Funds Newsletter: Meet an Accredited Funds Professional (AFP): Sweta Jain

What has kept me interested is how broad the industry is - you can start in one area and quickly find yourself learning about investments, operations, risk, regulation, governance and technology

Martina Kelly, Director of Funds in IOB, caught up with Sweta Jain, Vice President in Client Service with J.P. Morgan and Accredited Funds Professional. With over a decade of experience in the funds and asset management sector, Sweta reflects on how her career has evolved alongside a changing industry. Sweta also shares her experience of the value of CPD and structured learning through the Accredited Funds Professional community.

Hi Sweta, thank you for speaking with us. Can you tell us a little about your career journey?

Of course. I’ve been working in the funds industry for over 10 years now, although my career has taken me through quite a few different parts of it.

I started in fund accounting, which gave me a really strong technical grounding in how funds operate. From there, I moved into fund management and oversight, where my role broadened considerably across delegate oversight, operational risk and governance.

More recently, I joined J.P. Morgan in Dublin as a Vice President in Client Service within Securities Services. It’s been an interesting progression – from being very close to the day-to-day operations of funds, to overseeing them, and now working much more directly with clients.

One of the things I’ve enjoyed most about my career is that it has never really stood still. There has always been another part of the industry to learn.

What initially interested you in pursuing a career in the funds & asset management sector?

I’m not sure I can claim that I had a grand plan to build a career in funds when I started!

I’ve always had a genuine interest in markets and finance, even growing up. With a background in accounting, the funds and asset management industry felt like a natural and attractive space where I could build on that foundation, both professionally and through my own interest in financial markets.

What has kept me interested is how broad the industry is – you can start in one area and quickly find yourself learning about investments, operations, risk, regulation, governance and technology.

I also like that there isn’t one prescribed career path. I started in fund accounting, but my career has taken me understanding areas which I wouldn’t necessarily have predicted when I first entered the industry – and that variety is a big part of what has kept it interesting.

You have been working in the sector for over 10 years now. How has your role evolved or changed during your time working in the sector?

The biggest change has probably been moving from doing, to overseeing, to advising and influencing.

Early in my career, I was very focused on the detail – NAVs, valuations and getting the numbers right. As I progressed, I became much more involved in understanding why things happened, identifying risks, challenging service providers and looking at the overall governance of funds.

Today, my role is much more client-facing, but that operational background is still incredibly useful. When a client raises an issue, understanding what is actually happening behind the scenes makes a huge difference to the conversation.

The industry has changed too. There is far more focus today on governance, operational resilience, data and technology, and now of course AI is becoming an increasingly important part of that conversation. The pace of change means that you really do have to keep learning and adapting.

You hold the Accredited Funds Professional (AFP) designation. What interested you in joining the AFP community?

For me, it was a combination of professional recognition, continued learning and connection to the wider funds industry. Having worked in the sector for over a decade, I liked having a recognised designation that puts a professional stamp on the experience and knowledge you build over time.

The ongoing CPD and access to industry experts also appealed to me. Funds is constantly evolving, so there is always value in staying current and hearing perspectives beyond your own role or organisation. The wider AFP network and events are an added opportunity to stay connected with professionals across the industry.

How do you find the suite of CPD material and events, online or in person, available to you as an AFP?

The CPD offering has probably been the biggest benefit for me.

There is a good mix of online webinars and in-person sessions, and I particularly value having access to industry experts speaking about topics that are current and relevant to the sector – whether that’s regulatory change, evolving industry practices or newer areas such as AI and technology.

With a busy working schedule, the online sessions make it very easy to keep learning and stay up to date, while the in-person events give you the opportunity to step outside your day-to-day role, hear different perspectives and meet others working across the industry.

I've attended a few of the networking events as well, and I've enjoyed having that wider connection to the funds community. For me, though, the real value is having a structured and accessible way of keeping my knowledge current throughout my career.

Outside of your professional life, how do you like to spend your free time?

I enjoy travelling, photography, scenic walks, cooking a fancy meal with a nice drink, and spending time with family and friends.

More recently, I’ve also been challenging myself a little more with fitness. I completed my first organised 5K this summer. I should probably stress that this does not make me a runner! But I loved the experience of setting myself a challenge that was completely outside my comfort zone and actually finishing it.

Could you tell us something about yourself we might expect?

Probably that I’m always keen on learning something and becoming a better version of myself.

I’m naturally curious and I’m one of those people who will finish one thing and somehow find another one that looks interesting. That probably won’t surprise anyone who knows me professionally!

I like understanding how things connect rather than limiting myself to just the part that sits within my immediate role.

And something we might not expect?

I’m slightly obsessed with cars! I love everything from comparing models and specs to keeping up with new launches – and I can probably talk about cars for much longer than anyone needs me to.

And despite spending my working life around numbers, controls and financial markets, I’m equally happy spending an afternoon driving to a new destination and finding a new café with my camera!

What is the best advice you have ever received?

Don’t wait until you feel completely ready before taking an opportunity.

I think we can sometimes convince ourselves that we need to know everything before taking the next step. Some of the best opportunities in my career have been the ones where I knew I had a strong foundation but also knew there would be a lot for me to learn.

You have to be willing to be uncomfortable occasionally. Ask questions, stay curious and back yourself to learn the rest. That has served me very well.