Finance Alumni Spotlight 

Lauren Dinwiddie

(BS Finance and Chinese ’15; MSF ’16) 

Vice President, Fraud Analytics Manager, JPMorgan Chase & Co. 

Career success: After graduating from the Master of Science in Finance (MSF)  program at Florida State University in 2016, I joined JPMorgan Chase & Co. in Tampa, Fla. I joined the firm through its Corporate Analyst Development Program, a two-year rotational program focused on data analytics, process improvement and project management. While in the program, I worked on two teams: User Acceptance Testing for the firm’s strategic fraud engine and Operational Readiness for the firm’s global payments platform. Afterward, I accepted an associate position within the Fraud Prevention team, focusing on fraud analytics. My team is responsible for designing and delivering strategies to protect our clients and the firm from electronic payment fraud losses. This includes identifying fraud trends through data-driven analysis, developing rules to optimize the effectiveness of fraud detection while balancing client experience and maintaining a robust governance and control environment. Since being promoted to vice president in 2021, I have been serving as a Fraud Prevention team manager and focusing on driving strategic initiatives.

Advice for students: It is important to build a supportive network and mentors in whom you can confide. Get involved in student organizations, firmwide business resource groups or volunteer events. The most effective mentor relationships will develop organically over time. I would also encourage students to identify their interests. What do you enjoy doing? What are your strengths? What classes are your favorite, and why? I was always interested in data analytics, but it was not until I participated in the rotational program that I discovered my passion for fraud prevention. Once I joined a team that I was genuinely excited about, I worked to become a subject-matter expert. Many firms offer internships and rotational analyst programs, which is a great opportunity to gain experience, diversify your skill set and discover different career paths. I also appreciate having highly effective managers who are supportive of my personal and professional development. They have encouraged me to develop a strategic mindset, supported open communication and an inclusive environment and coached me to have difficult conversations when needed. 

About her graduate degree: The MSF program expanded on my undergraduate finance degree, provided networking opportunities, pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped build my confidence. During the program, I gained an in-depth understanding of finance, learned how to be both a leader and a reliable teammate and strengthened my transferrable skills. My favorite courses included the Student Investment Fund, a student-driven fund that provides practical application; Multinational Financial Management; Financial Derivatives and Risk Management; and Economics and Business Conditions. The MSF program gave me real-world experience and the resources to be successful in job interviews and my career.