Junfu Chen: How Liverpool Set Me Up for Success

Posted on: 18 November 2025 in Where are they now?

Junfu Chen reflects on his transformative University of Liverpool journey studying Accounting and Finance, highlighting the support, opportunities and friendships that shaped his career - now Senior Manager at Deloitte UK.

I began my journey at Liverpool International College (LIC), where I completed a foundation year before progressing to my degree at the University of Liverpool. It was the perfect way to adjust to life in the city, improve my English and understand the academic expectations of university study. The programme introduced me to key skills such as referencing, essay writing and academic research, giving me a solid foundation to build on.

What really stood out was the strong guidance and support system. There was a real family feel to the college. I always felt safe, supported and part of a close-knit community. The structure of the course helped me feel fully prepared for my first year at university. The business pathway at LIC further prepared us for the wide range of courses offered at the Management School. We had easy access to university open days and chances to speak directly to lecturers and faculty leaders. After being blown away by the joint degree options (Business, Communication AND Media? Come on!), I eventually chose to study Accounting and Finance - a seemingly “boring and safe” decision at first, but ultimately the best choice I ever made.

The lecturers were incredibly supportive and approachable. They understood that home students and international students face different challenges and offered tailored support - extended office hours, career advice for international applicants and more. The course itself was fantastic. I particularly enjoyed our Friday Audit Club hosted by the legendary Mrs Helen Scott, whose motto was: “I don’t care if you come in with rollers in your hair or funky pyjamas ready for Doctor Who and takeaway - show up, do some audit questions and I’ll set you free!” Having something on a Friday afternoon, when everyone else was preparing for the weekend, turned out to be the perfect end to the week. We learned more about auditing, got to know our lecturer better and built friendships that have lasted well beyond graduation.

The Management School had a clear vision for preparing students for the real world.

Many lecturers had first-hand industry experience, striking a strong balance between academic theory and real-world application - from weekly news briefings in our Business Strategy module to Excel workshops in Financial Reporting. And of course, the professional exemptions offered a huge advantage for those pursuing the auditing route. The modules were always engaging and relevant - sometimes too real. Students taking Football Finance even analysed Liverpool Football Club’s financial statements (fun fact: my father initially supported my decision to study at Liverpool because he mistakenly thought the university was named after the club - “That must be top-tier!” he said).

One of the biggest lessons I learned as a student was to throw myself into every opportunity. Career fairs, networking events, societies, open day volunteering - each experience shaped not only my skill set but also the person I wanted to become. Some of my closest friendships were formed during the IBM University Business Challenge. The five of us spent weeks making investment decisions, preparing elevator pitches and learning to work as a team. We travelled to Edinburgh, Leeds and London. We didn’t win, but we absolutely felt like champions.

After graduating, I joined the Barclays UK Customer Banking Solution Graduate Programme - a two-year scheme with four rotations across retail and SME banking. It was the ideal platform to apply the communication and relationship-building skills I developed at university. The rotations helped me understand different areas of banking and reflect on where I wanted my career to go. I particularly enjoyed the business and digital banking placements, where I worked closely with clients and customers while navigating evolving technologies and expectations. Those experiences paved the way for my next step.

In 2022, I joined Deloitte UK as a Digital Banking Consultant, helping banks around the world adapt to the rapidly changing digital landscape and embrace innovation - including the growing influence of AI and emerging technologies. Today, I am a Senior Manager in our Banking Operations & Domain Solutions team. Each step of my career has deepened my expertise and strengthened my passion for supporting clients through meaningful transformation.

Returning to campus recently filled me with fond memories - the people, the city, the sense of community (and the curry rice at The Oven Door Bakery!). Even something as small as receiving a visitor’s library card reminded me how much Liverpool still feels like home.

My years at the University of Liverpool were some of the happiest and most transformative of my life.

The support I received throughout my studies inspired me to give back. I now volunteer my time as a graduate to help current students navigate their next steps - my way of saying thank you and paying it forward.

My advice to current students? Always say yes - well, at least to opportunities that open doors! Stay curious. Be willing to try. Whether it’s a project, an event or a piece of advice, take it. You’ll be grateful you did.

Make the most of your time at the Management School, take advantage of the supportive network around you and enjoy living and learning in such an incredible city.

I am reminded of a moment from March 2017, when my team and I travelled to London for the finals of the University Business Challenge, just a day after the Westminster attack. The city felt heavy yet resilient. Reporters were preparing for live broadcasts along the bridge; a young boy gently placed his teddy bear beside photos of the victims; an elderly woman laid down flowers in silence. Standing there, witnessing all of this, we felt a mix of emotions - sadness, reflection and an unexpected sense of unity.

Amy, the only Londoner on our team, turned to me and said, “Do you know why I love London? Everyone here carries their own story, and you never know when your paths will cross again. That’s why we have to treasure what we have. Look at us - just a bunch of uni students trying to find our way. We need to live our lives. That’s what we came here for.”

Her words stayed with me. And in many ways, they reflect everything my Liverpool journey taught me - embrace every moment, every opportunity and every connection. That mindset has shaped my career, my confidence and the person I have become.

A big thank you to Junfu for sharing his career journey to date.

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Keywords: Where are they now?.