J-P Vapaavuori works as Expert Data Engineer in data services at OP Financial Group. The “Expert” title was recently awarded to him in recognition of his outstanding work at OP. What is it like to work with data in Finland’s largest financial services group?

J-P started his career at OP five years ago working with Credit Engine data in Retail Banking, focusing especially on collecting and preparing data. His friends’ recommendations encouraged him to join OP.

– I had a few friends working here who knew that I’d worked extensively with data. They recommended this place. They thought that this would be the right place for me, working with big data and all.

J-P has a master’s degree in chemical engineering. While he already showed interest in programming during his studies, he majored in bioprocess engineering. He describes himself as self-taught in programming and data engineering.

Opportunities for development and building a befitting career

– We are doing interesting and progressive work to develop data using modern technologies. Here at OP, I can have a say in what I do. I’ve consistently been able to find new challenges.

During his five years at OP, J-P has carried out various tasks in the field of data. According to him, the work environment enables development and allows him to have a great impact. He says that he can continuously develop new things and build a career as befits him at OP.

– Here at OP, I can easily train myself in the appropriate direction.

“It’s great that a specialist’s career can develop in so many ways at OP”

J-P was recently awarded the “Expert” title in recognition of his outstanding work at OP. The “Expert” title is part of the OP Specialist Career Model in the IT organisation, which aims to support specialists’ professional growth and development. J-P finds it excellent that a specialist’s career can develop in so many ways at OP, and becoming a supervisor is not the only alternative for working as a specialist. What does this recognition mean to J-P?

– Of course, being awarded and receiving such a recognition is a big thing for me, but it belongs equally to my colleagues and the whole working community that have enabled it and supported me through challenges, even difficult ones. Most of all, I’m grateful for my colleagues and supervisors for a job well done and good partnerships.

Building a world-class cloud transition

Currently, OP is working on a cloud transition in which OP’s services will be transferred to run in cloud. This enables the development of better and more secure services in the future, more quickly and efficiently.

– As a result of the cloud transition, we need to upgrade our existing services, and then again, we can develop new services using modern technologies. This certainly offers interesting challenges to various professionals with various skills.

As Expert Data Engineer, J-P works between two teams that are developing OP’s data platform in cloud environments. He defines architecture for both teams and makes sure that the teams go in the same direction. This involves architectural design, communication, coding and mentoring, as well as general support for others in various activities.

In his work, J-P uses different tools in AWS and Azure cloud environments, especially Databricks, PySpark and Kafka.

A positive atmosphere all around

According to J-P, OP’s values such as ‘people first’ and ‘succeeding together’ are an integral part of daily activities at OP. Nice colleagues and interesting tasks are the best part of his work. J-P also says that he’s been able to continuously find new challenges.

– Employee turnover is usually quite high in the software sector because there are so many opportunities and attractive positions, but it’s been fairly low in our teams. This is quite understandable because, overall, OP’s culture of people first is a concrete part of daily work, and we have such excellent teams to work with.

J-P says that working at OP and in the financial sector in general is very data-intensive. This is why there are so many interesting tasks, and there is no time for boredom.

– I’d easily become bored if every day was the same. Because of the OP atmosphere, there are always new challenges to be solved.

Curiosity is always needed in the role of a leading specialist

In his current role, J-P finds it important to look at the big picture from a high vantage point and tolerate vagueness and complexity. Knowing how to make a certain kind of vision concrete and understandable for others and being able to explain various phenomena to different reference groups are key in the management of development activities.

– You must be able to talk to everyone, not just the most tech-savvy individuals, even though technical skills are important. Curiosity is one of the most significant characteristics, and it’s needed all the time.

J-P says that his role also involves a lot of facilitation and having the right people in the right place. Creative problem-solving skills and coming along with other people are other important character traits. What does J-P think about working with data in the financial sector?

– Here I can do important work with good people. The data-driven world is and will be more than ever at the core of all knowledge work, and banks are increasingly becoming like software companies. This is also why working with data is so interesting here.