IIBN asked Kyle Keague, Assistant Vice President of Municipal Securities Division Middle Office Citigroup NY – What are your main priorities and goals in your role with Citigroup?
My main priority is to help better facilitate Sales and Trading for the Municipal Securities Division for Citigroup and find greater operational efficiencies for the various processes we cover on behalf of our Traders and Salespeople.
What are your biggest challenges?
Technology is a major hurdle in the bank and there are various initiatives within the bank to invest in technology to find greater efficiencies within the bank.
What are the challenges facing your industry going forward?
In Banking, the ever-changing Regulatory landscape presents the biggest challenge in the Industry. Brexit has been a major example of this.
What new trends are emerging in your industry?
Technology and Automation are major trends in the Industry. If you can succeed in areas of automation, it can lead to a greater competitive advantage and a more efficient bank. Also, recently we’ve seen merging of various Sales & Trading businesses, that trade similar products with the goal of utilizing these synergies and becoming a more efficient bank.
Are you finding any skills gaps in the market?
Not exactly skill gaps. However, anyone with a strong Coding/Macro background has a significant advantage and opportunity to make a difference in the bank in a vast array of roles.
How will Brexit affect you, or have you started to feel the effects already?
Brexit has been a major initiative of the bank and making sure we are fully prepared for this. It has led to new Legal Entity creations and a lot of testing of trade populations.
How do you define success and what drives you to succeed?
Success in my eyes is constantly driving change and improving processes / results to provide greater efficiencies in an organization. Having the willingness to always learn something new and an open mind to change are great traits to have in a successful career.
What’s the best advice you’ve been given, or would give, in business?
From a banking perspective, I was given the advice to move laterally across different business lines and groups early in your career so get to find which areas you like / dislike and get a better sense of how the bank works. In my 5+ years at Citigroup, I’ve been in four different roles and have continually learned and my past experiences have helped me succeed in other roles.
