequisite for trust and essential for sustainable long-term success.
Making an impact in such a complex environment isn’t without challenges. Jessica’s biggest is “upholding our regulatory responsibilities while acting with care, respect, and empathy.” Billy’s challenge is “staying ahead of the complexity, aligning stakeholders, and in being able to make the right judgement calls every day.”
Collaboration across functions
Navigating this complexity is rarely a solo effort. The real progress comes from working across teams, functions, and even time zones – a style of collaboration that is a hallmark of Julius Baer. “Nothing we achieve is done in isolation. The ability to work so closely with colleagues across functions is one of Julius Baer’s greatest strengths,” says Billy. He cites with pride the implementation of Basel III’s final capital regime in Switzerland that required coordination across trading, IT, treasury, finance, and compliance.
Jessica nods to the same point. “What makes me proud isn’t one single project, but the way people live our values – Care, Passion, Excellence – every day. Whenever support is needed, it’s been easy to approach colleagues at all levels, including management. That caring culture is real here.”
Different pathways to growth
Neither Jessica nor Billy set out as teenagers dreaming of compliance dashboards or financial risk models. Jessica, with a background in business administration and a PhD in project risk management, began her career in the Big Four consulting world. Seizing an opportunity to join Julius Baer in a Business Manager role within the Chief Risk Officer unit, she subsequently moved into dedicated compliance positions before taking on her current leadership role in employee compliance this year.
Billy’s route has been distinct in its own right – one also shaped by continuous growth. He studied Gaelic languages and economics, then earned a Master’s in finance at London School of Economics before joining a major investment bank in London. A restructuring nudged him into market risk – a move that suited his curiosity about the forces shaping global finance. After senior roles at other banks, he joined Julius Baer. “What drew me here was the chance to help shape an organisation in transformation. At Julius Baer you feel your impact.”
What would Jessica and Billy say to colleagues considering a role in their areas? Jessica emphasises passion and empathy: “You need technical skills, of course, but social intelligence matters just as much – respect, empathy, teamwork, being constructive and supportive. And passion, because passion inspires and contributes to a more dynamic and innovative workplace culture and makes our daily work easier.”
Billy points to curiosity. “People think risk is all about coding and maths. But it’s as much about understanding behaviour. If you’re curious, willing to investigate independently, and can grasp how markets and people interact, you’ll do well. And don’t be put off if you didn’t study finance. Some of the best colleagues I’ve met came from history or philosophy backgrounds. You learn a lot on the job.”
Beyond risk: a place to thrive and grow
Jessica and Billy’s journeys are also shaped by what makes them unique – their passions and pursuits beyond banking. Jessica loves travelling and immersing her children in new experiences, with Canada being a recent highlight. Billy, when not chasing toddlers around Zurich parks, skis, does CrossFit, and listens to music from UK rap to Irish folk. “Gaelic rap is even a thing now,” he laughs.
It’s these human touches that make Julius Baer’s culture authentic. The bank isn’t just shaping the future of wealth management; the environment it fosters is one where individuals thrive, professionally and personally.
In a world where risk and compliance are central to long-term success, Jessica and Billy’s experiences illustrate how Julius Baer encourages and provides the opportunities for its people to take ownership and make a meaningful difference. It’s a community where individuals are trusted to shape outcomes, supported to grow, and encouraged to bring their whole selves to work.
For those considering a career in risk or compliance, their advice is clear: bring your curiosity, your passion and individuality, and a mindset that values human impact and collaboration.