Sreelakshmi Nair is a Junior Fund Accountant in Real Estate at Langham Hall Luxembourg. She joined the company as a trainee in January 2026 and has since progressed into her current role. Transitioning from audit to fund accounting and administration marked a significant career change, but it has proven to be an incredibly rewarding journey. The fund industry continues to challenge and inspire her, and her experience at Langham Hall has reinforced that it was the right step for her professional growth.
We spoke with Sreelakshmi about making the move into funds, what high standards look like in practice and the advice she would give to someone starting out.
Q&A with Sreelakshmi Nair, Junior Fund Accountant
What does a “high standards” culture look like in practice in Luxembourg?
To me, a high-standards culture is one that balances growth with accountability. You're trusted to take ownership of your work from an early stage, while having clear development paths and support to help you succeed.
What stands out is that high standards don't mean expecting perfection. You're encouraged to ask questions, learn from mistakes and continuously improve, with strong review processes in place to maintain quality and provide valuable learning opportunities.
Continuous learning is also a key part of the culture through initiatives like Learning Lux and the buddy system, which promote knowledge sharing, collaboration and professional development.
Overall, it's a culture that empowers people to learn, grow, take ownership and consistently deliver their best work.
What was the steepest learning curve in your first few months and how did you get through it?
The steepest learning curve during my first few months was transitioning back into accounting after spending several years in audit. While the two fields are closely related, the mindset required is quite different. Adapting my thought process took some time and effort.
Another challenge was understanding the fund industry and its various structures. There were many new concepts, processes and stakeholders to learn about. I found it particularly important to understand how different service providers interact within the fund ecosystem and how their roles contribute to the overall operation of a fund.
One area that especially interested me was Transfer Agency services. In the initial days, I invested additional time in self-learning to deepen my knowledge of the topic. I found that combining on-the-job experience with independent research helped me develop a much deeper understanding of the subject.
What advice would you give to someone starting as an intern or trainee here?
The fund industry offers a unique learning experience compared with traditional financial services, as it exposes you to a wide range of specialised areas. My first piece of advice would be to focus on building a strong foundation. While Langham Hall provides excellent training, I would also recommend supplementing it with self-learning. Whenever you come across a new concept or term, take the time to research and understand it. There are plenty of valuable resources available online and having a strong grasp of the fundamentals will help you progress much faster in your career.
Secondly, try to take ownership of your work as early as possible. As an intern or trainee, it's easy to rely heavily on others because you're still learning. However, stepping up, taking responsibility and treating tasks as your own will accelerate your learning and make your contributions more impactful and rewarding.
Also, don't be afraid to make mistakes. There are generally two ways to learn: one is by seeking guidance at every step and minimising errors, which is perfectly fine. The other is by exploring independently, using your judgement and learning through experience. Personally, I prefer the latter approach because the lessons learned from mistakes tend to stay with you longer and help you grow more quickly.
Lastly, always strive to be solution-oriented. In accounting and fund administration, you will frequently encounter challenges and bottlenecks that require investigation and problem-solving. Rather than focusing on the obstacles, focus on finding ways to move forward and deliver results. This mindset not only improves your critical thinking and analytical skills but also contributes to a more efficient and productive way of working.
Sreelakshmi’s experience is a strong example of how ownership, curiosity and a willingness to keep learning can help early-career professionals build confidence in a new area.
