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Faces of Finatal: Clara Tate

Introducing Faces of Finatal, an interview series with our people working across different geographies, practices and levels of the business, where they share some of their learnings from their time at Finatal.

Clara Tate, Head of Practice, joined our London office in 2019 as a Consultant. She has been promoted several times and now leads our Interim Finance practice, working with clients across the UK to place senior finance hires into portfolio businesses on an interim basis. Here, she talks about her journey into recruitment.

How did you initially get into recruitment?

“I didn’t expect to go into recruitment – I studied law at university, and so only came across recruitment when a job for a ‘Legal Recruiter’ came up in my application process. After looking into it further, it really appealed – I liked the idea of an industry which focused on sales-based tasks. Having completed my law degree, the concept of a lot of reading and writing essays wasn’t something that interested me anymore. I wanted to go into a fast-paced role and so joined Finatal.”

What would be your best piece of advice for people looking to start their career in recruitment?

“To put your ego out the door, accept you won’t know everything but be willing to learn and acknowledge it won’t happen overnight! With recruitment, you need to be patient and resilient, and then you’ll see your success grow.”

What are some of your biggest lessons from leading a team?

“For a long time, I was on Finatal’s partner track, focusing on my own personal development. The decision I made to move into management, where I am now, responsible for nurturing the next cohort of talent, has been incredibly rewarding. My biggest lessons have been that everyone learns different things at different paces, and that adaptability is key. I’ve learned that being a good leader is about having resilience for your team when not everything is going right, and it’s your responsibility to keep the ship steady.”

What, in your experience, makes Finatal stand out from other recruitment agencies?

“We are genuinely experts in our craft. We take real pride in being able to provide true value to clients and candidates, partnering with them in a way you wouldn’t necessarily do at an average recruitment firm.  Our commission structure is excellent for rewarding those who work hard, but we also give our people a genuine platform to succeed – from hands-on, in-depth training for all levels from day one, to exposure to all opportunities very early on.  We focus on progression and helping people build their careers, and our culture is really supportive of people reaching their goals. For recruiters at any stage of their career, if you believe you’re among the best in the business, I’d encourage you to get in touch for a confidential conversation.”

What’s been your favourite moment at Finatal so far?

“Whilst achieving a new personal best year-on-year has been amazing, some of my highlights have focused on what my career has enabled me to do. Through working at Finatal, I have been able to buy my first London flat while still in my early 20s. On a more sentimental level, I also bought my mum her first Louis Vuitton bag. It was something she’d always wanted but had never been able to buy for herself, so it was a very special moment to gift it to her.”