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For the second time running, Nordea’s Group Finance & Treasury has partnered with Aalto University School of Business, engaging future accounting business graduates in practical business challenges and nurturing the ever-important connection between academia and the business world.

'With Nordea’s business case “Finance in the cloud” winning the coveted Capstone award for best case, spring 2018, we’re additionally proud to shine in the light of this successful collaboration', says Juha Vuopio, Head of Group Finance, Nordea.

Representing Nordea as senior business partners, Juha Vuopio, Head of Group Finance, rallied the support of colleagues Satu Vartiainen, Head of Group Finance Finland, and mentors, Aron Westergård and Helena Roos, CFO Office, to guide students in their research. Engaging with key Nordea stakeholders, external vendors and financial supervisory authorities, the study has provided valuable and forward-looking insights into the unchartered territory of financial cloud services. Proof of the suitability of cloud technology within financial management suggests it's something we'll be investigating further on our journey of becoming a world-class strategic, finance business partner.

Showcasing Nordea – attracting tomorrow’s top talent!

Beyond the benefits of collaborative research, insights, and a prestigious Capstone award, the dynamics that come into play when business and academia join forces is what inspires most. Teaming up with universities is not new, says Juha Vuopio but, in today’s digital and unpredictable world there’s an increasing need to promote and foster these important connections.

'As well as bringing students into the corporate world, equipping them with real-life business skills to meet today’s opportunities and challenges, it opens doors for Nordea. We leverage Aalto’s pool of knowledge and innovative thinking - broadening our view and reach, and, not least, it offers excellent opportunities to showcase our business and attract tomorrow’s top talent from one of the Nordic’s leading universities.

Capstone course
At the School of Business, the final stage of the master’s degree in accounting includes a Capstone course in which the students work in small groups on management consulting for an agreed company or community. The final report, which the student teams present to the management of the organisation, must contain a summary and recommendations. About an hour is set aside for the final presentations to the companies. Capstone courses for accounting students started in 2015, and student groups have completed some 60 projects.