Oxford Finance Society
JOIN US
Oxford Finance Society is completely free to join and membership is open to everyone studying at the University of Oxford. Membership grants access to all our main events and allows you to ballot for our socials, including our legendary President’s Drinks. OFS members can also log in to our new Members Only section of our website, where we will be posting exclusive content, guaranteed to help shape your future career. Be the first to hear about our upcoming events and opportunities by joining OFS and subscribing to our newsletter below:
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BENEFITS INCLUDE
We know that Oxford terms are short and so we try to pack as many events in each term, including guest speakers, application workshops, debates, panel events and socials. Take a look at some of these below:
Sponsor Presentations & Networking Events
The Oxford Finance Society has direct links to key firms in the financial services industry. Our established relationships with our sponsors allow our members to gain key insights into the industry as well as exposure to some of the leading firms in finance.
Each year we hold over 20 networking events open to all of our members. Through these events, our members are able to connect and network with professionals within the industry. Connecting members to their future network is invaluable in terms of learning about career options and gaining an edge in the application process. By speaking to industry professionals – ranging from recent graduates to seasoned Managing Directors – OFS’ members have the opportunity to learn more about a specific line of business or indeed find out if a career in finance is for them.
Expert Talks and
Lectures
The Oxford Finance Society has the privilege of hosting multiple distinguished speakers each year to lecture about various topics in finance, banking and economics. Through our keynote speaker events, members hear about the latest trends in finance and economics and have the unique opportunity of engaging in dialogue with some of the most prominent figures in finance.
Past Speakers Include:
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Dr Hal Varian, Chief Economist at Google, who spoke on the economic impact of artificial intelligence and automation
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Martin Chavez, CFO at Goldman Sachs, who focused on the role of technology within his firm and the economy at large
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Sir Robert Stheeman, CEO of the UK Debt Management Office, spoke to OFS members on how governments secure financing and the future of sovereign debt, both within the UK and internationally
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Bob Diamond, CEO of Barclays, who spoke about his career building Barclays and the future of banking
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Jürgen Fitschen, former CEO of Deutsche Bank, gave a talk and Q&A session on the causes and consequences of the 2008 financial crisis
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Graeme Wheeler, former Governor of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand and Managing Director of Operations World Bank, gave insight into macroeconomic trends
Workshops
As Oxford’s largest student-run finance and investment society, we are committed to the development and learning of our members. We run regular workshops aimed at anyone who wants to improve their financial knowledge and skills, particularly ahead of application season.
Here is a taste of the different workshops we offer each year:
​CV, Cover Letter and Interview Clinics – Gain valuable tips for your CV, cover letters and interview technique directly from recruiters at some of the world’s most prestigious financial companies. Always popular with our members, these events provide the perfect opportunity to perfect your application ahead of applying for internships and grad schemes.
M&A Case Studies – How do you value a company? What are some of the key strategic reasons why one firm may purchase another? In our M&A workshops, members will be walked through the acquisition process from start to finish, focusing on both quantitative and qualitative aspects, guided by leading industry professionals.
Finance for Dummies – Considering a career in finance but unsure of the actual difference between different roles? Our Finance for Dummies events demystify the different areas of finance, from the more traditional investment banking roles to niche fintech positions. Representatives from different areas of the finance industry will be available to talk about their experiences and explain how they chose their role.
Internship Workshops – Every year, OFS holds events ahead of spring week and summer internship applications, where our members benefit from listening to exclusive tips and insights from those who have secured these positions previously. We then run additional sessions ahead of these programmes aimed at maximising our members’ abilities to successfully convert their positions to full-time or summer analyst roles.
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Panels
Our panel events are some of the best ways of gaining a deep understanding of critical issues and developments in the finance industry. OFS regularly invites subject experts from academia and industry to discuss these topics in an engaging but accessible way.
Recently, we have hosted panels such as:
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Breaking the Glass Ceiling: Women in Finance – leading female figures from Citi, BlackRock and Goldman Sachs spoke about their personal experiences in the industry, the changing landscape for women in finance, and advice for female students aspiring to work in the City
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Diver-City: BAME Representation in Finance – leaders of BAME networks across prominent financial organisations discussed topics ranging from the importance of role models to the use of AI screening to ensure equality when assessing interviews. Members were able to hear how institutions are striving to establish environments where everyone can excel, regardless of background
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Cryptocurrency Panel – in collaboration with Morgan Stanley and OxWIB, OFS members had the opportunity to listen to discussions on Bitcoin bubbles and fintech regulation. Representatives from the European Parliament, Bit.One, the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance, and the Financial Times made this a lively and topical dialogue
Socials
Oxford Finance Society holds some of the best social events in the university, all of which are completely free of charge to OFS members.
Our termly President’s Drinks is one of Oxford’s most-loved socials and has previously been held in venues such as The Duke of Cambridge, The Alchemist, and Freud. This provides the perfect opportunity to meet the new committee and welcome in the new term with free-flowing cocktails!
Additionally, we run a huge variety of other social events where you are guaranteed to find a strong community of like-minded students. These include garden parties in Trinity Term, rooftop drinks at The Varsity Club, and internship socials. Our newly-created fortnightly drop-in sessions present a more casual environment in which you can chat to the OFS committee and other members over tea and brownies.
We look forward to seeing you at our future socials! Be the first to ballot by subscribing to our mailing list.
