This blog captures a candid podcast conversation with one of our successfully placed candidates, Nikit Shetty, a recent graduate from our Investment Banking Program. In this episode, Nikit shares his journey—from struggling to find the right opportunity after his MBA to landing a coveted role as a Hedge Fund Analyst at Citco. If you're wondering whether upskilling truly makes a difference, this story is for you.

Podcaster:
Good afternoon, everyone! Welcome back to another podcast featuring one of our successfully placed candidates. Today, we have Nikit Shetty with us. Mr. Shetty, how are you?

Nikit Shetty:
I'm good, sir. How are you?

Podcaster:
I'm great as well. For our students watching this, can you please introduce yourself?

Nikit Shetty:
Sure! Hello, everyone. My name is Nikit Shetty. I'm 23 years old and recently completed my MBA from Atlas SkillTech University, Mumbai. I’ve always wanted to build a career in finance—particularly in investment banking and equity research. Prior to my MBA, I completed my Bachelor's in Accounting and Finance from Xavier Institute, Mumbai.

Podcaster:
That’s great to hear. Have you worked in finance before?

Nikit Shetty:
Yes, during my MBA, I interned in an accounting role. But apart from that, I haven’t had any full-time work experience yet.

Podcaster:
Got it. So how did you come across us at Jobaaj?

Nikit Shetty:
Well, like I said, I was always passionate about finance, but I realized I lacked the practical skills needed to break into investment banking or equity roles. I started searching for courses that could fill that gap—and that’s when I discovered Jobaaj’s Investment Banking Program. I enrolled, and that’s where my journey truly began.

Podcaster:
Interesting. You already had an MBA in finance—so why wasn’t that enough to get you the role you wanted?

Nikit Shetty:
That’s a great question. Most MBA placements in finance tend to be for roles like mutual fund distribution or insurance sales. But those are more like sales jobs, not core finance. I wasn’t interested in selling financial products—I wanted to analyze markets, build financial models, and work on real transactions. That’s why I felt I needed more than just a degree. I needed industry-ready skills, which this course gave me.

Podcaster:
That makes sense, and sadly, we see this happening often. Many MBA graduates end up in sales jobs, even after putting in years of effort and study. It’s frustrating.

Nikit Shetty:
Exactly. And that’s what pushed me to upskill. The course helped me understand the real-world applications of finance. It taught me about how investment banking, corporate finance, and equity research actually work, beyond just textbook definitions.

Podcaster:
Yes, that real-world context is so important. Knowing a concept is one thing, but being able to apply it in a real job—that’s what makes you valuable. So let’s talk about your placement journey—I heard there were some challenges?

Nikit Shetty:
Yeah, at first I struggled a bit. Some of the roles coming in didn’t align with my expectations, especially in terms of timing and responsibilities. But eventually, I realized that as a fresher, I needed to be a bit flexible, stay patient, and trust the process. And I’m glad I did.

Podcaster:
Absolutely—and that patience paid off! You’ve now been placed at Citco as a Hedge Fund Analyst, which is a phenomenal start to your career.

Nikit Shetty:
Yes! Thank you so much. I’m really happy to be starting my career in such a solid role.

Podcaster:
It’s a big deal, especially at 23. Most people are still figuring things out at 25 or even 26. But you’ve already got your foot in the door of the finance world—and not just any door, a hegde fund role.

Nikit Shetty:
Yeah 

..............

 

Don’t miss the full conversation—watch the podcast now and get inspired by Nikit’s journey!

 

General interview questions answered by Nikit during his selection process

 

What’s the difference between T+1 and T+2 settlement? How does it affect fund operations?

Sample Answer:
T+1 and T+2 refer to the settlement cycle timelines after a trade is executed.

  • T+1 means the trade settles one business day after the trade date.

  • T+2 means it settles two business days after the trade date.

This impacts cash and position reconciliation. For example, if trades aren't settled on time, they can cause fails, incorrect cash balances, or breaks in NAV reconciliation. Funds dealing with global markets must carefully manage multiple settlement cycles to avoid reporting errors.

Can you walk us through the NAV (Net Asset Value) calculation process?

Sample Answer:
Sure. NAV is calculated by taking the total value of fund assets (including cash, securities at market value, receivables) minus liabilities (fees, payables, accrued expenses), and dividing it by the number of outstanding shares.
At Citco, accuracy and timely delivery of NAV reports are crucial, so reconciliation of pricing, income accruals, and corporate actions must be carefully verified.

What are some key performance metrics for hedge fund analysis?

Sample Answer:
Some of the main metrics include:

  • Sharpe Ratio – risk-adjusted return

  • Alpha – manager outperformance

  • Beta – fund’s sensitivity to market

  • Maximum Drawdown – risk exposure in bad markets
    At Citco, clients value these metrics to evaluate fund managers, so being familiar with them helps in both internal reporting and client queries.

How do you ensure accuracy when reconciling trades and positions?

Sample Answer:
I use a 3-way reconciliation process:

  • First, compare trade data between the fund administrator and broker

  • Second, match custodian records

  • Third, resolve breaks via Bloomberg or manual broker confirmations
    Attention to settlement dates, pricing discrepancies, and corporate actions is key to ensuring no mismatch occurs.

Explain the difference between GAAP and IFRS in hedge fund accounting.

Sample Answer:
While both are global standards, key differences include:

  • Fair value hierarchy reporting

  • Consolidation rules

  • Revenue recognition and expense treatment
    In hedge funds, GAAP is more commonly used in the U.S. and emphasizes accrual-based income, while IFRS might apply more globally. At Citco, being able to adapt reports for different jurisdictions is essential.

How would you handle a situation where a client is disputing the calculated NAV?

Sample Answer:
I’d first review the NAV components internally, verify calculations and compare with previous cycles.
If discrepancies persist, I’d coordinate with pricing vendors, brokers, and internal teams.
Clear communication, evidence-based explanation, and empathy for the client’s concern are vital—especially at a client-focused firm like Citco.

How proficient are you with Excel and what hedge fund tasks have you automated?

Sample Answer:
I’m advanced in Excel and have used:

  • VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, INDEX-MATCH for reconciliation

  • Pivot Tables for exposure and sector analysis

  • Macros/VBA to automate daily P&L generation
    This helped reduce manual errors and saved several hours daily.