Profile: Céline Dockwiller

Position: Senior Controlling Officer, Banking Settlements Centre

After finishing my studies in 2001, I spent almost a year dividing my time between Paris and various cities in Germany, working for Chanel in marketing. When I came back to France to work as a commercial assistant with an insurance company, I missed the flexibility and the chance to speak German and English. I was living close to my family in France and just a few kilometres from the Swiss border, so I took this opportunity to cross the border and started working in Switzerland.

I have to admit I knew very little about the BIS before I applied. I joined via an agency, taking up a six-month secretarial position to replace a colleague on maternity leave. Six months down the line, the BIS offered me a direct contract in the Monetary and Economic Department, where I could work half-time and continue my studies in parallel. Once I obtained my masters degree, I moved through the Risk Control Department and the General Manager's Office before coming to the back office. I really appreciated the fact that the BIS gave me the opportunity to grow and progress.

Right now, I supervise a small team in the back office which is responsible for post-transaction processing. We're here to check transactions and ensure that they go through to settlement without any issues. We encounter new and challenging situations every day - which I love.

Over several years, I've been working on a very important project to help reduce operational risks. This has involved putting lots of controls into the system, including both automated controls and a so-called four eyes protocol, where at least two people must check the same thing. I've found it very interesting and challenging.

I believe that the BIS is a very significant institution with an excellent reputation, and it offers great conditions of employment as well. My working hours are pretty flexible, and, although I live in France, it's a very easy commute of only 15 minutes to the office.