Banking
Structured Credit Product Controller – Investment Banking
This leading Investment Bank required a qualified Structured Product Controller to join their growing team to replace a departing team member who was emigrating. They needed the position to be filled quickly to ensure that there was minimal disruption to the team.
Having worked with the business before, we were able to use our knowledge of the culture of the company and team dynamics to source 4 high calibre candidates. We were able to present to the client a shortlist of all 4 Product Controllers; this resulted in the successful hire of one our shortlist. They have since commenced their assignment and are already making an impact, giving a fresh perspective to the team.
Senior Financial Controller - Banking
Approached by a leading bank, we were given the brief to hire a Senior Manager in a clearly identified succession role. They needed a strong understanding of IT Finance and the energy and determination to manage a large team and budget whilst working in a constant environment of change and integration. The hiring manager was looking for a successor and someone they could completely rely on and that could gain confidence from the senior stakeholders quickly.
This is what they had to say about the process:
"Just a brief note to say that my interaction with you whilst recruiting for a Financial Controller was both efficient and effective. I felt our initial meeting enabled us to establish a clear and common understanding of my requirements, and you followed through and provided high quality and relevant cvs. You took personal accountability for ensuring that candidates were well briefed and when I had got to offer stage effectively brought the candidate through to acceptance. Since recruitment I have been delighted with the performance of the candidate and would have no hesitation using you for future assignments." Head of Finance, ADM - Banking
Change Management
UK-wide Activity Based Costing Implementation
A well established Financial Services company with market leading positions in life insurance, health insurance and general insurance, was to undertake a large scale Activity Based Costing (ABC) programme across all business areas in both the UK and Ireland.
Marks Sattin was assigned to recruit the Programme Manager for the ABC implementation. After an extensive screening process, we successfully sourced a seasoned Programme Manager who had undertaken a very similar project at a competitor in the Life Insurance sector.
The programme was to run for two years and during this period, we were used on a sole agency basis to source experienced Business Analysts into the programme. After the completion of the ABC Project, the Programme Manager has subsequently gone on to manage further projects for the client and continues to use us on a sole basis for contingency requirements.
Corporate Finance
Associate Director - Restructuring Boutique
A turnaround and restructuring boutique that focuses on the UK mid-market needed to hire an associate director to accommodate an increased deal flow recently. Although it is very exciting times for the company and they were in great need of additional resources they were, quite rightly, only willing to hire a candidate with the right blend of restructuring experience and mid-market knowledge meaning that we had to work both very quickly and very diligently provide profiles from what they admitted was a very small candidate pool.
After an extensive search, five candidates were introduced resulting in two offers and one placement - the client was very happy with the speed of response and overall quality of candidates - two things we pride ourselves on.
An entire Corporate Finance Team
Our client approached us with the intent of taking advantage of the economic downturn by creating a new corporate finance team to complement their private client broking, research and institutional sales businesses.
They were looking for a very specific skill set and to ensure the new team would hit the ground running, were looking to hire from their direct competitors. Firstly we discreetly mapped out which teams would be suitable, and then used our in-depth market knowledge and network of contacts to establish which teams would be receptive and able to move as a team, within the strict budget set by our client.
Over several months of meetings and often intense negotiations, which were repeatedly exacerbated by the economic climate, we managed to secure the hires on behalf of our client, helping take their business to the next level.
Insurance
London Insurance Broker – Lloyd’s Market
One of our clients within the Lloyd’s Market had a permanent project role at a very senior level requiring someone with technical expertise in this area. Whilst successfully arranging a number of interviews for the position the client ultimately ended up sourcing a candidate into the role from another agency.
Unfortunately the person had to leave at short notice due to personal reasons creating a severe problem for the client, with an urgent project needed to be completed.
Marks Sattin were able to step in and provide a resolution. Through close contact with the with the client, a suitable replacement candidate was found at short notice who could come in on a contract basis immediately. They had completed a very similar contract for us in the past and had excellent references. The feedback for this particular candidate was excellent again and she actually went on to secure the position on a Temporary-to-Permanent basis thereby preventing the problem escalating for the client.
Investment Management
Senior Fund Accountant - Mayfair-based Investment Manager
This permanent assignment involved working with a leading investment manager due to the succesful hire of a new CFO; once he had joined he was tasked with significantly increasing controls within the back office function. With a good understanding of the role, and knowing that the critical factor was finding someone who had trained in audit but also gained practical exposure to complex products, we sourced an ACA qualified fund accountant with extensive fund experience from Morgan Stanley. Following a successful three stage interview process, we were able to secure the candidate, reduce his notice period to enable a quick start and convince him to move just months away from his annual bonus payout.
Restructure of finance function within a Venture Capital firm
We were approached by the Financial Controller (former candidate) of a boutique venture capital company, specialising in emerging technologies, who were in the process of going through an MBO in the UK. They needed to bring their fund accounting function in house but required someone who could start at short notice.
The challenge with this position was company fit and finding someone happy to roll up their sleeves in a small office. The position also required a self-starter who could hit the ground running. We were able to supply 3 candidates within a matter of hours and eventually placed a candidate within a couple of days who was newly-qualified, just arrived in the UK from Australia and with relevant fund experience from her time in audit. She proved to be adaptable, fit well into the company culture and became a permanent employee after a 6 month temporary period. This led to additional business when the firm required an additional Accountant and Interim CFO.