We’re growing – fast. And with that growth comes a bunch of brilliant new people, all bringing fresh perspectives, big ideas and deep experience to the team.
So, we thought we’d take a moment to introduce them properly.
In this series, we’ll sit down with some of the newest Secclers to chat about their career journeys, their first impressions, and what excites them most about life here at Seccl.
First up: Julie Tuffrey, our new head of CASS – a critical role at the heart of our operations and regulatory oversight. From a career that began on the floor of the London Stock Exchange, to leading regulatory transformation for some of the biggest names in finance, Julie brings a wealth of experience, a sharp operational mind – and, as it turns out, a second life as a part-time florist on the Isle of Wight.
Where are you from, and where are you based now?
I’m a Londoner by birth – I was born in north London and lived there for most of my early years, moving to Hertfordshire when I had my kids, before moving to the Isle of Wight about 10 years ago.
What does your career journey to Seccl look like?
My first job in the City was on the floor of the London Stock Exchange, working as a runner – literally running between market makers to get prices, and back to phone them into the desk. I feel incredibly privileged to have witnessed such huge change across my career – and I can only imagine how financial services will continue to evolve in the years ahead.
I spent the first half of my career working in-house at firms including Barclays, Morgan Stanley, Societe Generale, Investec and UBS. More recently, I’ve worked as a consultant, advising many across the industry. My focus has been on regulatory and operational change, helping firms to change, remediate, enhance and stay compliant. While CASS has always been my core specialism, I’ve also worked across a wide range of regulatory requirements.
What attracted you to Seccl?
I’ve always loved operations. In my early days, I had some pretty frank conversations about why I believed it should be seen as a real differentiator. Back then, it was still called the ‘back office’ (a term I’ve never liked) but to me, being brilliant at post-trade should sit right at the heart of commercial and business growth. At the time, that view was often met with bemused looks. But with the rise of investment platforms, it’s clear the world has caught up – and here we are today.
I love platforms. They bring together a unique mix of talent, innovative products and services, and state-of-the-art technology – all working to help businesses thrive and focus on what they do best, supported by really smart tech.
It’s a model I’ve believed in since the early days, and it’s been a consistent thread throughout my career. Seccl brings all of that together – and more. It draws on everything I’ve done professionally and combines every one of my passions under one roof (well, a few roofs… but you get the idea). Everyone I met during the interview process shared that same passion and belief. It honestly felt like coming home.
What have your first few weeks here been like?
Fast and furious probably sums it up best. There’s so much happening all the time – never a dull moment. Every day brings new considerations, challenges, conundrums and change. It’s fast-paced, fun and constantly evolving. Of course, that pace can be challenging, especially in a regulatory oversight role. But doing it at Seccl – with the support, collaboration and brilliant people across the business – has made it an incredible experience so far.
What are you most excited about working on?
The growth, the vison for the future and building on the great foundations that we have in place, to bring market leading platform solutions to our clients and the industry for many decades to come. I’m most excited about the growth ahead – and the vision for where we’re going. We’ve already got strong foundations in place, and I’m looking forward to helping build on them as Seccl continues to deliver market-leading platform solutions for clients and the wider industry for many years to come.
What’s one thing people might be surprised to learn about you?
I met my husband when I was 16 – we’ve been together for 40 years and are celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary this year. I’m also a very proud mum to three phenomenal daughters, and now a grandma to a fabulous little granddaughter. I adore them all and couldn’t be prouder.
Two of my daughters work in finance (at Canada Life and Fidelity), while my youngest – who wants nothing to do with the industry and proudly claims she’s the only one in the family with any sense – owns and runs a florist on the Isle of Wight. She jokes that while my head’s in numbers, hers is in florals. Always up for a challenge, I decided to train and qualify as a florist in my spare time – and now spend weekends in her shop as her (unpaid) Saturday girl and all-round chief of ‘stuff’. It’s lovely… until Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day rolls around. Any florist will tell you: that’s when the fun really stops
Any unexpected hobbies or hidden talents? We love a fun fact.
I love sport – although I’ve never been particularly sporty myself. Watching, however, is where I truly excel. Football is a big favourite (Arsenal, I’m afraid – it’s where I grew up!). Before moving to the Isle of Wight, my husband and I were season ticket holders at both Highbury and the Emirates.
I’m also a big fan of F1 and have been lucky enough to attend races at Silverstone, Miami and Monaco. I love Goodwood, too – so there’s definitely a bit of a speed and car theme going on. It’s great fun and well worth experiencing if you ever get the chance.