Gain insights into what it’s like to work as a consultant at Phi, with our ‘meet our consultants’ series.

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We were delighted to interview Aya Bichri, Sophis Business Analyst, at Phi Casablanca, about her journey within the company so far. Aya entered Phi as part of our Graduate Programme; since then, as part of the Risk team in our Sophis practice, Aya has worked on multiple client initiatives in roles including business analysis, quality assurance, documentation and support.  She has worked on Sophis and Fusion Invest projects for risk, front office, middle office, and back-office areas, especially for portfolio management and compliance, giving her an understanding of business workflows across equities, fixed income and OTC derivatives.

Read on to understand more about Aya’s experience so far at Phi, including details on a recent project she has helped to deliver.   

Tell us about how you started at Phi 

“I joined Phi as part of the graduate program of 2023 into the Sophis (Fusion Invest) team. Coming from a Finance background, I was excited to apply my academic knowledge in a real-world setting where finance and technology intersect – I find this fascinating.  

“I know that Phi had a reputation for excellence in the Sophis area, and I wanted to be part of a company that values teamwork and professional growth. The interview process was both smooth and insightful. It gave me a clear understanding of Phi’s values and expectations, and I appreciated how open and welcoming the team was throughout. The discussions were both technical and functional, which made me eager to join and contribute.” 

How has the Phi experience been for you?  

“Capital markets are dynamic and complex, and technology plays a vital role. Working in IT within this field allows me to stay close to the financial concepts I’m passionate about while also developing valuable analytical and technical skills. The diversity of projects and clients at Phi also means continuous exposure to new challenges and learning opportunities.”  

Can you talk a little about how you approach your work?  

“With an academic background in finance and capital markets and now having hands-on experience as a Business Analyst, I can bring a blend of financial and functional knowledge to Phi. I understand the financial instruments and the business logic behind the market processes. This allows me to connect effectively with business and technical teams, bringing my analysis skills to translate what the business needs into effective solutions within Sophis or Fusion Invest. I think this blend of financial knowledge and analytical skills is key.

“Adaptability and curiosity are also critical when working with clients who have unique setups and requirements, and where situations change quickly. My approach is to take the time to fully understand the client’s business environment, priorities, and challenges before proposing any solutions.”  

Can you tell us about a project you are proud to have worked on?  

“I contributed to a project to optimize the performance and efficiency of compliance checks in Fusion Invest for a European Asset Manager. It allowed me to bring my knowledge and skills to bear on a complex problem.  I learnt a lot, and we delivered an excellent result. 

“The client was facing significant performance issues with their compliance module, particularly around order processing speed. This situation arose because over the years, the client’s business and trading volumes grew significantly, but the original implementation of the compliance module (which was not done by Phi!) had not been designed to scale. As a result, the system was struggling to process the growing volume of orders within acceptable time frames.   

“We began by analysing the compliance rules, identifying those that worked on the same portfolios and shared similar perimeters. We then merged compatible rules to reduce redundancy and improve processing efficiency.  

“Throughout the project, adaptability was essential. As we got further with our analysis we discovered more and more complexity, uncovering more customisation than we had expected, hidden dependencies and portfolio-specific exceptions. We analysed the customisations used by the compliance rules and assessed the possibility of replacing them with more efficient API-based or native software functions.“

What was the result of that project?  

“We measured the results of our changes as we went along. During the final large-scale test, where all teams raised a high volume of orders within one hour, the system successfully processed over 5,000 orders within the time period set as an objective by the client. 

“Overall, our changes had significantly improved both the speed and quality of compliance operations. The traders experienced smoother and faster trade validation. The risk and compliance teams benefited from more reliable and transparent checks. The back-office saw reduced bottlenecks and greater operational consistency. It was immensely satisfying to see the results of our work having a tangible impact across several teams.“

What do you enjoy most about working at Phi?  

“I enjoy the fact that every project brings new challenges, whether it’s improving system performance, supporting users, implementing new features, or ensuring data accuracy.  And every project brings opportunities to grow.  

“I really appreciate being surrounded by people who are passionate about what they do. My colleagues are incredibly supportive, approachable, and knowledgeable and there’s a genuine sense of teamwork: everyone is willing to help and to share their expertise.   

“The office environment is open and friendly. It’s easy to feel included and motivated and that encourages learning and growth. I’m also very grateful to be supported by my manager. I know she is committed to my personal and professional development, and that has made a huge difference in helping me build confidence and expand my skills.“

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Would you like to work with Aya or with our wider Sophis / Fusion Invest Team, either as a client or as a colleague? Check out our careers page for the latest open roles or contact us for further information on relevant services: sales@phipartners.com