Kelly Foulger is the Head of UK Business Management within the Global Fund Services (GFS) team at Northern Trust London. The team provides global custody, depositary, fund administration and investment outsourcing services to asset management clients of Northern Trust.

Her day-to-day role involves the management and review of the department's financials, managing various projects impacting all teams across GFS UK and representing the Chief Operating Officer where required.

Kelly joined Northern Trust in August 2007 as an Analyst within the UK Fund Accounting department. In her 8 years in Fund Accounting she was promoted to Senior Analyst, Team Leader and then Divisional Manager.

Kelly also leads the UK Apprenticeship Program for GFS where her passion for early careers shines through.

Learn more about Kelly, her role at Northern Trust and her impact on the UK Apprenticeship Program below.

 

Describe your role at Northern Trust

I lead the Global Fund Services UK Business Management Team reporting into Laurence Everitt who is the UK Country Head.

The team and I are responsible for the running of the UK business including the Financials, FTE management, UK strategy and Objectives, tracking Regulatory requirements and all things Data and Digital.

 

Describe your team

My team is myself and 4 other members and we are a pretty new team this year which is exciting to work with different people and learn new parts of the business.

 

What brought you to Northern Trust? Briefly describe your career path.

I have always worked in financial services from the age of 18, starting in Fund Accounting at City Financial and then having similar roles at Bank of New York, Babson Capital and Credit Suisse.

I then went travelling for 2 years and whilst living in Australia held roles at State Street and FSI still in Fund accounting.

Since being at Northern Trust, I have worked in Fund Accounting in London, Limerick and Chicago, in Transfer Agency as a senior manager and then to Business Management working for the Chief Operations Office and am now the UK head of the team.

 

What’s a typical “day-in-the-life” at Northern Trust look like for you?

The management team start every day with a 9am ‘huddle’ to catch up and share updates and any breaking information. Typically, there is no typical day in my role, anything at all can come my way, which I really enjoy. I always make a conscious effort to check in with my team on a daily basis.

 

(Kelly pictured alongside the 2023-2025 UK apprentices)

 

Supporting our Early Careers Talent

 

Tell us about your involvement and Northern Trust’s involvement in the UK Apprenticeship Program?

I launched the first Global Fund Services UK Apprentice program back in 2023. We recognised a gap in being able to recruit talent in London for oversight roles and also could not demonstrate how we were supporting early careers partners in the business unit. Working with Investment 2020 we piloted a successful first cohort of apprentices.

 

What are the next steps for this program?

We are now recruiting our second cohort of apprentices who will be starting their 2-year program in October 2025. It would be great if we could expand the program to other London based teams.

 

What are the successes or best story of the program so far?

The Pilot cohort. They have all been amazing success stories. They have impressed everyone with their enthusiasm and speed of learning. They are the reason we have approval to repeat the program this year.

 

Why are you so passionate about early careers?

25 years ago, when I was looking for that first step in a finance career as a school leaver (not a grad) there were so many opportunities for entry level roles in London.

Now many of these roles have been offshored, automated or are part of a graduate program. If I were searching for a role now as an 18-year-old there would be limited opportunity for me. The apprentices program gives those a foot in the door who do not want to go into further education or do not have a direct link in the finance industry.

 

What would you say to a student or graduate considering a career at Northern Trust?

Northern Trust is a place where you can really grow, and you really are given the support to succeed.

Managers are here to help you learn and develop. If you want to build a career in financial services whilst working somewhere that values you as an individual, it’s a great place to start.

 

(Kelly pictured alongside her family in Paris)

 

Life at Northern Trust

 

What do you like best about working at Northern Trust?

The people I work with and the variety of my role.

 

How has Northern Trust supported your career objectives / development?

Northern Trust has been fabulous to me – I have moved across teams and locations to more recently supporting a Level 7 qualification in Leadership.

 

What’s unique about Northern Trust’s culture?

Our culture is unique as it combines a high-performing, client focused environment with a genuine supportive and inclusive workplace.

 

How do you create a balance between work and home?

It’s a juggling act for sure! I give myself boundaries and clear deadlines which helps me stay focused when working and then be present with my family and children outside of my working hours.

 

What advice would you give to people beginning their career at Northern Trust?

My advice would be to take every opportunity that’s comes your way – each one will help you learn, grow your network and build a strong foundation for your future.

 

Best part of the Northern Trust London office?

Obviously Canary Wharf as a location is fabulous and since the office renovation the space we have is a bright and modern workplace.

 

Fast Facts

Hometown / where are you living now: Loughton, Essex.

Do you have a pet(s)? 2 cats - Lilly and Ziggy.

Where do you volunteer your time? I co-chair the London Abilities BRC and am passionate about the initiatives and charities we support. Especially the Neurodiversity events, having been diagnosed with ADHD in my adult years.

Favorite sports team / person: Ronaldo as would get street cred points from my son.

Comfort food: Chocolate – favorite being the Cadbury Oreo Bar.

Best icebreaker to start a meeting: Most people start with the weather in the UK 😊I normally have a story about my children and the ‘mischief’ they get up to.

Best advice you’ve received (work or non-work related): Focus on what you can control, let go of what you can’t and always be curious.

If you could have dinner with any person alive today, who would it be: Richard Branson would be my top choice because of his energy and creativity. I would also love to hear firsthand how he turned challenges from having ADHD into strengths as someone who is also neurodiverse.

 

Careers at Northern Trust

Come find your greater at Northern Trust. Review our open roles here.