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Isabel Gossling, 27

Current department

Valuation

Isabel joined C&W in September 2006 having studied Economics and Economic History at Bristol University, and a Masters at Cass Business School. At C&W, she spent her first year in the City Investment Team, before moving to Valuation. With ten weeks until her APC and qualification (1 year after her qualification), we caught up with Isabel for a day to see what grad life at C&W is really like:

0815

I try and get in at 8 to 8.15am, because it gives me some time to organise myself, and catch up on any extra financial press. I actually really like the vibe arriving here. It's a very innovative firm. It's very relaxed, and we all sit amongst the partners. At least a couple of days a month I'm out on inspection, which is great. The office is nice, but it's good to get out and about. Sometimes it's abroad, sometimes it's all over the UK, and really it helps to put all the investment classes and property classes in context if you actually go and see them.

1100

If I'm valuing something, in the morning I tend to do some research, call around client offices, talk to the finance team, find out who's vending, if it's outrageously expensive, and whether the investment guys think it's feasible. I do have a really good relationship with the team, and we do go for a coffee at least once or twice a day because that's how information is shared. Or I go and see one of the investment agency guys. It's all about good relationships with people here. I'm completely reliant on sharing information with people.

LUNCHTIME

1500

Often in the afternoons I'll go and meet a client. I've had some really interesting meetings recently. We're doing a lot of fund valuation, so we'll go and meet with the client and asset managers, and find out what initiatives they've got going. I've also gone out to Berlin and Belfast recently to look at development sites, which is really interesting, and an absolute bonus. Travel is something I'd absolutely like to do once I'm qualified, and there's a lot of support to do it: they make it very easy for you to do that.

1900

I'm heading off now. The work-life balance here is ridiculously good actually, especially compared to friends in investment banks and legal firms. At the moment it's less relaxed for me because the APC is in ten weeks, but I do find it an excellent balance. I do feel there's a long-term prospect for me here. There's no reason to leave, as long as it's interesting. I've got to be learning, I get bored quickly, and here I'm given a lot of responsibility, that's what I wanted. It's very easy to have an idea, go and talk to the right person, and see it come to fruition. Plus, here I'm in the West End of London, so if you are stuck here late you can do something on the way home: it's never a total write off!