How has Finatal evolved in the seven years since you joined?
“The business has undergone remarkable growth since I joined seven years ago. When I started, the team was just 12 people in a single London office. We now stand at over 100 employees with offices across the UK, New York and Frankfurt. We have established ourselves as the most recognised recruitment firm in private equity and for their portfolio companies, boasting a client list that many corporate financiers would envy. We are now producing more monthly revenue than in the entire year in 2017 when I joined!”
What would you say has been your biggest highlight or success during your time here?
“I’m incredibly proud of my personal journey at Finatal, particularly my progression from a graduate to Managing Director in just six years. However, a real standout was being named as a leading provider consultant by the IIM for three years running!”
And what would you consider your biggest learning?
“I’ve learned that trusting your instinct can often lead to great decisions. In our fast-paced environment, being able to make quick choices and taking ownership are important. It’s easy to overthink situations and under-execute, so being able to find the balance – to think quickly and understand what goes into making a good decision – has been a big learning. Plus – there’s a reason it’s a much-repeated piece of advice, but there’s no substitute for hard work. The difference between good and great is often the ability to recognise when it’s time to put in that extra effort.”
What excites you about private equity recruitment and the future of the industry?
“I love how dynamic and variable private equity and dealmaking can be. We work with a huge range of businesses across all industries and sectors, with many of the most impressive and decorated private equity professionals in the world. We get to be involved at various points in the deal cycle for many different states of companies – the nature of this industry is that you’re constantly learning. We are plugged in to so many different parts of the UK and broader European economy and being part of that environment is genuinely exciting.”
What makes Finatal a great place to work, and how has the culture changed as the business has grown?
“Our teams normalise high standards and execute against them – which is quite contagious in terms of people pushing each other to perform. Our culture is, and has always been, to celebrate hard work and dedication. As we’ve expanded – growing tenfold and establishing three global offices – the management structure has broadened, but the core DNA that attracted me to the business remains. It still feels, in many ways, like the company I joined seven years ago, and I’m proud that we’ve retained our entrepreneurialism and drive to succeed.”
What’s your best piece of advice for those looking to start their career in recruitment, especially with aspirations like your seven promotions in seven years?
“Some opportunities you actively chase, while others may fall into your lap. The key is positioning yourself to capitalise on them. It’s important to accept that it may not always be the perfect time to take the next step, but you should push yourself to think about how you can be in the best possible position make it work.”
What do you want to pass down to the next generation of leaders?
“Know when to push, know when to support, and know when to challenge your team. As a leader, having confidence to drive your team to push themselves out of their comfort zone is crucial. You need to allow people to flourish while also giving them space to fail.”
