Nandini V

Nandini V, Compliance Officer & Head - Finance & Operations, Banyan Tree Advisors

Nandini V joined Banyan Tree Advisors in 2006 as its first employee, and has been an integral part of the firm ever since. She heads and manages daily operations along with corporate finance. Since 2018, Nandini has also served as the Compliance Officer, managing all SEBI requirements.

Nandini completed her B.Com at Bangalore University.

I was motivated to join Banyan Tree because I was seeking a job change in early 2006. A reference from Banyan Tree’s auditor highlighted it as a great place to work and learn new things, with Sandeep and Ravi being wonderful people to work with. Coming from an audit firm, the PMS field looked interesting and offered a new learning opportunity in my early career.

When I first joined Banyan Tree, it was a small setup, and I was the first employee. We had about 20 clients and around Rs. 22 crore in AUM. All operational activities were manually handled, from writing cheques to preparing Excel sheets for client transactions and RBI reporting. Today, we have expanded to over 1900 clients and an AUM of Rs. 5500 crore. Our team has grown from just me to 50 employees. We moved from a small, house-like office to a fully corporate setup, which makes me very proud. Additionally, we opened an office in Mumbai, transitioned from Excel to PMS software, and automated many reporting processes to meet more stringent regulatory requirements.

Over the past 18 years, I have contributed to operations, finance, and compliance, and handled some aspects of HR in the early days. Today, as Banyan Tree’s Compliance Officer, my main responsibility is to ensure that the company complies with all regulatory requirements at all times. I see my role as akin to a captain navigating the boat safely, as I am accountable and responsible for any deviations or issues in these areas. This responsibility drives me to maintain the highest standards and ensures that our company remains compliant and efficient.

I have always approached my work with full enthusiasm, treating Banyan Tree as my own firm. Transitioning between different roles presented its own challenges. Managing people with diverse skills, behaviors, and languages was especially challenging. Additionally, balancing the diverse viewpoints of five directors required careful coordination and collaboration. I overcame these challenges by developing strong communication skills, fostering teamwork, and always aiming for consensus.

I have always had an artistic mind and tend to see things in a creative manner, which naturally led to my interest in painting. Painting provides me with a sense of relaxation and helps me unwind from my professional responsibilities. Although I have never exhibited my artwork or participated in any art-related events, painting remains a personal activity that brings me joy and mental relaxation.