Meet the Alternative Thinker - Jack De Gruchy

My name is Jack De Gruchy and I am a Senior Funds Officer at Alter Domus Jersey.

After studying Accountancy at the University of Exeter I accepted a unique opportunity to join the head office of a local, Jersey care company which had recently received funding to aid its expansion. Over the following four years I gained great insight into the processes of assessing, modelling, purchasing, and selling land, buildings, and operating companies; all whilst developing my own skills as an accountant.

Following this I moved to Sanne where I quickly gained knowledge of corporate services and the financial sector before moving to working in funds services at Alter Domus Jersey in February 2022.

How have your managers and senior leaders supported you since joining?

To me a work-life balance is key. Even in our busiest period I have always managed to find time for sports, exercise, and socialising.

This year I am fortunate enough to be representing my club and island in the European Cricket League where all the best clubs from across Europe battle out to be European Champions. Even though it falls within our busiest period, my managers and senior leaders have been exceptionally supportive and encouraged me to take the time off to compete in and enjoy this incredible opportunity.

What opportunities can you see for yourself at Alter Domus?

One of the main benefits of working for a company with offices across the globe is that there are always opportunities abroad and, with Alter Domus recently offering employees the opportunity for a secondment to Cork, I was quick to jump onboard.

My 12-month secondment will begin at the end of March, and I look forward to all the experiences, challenges, and opportunities that working in a new office and department will present.

How have Alter Domus supported you through your development?

Alter Domus provided above and beyond the industry standard in terms of support for my ACCA exams. Both my seniors and my team are supportive of each other when a team member is taking study leave by planning workloads and ensuring that our responsibilities and duties are managed when one of us is off.

From early on, I was able to discuss my short and long-term goals for my career at Alter Domus. My manager and senior leaders were very receptive of my goals and facilitated these wherever possible by providing chances for me to develop my skills.

How is Alter Domus different from other companies you have previously worked for?

The culture at Alter Domus is something I haven’t experienced before. Throughout my career I have been fortunate enough to work with some incredible and inspirational people, but never have I seen such a positive culture permeate throughout an entire company.

Within a day of working in my team, I knew they were something special and it quickly became apparent to me that everyone in the office felt part of the ‘family’. Having joined Alter Domus just as the world was beginning to stabilise after the COVID pandemic, it was incredible to ‘get back to normal’ in an office full of such sociable and hard-working people.

What is the work culture at Alter Domus?

For an office that is comparatively younger than I have experienced before, it never ceases to surprise me how mature the work culture is. As with anywhere, there are periods where we are all tested and need to step up to the challenge, and every time we make sure that we get things done both individually and as a team.

Bearing this in mind, the most enjoyable part of the work culture is that it’s not all work; even during our most busy periods we will still find the time to share a joke or tell a funny story. I think it’s these small things that make working more enjoyable and help to create such a positive team atmosphere.

What tips would you give to an applicant when interviewing?

Stand up straight with your shoulders back. Interviews are a daunting experience and often a novel one when seeking your first job and it’s easy to think that all eyes are on you.

Don’t forget that you are also interviewing them. Do research on the company, ask around for some opinions from people who work or have worked there, and make sure you ask questions in the interview.

Equally importantly: be yourself. I know it’s a cliché but it’s invaluable to you and your potential new employer. Character is becoming more and more important in the interview process, so being yourself is your best chance of finding people who you’ll enjoy working with and who will enjoy working with you.