Vito Huang

Trading Intern / Graduate Trader
Data Science

What is your role at VivCourt?

I participated in the 2023/24 Summer Trading Internship and later joined the 2024 Graduate Trader program! I am now working as a Junior Quant Trader.

What sparked your interest in trading?

Many of my hobbies had skills that applied to trading, including poker, chess, and sports betting; they shared a commonality of requiring strategic thinking to find a competitive edge. After a friend told me about trading at university, I read into it more and never looked back. The idea of applying the analytical and quantitative skills I had developed in a real-world environment was incredibly captivating.

Is a non-finance background a barrier to entering trading?

I wouldn’t say so. VivCourt will teach you all the financial knowledge you need. However, a genuine interest in economics and financial markets is still ideal, as my curiosity drove me to learn and understand trading concepts more deeply.

Any tips for acing the internship interview?

Nowadays, you can find countless resources online. I recommend brushing up on probability and statistics; these are the backbone of the technical questions. Focus on how you approach problems rather than simply getting them correct.

How did your skills develop throughout the program?

At the start of the internship, there was a lot of focus on theory, which helped establish trading fundamentals. As we participated in market-making games, projects, and trading simulations, we really honed our quantitive skills and understood how they could be applied practically.

What is your favourite part about being at VivCourt?

The culture. It’s a unique environment where everyone you work with is incredibly bright, and you learn interesting things daily – whether it be about work, general trivia or a niche hobby someone has. There’s little bureaucracy here, and seniors are always happy for you to pick their brains over a coffee.

Advice for students seeking trading internships?

Joining a trading/quant club at university is incredibly beneficial. It helps you connect with like-minded people looking to break into the industry. Firms will also often run events that help you learn more about the industry and what they look for.

Jovana Kolar

Graduate Trader
Actuarial and Mathematics

Tell us about your educational background.

I studied a double degree in Actuarial Studies and Mathematics at UNSW, driven by a passion for mathematics and a desire to broaden my knowledge, even though I didn’t have a clear career goal in mind at the time.

What skills were most helpful when applying for a trading position?

The quantitative problem-solving skills I learned in my degree and clear communication were essential. However, I believe what can truly help you stand out is your enthusiasm, passion, and understanding of VivCourt’s unique position in the industry.

What does your role involve?

It’s a blend of research and operational trading. My focus has been on gaining a deep understanding of the trading systems while continuously thinking about ways to refine and optimise our strategies.

What do you enjoy most about it?

The intensity of trading during busy periods. In these moments, we’re working quickly to refine our systems to capitalise on opportunities while observing how experienced traders navigate different scenarios. It’s both rewarding and filled with valuable learning opportunities.

Are there any myths you’ve found to be untrue about trading here?

The role of a trader varies widely depending on the desk and specific responsibilities. There’s no one-size-fits-all set of skills for every trader; individual personalities and unique skill sets can shine in different scenarios to make an impact.

What are you most excited about regarding the future of VivCourt?

Our commitment to growth in the trading industry. As we continuously evolve our strategies, I look forward to leveraging our success to make a meaningful impact through social causes on a broader scale.

Any tips for females wanting to enter the trading industry?

While men have traditionally dominated the trading industry, Vivcourt has created an inclusive environment where skills and merit are highly valued, regardless of gender. Connecting with other women in the industry can be particularly empowering in this context.

Domenico Sauta

Graduate Trader
Mathematics and Finance

How did your university studies influence your move into Trading?

I started with a physics and mathematics degree at the University of Western Australia. I had always enjoyed mathematics but was still determining my career path. Then, a friend introduced me to stocks during my first year, leading me to open a personal trading account. Captivated by trading, I switched my majors to mathematics and finance and never looked back. This alignment of my interests naturally led me to pursue a career in the industry.

How was relocating to Sydney for work?

I lived in Perth before moving to Sydney for work. VivCourt's relocation package covered initial accommodation costs and flights, simplifying the move. Social events during the grad program provided opportunities to make friends. Relocation is easier than you think; getting to know Sydney is a fun experience, and VivCourt and colleagues offer lots of support.

Which desk did you join post-program, and how has your role evolved since?

Post-program, I joined the Hong Kong options desk, initially focusing on learning systems, in-depth options theory, and trading specifics. As I became more comfortable, I contributed by enhancing the autotrader, conducting research, and collaborating with other teams. With experience, my role evolved from maintaining strategy operations to generating ideas and implementing improvements. Since then I've also been involved in recruiting and teaching.

Advice for university students wanting to pursue a trading career?

One of the best things you can do at university is join an industry-relevant club. I founded Quantitative Finance UWA, which allowed me to get relevant experience. I would also recommend building a portfolio showcasing your projects on a personal website - it's an exciting hobby and an effective way to present your work to potential employers.

What makes trading a fascinating career for you?

The number of different areas of academia it brings together, like financial markets, statistics, machine learning and some basic scripting skills. At VivCourt, there is plenty of interdisciplinary collaboration and opportunities to fit right into the niche you find most interesting!

Melantha Wang

Graduate Trader
Actuarial (Hons) and Statistics

What did you study at University?

I did a dual degree in Actuarial Studies (Honours) and Statistics at the University of New South Wales, and went on to complete an honours degree in Actuarial Studies. I've always enjoyed mathematics from an early age, so a quantitative degree seemed to be a natural choice.

What sparked your interest in trading?

I was first introduced to trading when I attended a career fair during my third year of university, and I soon realised that it perfectly fits my interests and skills. The intellectual challenge it brings, the variety of work, the speedy feedback loop, and the opportunity to work with some of the most intelligent and motivated people are amongst some of the elements of trading that appeal to me.

How was the training in the graduate program structured?

The grad program included ten weeks of structured training. Each day consisted of 1-3 lessons on the theory of pricing different financial products and the practical aspects of trading them. As the program progressed, there was a shift in focus from classroom learning to practical application, with more time dedicated to shadowing experienced traders and engaging in projects.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

I enjoy the perfect balance of trading and research in my role. During market hours, I monitor our strategy and tweak the parameters to optimise trading; off market hours, I spend time working on research projects that help us trade better. This iterative process is both rewarding and mentally stimulating. On top of that, VivCourt's unique culture also makes it an awesome place to work. Everyone is always willing to share their knowledge and lend a helping hand. The level of collaboration we have here is unparalleled.

How has your role expanded at VivCourt in the past year?

I've taken on more leadership in research projects and become more involved in bringing research into the markets. I've learned that taking market feedback is the shortcut to the most successful trading strategies. My day-to-day trading has also expanded into new products and markets to our desk, which has been super exciting.

Any tips for candidates going through the application process?

Being genuine is the best interview advice I've ever received. Expressing your passion for the role and the company will always make a positive impact. For technical interviews, remember that the interviewers are most interested in how you approach a problem rather than whether you get the right answer. Interviews are two-way conversations, so approach them with curiosity.

Hrishi Masurkar

Graduate Software Engineer
Computer Science and Financial Maths & Stats

What did you study in university?

I majored in Computer Science and Financial Maths & Stats at USYD.

What led you to pursue software engineering?

University projects, hackathons, and internships piqued my interest in software engineering. I enjoyed solving complex problems and applying analytical thinking to design solutions.

How important is it to understanding trading & financial markets?

Understanding financial markets and trading helps identify problems and effectively solve them, especially since financial products and trading styles can impact trading system design. It also makes understanding the code easier - as one can recognise how class hierarchies and system architecture reflect real-world relationships among trading concepts.

Briefly outline your role & primary responsibilities.

As a software engineer on the options desk, my main focus is trading-specific software like autotraders and pricing apps. I dedicate my time to fulfilling trader-requested features, involving software development, code reviews, testing, and validating changes against historical data. I’m also on support, which involves monitoring app alerts and resolving issues.

What makes trading appealing for a software engineer?

Engineers at trading firms face unique problem sets that are distinct from those in traditional tech companies. There's a lot of collaboration and exposure to cutting-edge technologies and innovative methods. Deployment cycles are also quicker, allowing engineers to get faster feedback on the performance of new features.

Which non-technical skill has most influenced your success?Which non-technical skill has most influenced your success?

I've learned the importance of effective communication with other engineers and traders and to summarise information post-discussions. Traders may have different understandings of trading systems and concepts, so everyone must be on the same page - having a well-defined solution from the start saves development time.

We value creative problem-solving. How do you foster creativity within your role day-to-day?

Our inclusive culture invites cross-team collaboration and the discussion of diverse ideas. We’re constantly considering tradeoffs and the possibility of leveraging existing software developed by other teams. Additionally, traditional methods do not bind us, and everyone is willing to embrace change – enabling application redesign and code refactoring for long-term simplicity and benefits.

Videos

Life at VivCourt: in collaboration with Hatch