Luxembourg labyrinth: Daisy Mae’s quest to launch a fund
Daisy Mae faces a complex journey launching a railway investment fund in Luxembourg amidst regulatory challenges and tight deadlines.
Redoing everything from A to Z
It was June 2014, and I was flying back from Lisbon for an exciting interview at J.P. Morgan Bank Luxembourg. Landing this job would validate that getting a master’s degree was worth it. I was thrilled about being part of our fund industry.
There could be no delays in my travel plans. I was scheduled to land at 13:15, and the interview was set for 14:00. Fortunately, a friend picked me up, giving me enough time to put on my suit and share my excitement about interviewing for a leading bank.
You cannot excel with Excel
The fund industry is a poster child for digital transformation. The industry is characterised by easy-to-follow processes and a high degree of automation. With just a few clicks, investors and auditors can interact with fund managers seamlessly.
Sounds exciting. The reality though is quite different.
Costly outsourcing is not the solution
The CSSF has spent the last decade ramping up reporting requirements on fund management companies. In response, the fund industry has invested heavily in automation and now most reports are generated automatically.
If only this was true!