Arthika champions financial integrity with a global perspective
As the country’s leading bank, Deutsche Bank was a constant presence when Arthika grew up in southwest Germany. And banking, especially financial crime, has always intrigued her.
As a student in Mainz, Arthika studied Business Law and majored in Compliance and White-Collar Crime. While taking a management course during a semester abroad in Singapore, she concentrated on European banks and their sustainability practices – with Deutsche Bank as one of the banks that were part of her case study. Through this, Arthika learned about the bank’s internal practices and international focus on clients. “The complexities of the industry piqued my interest,” she said.
Gaining foundational knowledge: the graduate programme
Arthika joined Deutsche Bank directly through the graduate programme after gaining some experience in consulting and from working for the German Stock Exchange. Now she is a Graduate Analyst within the CAO (Chief Administrative Office), rotating in the Financial Crime and Intelligence Unit in Frankfurt. “We investigate money laundering, sanctions evasion and human trafficking challenges of our clients, and we oversee legal risks,” she said. “Deutsche Bank is one of the top banks globally that contribute to the stabilisation of the banking industry, so the learning curve here is immense.”
Bringing a global perspective
Arthika is well accustomed to navigating global cultures. She was born and raised in the Southwest of Germany, but her parents are from Sri Lanka and moved to Germany before she was born. During a recent rotation, Arthika worked on a team that serves both London and Germany locations, and she has regular connect sessions with managers in New York and Singapore.
Since Arthika rotates every three months across different functions in CAO, she must familiarise herself quickly with different areas of the division, including Compliance, Anti-Financial Crime (AFC), Controls, Control Testing & Assurance (CT&A), Legal, Regulatory Affairs, and the Chief Operating Office (COO for CAO). “You need to be very adaptable here, and you’ll be rewarded with a wide range of opportunities,” she said.
Arthika is helping to ensure daily that Deutsche Bank has a strong and sustainable control environment. It’s a challenge that fits with her desire to learn and stay curious. “The bank is very keen to see us grow, develop and experience different opportunities during our careers. There’s an emphasis on personal development skills throughout the graduate programme that I benefit from greatly.”
A collaborative peer environment
Mentorship is an integral part of all the graduate programmes at Deutsche Bank and Arthika’s mentor helped her create a development plan for the next three years. On completion of the graduate programme next year, she’s planning to complete her Master’s degree in Law part-time, a bank-supported move that will allow her the flexibility to spend time on her studies while working.
“I feel that from the start, I’ve been able to bring my whole self to work. I’ve been treated equally, even though I am a graduate and new to the team. The managers and senior leaders are busy, but they make an effort to help and see you eye to eye. It’s a very collaborative culture at all levels.”
Arthika’s advice for new interns and graduates
Although the nature of her work is very serious, operating under the framework of confidentiality, Arthika describes the culture as “super fun and open” and “non-hierarchical.”
“It’s a diverse and supportive environment. Be open-minded and not afraid about fitting in. Be confident and authentic. Be proactive. Show your motivation and enthusiasm by being engaged and asking questions so that people remember you.”
