“Technology is changing all the time,” says Matt Hadley, Lead Technology Architect in the fund’s London office. “We must constantly evolve and learn along the way, and that’s one of the very best things about this job.”
Matt works across multiple domains and has been at the fund since 2019. He is excited by the fund’s focus on technology, as well as the strategic choices that set it apart from other organisations.
“Working on technology in the financial world is incredibly exciting,” he says. “We often use the latest tech, but not always. Our choice of technology must be well-founded and suited to the management of the world’s largest fund. Our aim is always to make the right decisions for the Norwegian people.”
Technology moves fast, and sometimes it can be hard to keep up. Matt believes that the fund has made some good decisions in this area in recent years. We used to outsource a significant amount of IT, but now we do more ourselves using the cloud.
“We have much greater flexibility and scalability now,” he explains.
“I love the way we work together to find the best solutions. My strength is helping others. I talk to people about solutions and ideas every day, and we generally manage to get somewhere. It’s very exciting and rewarding when something gets built on the basis of my advice.”
Matt has been interested in technology and how things fit together since he was small. He began by dismantling and reassembling a vacuum cleaner, and was building websites by his teens. It was a short hop to a career in technology, and he is grateful that his job is also his hobby. He found that the fund offered a great combination of exciting work and smart people.
“I find it valuable to be working with people who think in different ways to me. I might be convinced that I’ve come up with the best possible solution, and then someone else brings a completely different slant. We challenge one another, which is really important. It’s also a relatively small organisation, so I often get to see my thoughts and ideas being implemented, which is hugely motivating.”
Matt also values the good work-life balance offered by the fund.
“It might be a cliché, but it really is possible to have a life outside the office here. In some places, it’s all about work, but here I get a balance. We also have a lot of fun in the office, and everybody will pitch in if you get stuck on something. The people are the best thing about working here. I’ve yet to be in a meeting where we don’t have a laugh. It’s fantastic to have such a good working environment."
Matt’s working day varies widely, and he sees the fund as a unique workplace.
As an Englishman, he is very happy to be employed by a Norwegian organisation in London, and he also tries to spend time in Norway. Matt was certainly impressed by the welcome when he first joined.
“People came over from Oslo to be with me in my very first week. They made sure I met all my colleagues and helped me get started. Everyone was incredibly welcoming and pleased to have me on board. Again, it’s the people that make this such a great place to work!”