Fundserv social events bring colleagues together, encouraging meaningful connections outside of work.Supplied
Fundserv Inc. is a small company with a big reach in the financial services sector. Established in 1993 to help reduce time, cost and risk from its members’ business operations, it runs a digital infrastructure that streamlines transactions across a wide range of investment products and enables the efficient transfer of settlement information.
Competing for talent with the financial and technology industries, Fundserv primarily offers employees what the big institutions do: competitive pay and benefits, year-end bonuses, RRSP matching, a referral bonus, a full suite of professional development programs and an equitable and inclusive workplace culture.
It also offers some advantages more common among small, nimble workplaces. For Kevin Bonilla, who joined the company as a DevOps engineer three years ago, having direct access to senior managers on Fundserv’s tightly knit, 150-member team is just one of them.
“It’s a small company, so it’s a place where you can get to know everyone, which helps you grow. It doesn’t matter if you are in an entry-level position or a co-op, you get a chance to talk to the directors, the managers, and the executives,” he says. “You can get your voice heard and see the effects of your contributions more quickly.”
Another advantage is the flexible hybrid-work model where employees are empowered to come into the office based on business needs. The model focuses on performance and supports collaboration — the first of the company’s four core values, says Julie Loyola, chief people officer.
“When you’re in the office, you’re actively forging connections through in-person interactions with your colleagues,” she explains. “It’s about more than coming in and working at your desk. It’s about engaging, sharing ideas and contributing to a dynamic, supportive environment that also includes those participating remotely.”
Bonilla, who at times works from his home in the Durham region, says that “having that flexibility to work remotely and in the office just allows me to be more productive.”
Then there are the wellness perks. Every quarter, Fundserv designates a company-wide mental health day, giving employees an extended weekend that falls outside regular statutory holidays.
“The mental health days are not to be taken when you want, as is the case with personal days,” Loyola explains. “The intent is that the day is a company-wide pause for employees to recharge.”
Another Fundserv benefit that Bonilla takes full advantage of is the wellness account, which covers “most things sports-related” up to a $1,000 limit.
It’s not just fun and games though; the company’s generous performance bonus program also helps reward highly productive employees. “If you put in the work, you will get noticed, especially because it’s a smaller company,” Bonilla says.
In this way, Fundserv employees get it both ways, enjoying big organization perks in a small, flexible outfit. “We may not have the brand recognition of the bigger companies in tech and finance, but once you get here, you see the value of Fundserv to employees and the industry we serve,” Loyola says.
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Advertising feature produced by Canada’s Top 100 Employers, a division of Mediacorp Canada Inc. The Globe and Mail’s editorial department was not involved.