When people think about working in finance, they often imagine spreadsheets, numbers, and strict routines. But for consultants like Maria, part of the Financial Institutions team within our Transition & Support department, the reality is much more dynamic, and definitely not one-size-fits-all.
Maria Hairapetian joined TriFinance just over a year ago, bringing with her nearly five years of experience in a claims operations department in another company. While she appreciated the foundation it gave her, the scope of her work had become too limited. “I realized I needed more freedom to shape my career,” she says. “That’s what brought me to TriFinance. I wanted to choose my own direction.”
From maritime to mobility: A diverse range of missions
Thanks to her strong insurance background, Maria’s first mission led her to a key player in the maritime sector. There, she handled incoming damage claims and looked for ways to minimize risk. The work was highly detailed, involving strict regulatory requirements and careful analysis to pinpoint how and where container damage had occurred.
Next, she took on a mission at a major bank in the automotive claims department—quite a shift in environment, but one that brought even more depth to her experience. Maria was responsible for resolving over 20,000 complex claims files: payments that were never processed, images not linked to the right cases, and discrepancies in direct settlement scenarios. She wasn’t just sorting through data, she was making decisions, speaking directly with clients, and coordinating with third parties, sometimes even across borders.
“It was very hands-on. You had to understand the process deeply, make decisions fast, and communicate clearly with clients, partners, and colleagues. That variety really helped me grow,” Maria explains.
Adapting to environments, learning from cultures
Working across different industries also meant adapting to very different workplace cultures. “In the maritime sector, the environment was highly structured and micromanaged. In the banking environment, it was the opposite, they gave me a lot of autonomy and trusted me to lead,” she recalls. Each mission brought unique challenges, especially the need to quickly absorb large amounts of information and become self-sufficient. “You can’t wait for answers to come to you. You have to go after them.”
A strong sense of belonging at TriFinance
Despite constantly moving between missions, Maria never felt like she was navigating her journey alone.
“At TriFinance, everyone makes an effort to support you. Even though I’m always out on projects, I truly feel like I’m part of the company.”
She highlights the role of the BaseCamp - the TriFinance home base - as a key pillar of that support. “They really help you grow and give you the tools to spread your wings. That means a lot to me.”
Looking ahead:
After experiencing different claims departments and seeing how various organizations handle processes, Maria has found a new goal: process management. “I want to take all these insights and help improve the systems behind them. That’s the direction I see myself growing into.”
At TriFinance, we believe a consulting career should be just that: a career, not a straight line. Maria’s journey shows how diverse, challenging, and rewarding it can be when you have the freedom and support to explore new paths.
