Anonymous wrote:
Hi
I am currently working for wholesale insurance brokerage where i am a Business Development Manager. My qualifications include a Degree in Informatics and am currently studying towards the SII Diploma in CF.
My intentions are to join an insurer/bank working within FIG. Would i be able to land a position in CF given my current profile?
An associate director at WH Marks Sattin replied
Firstly you are doing all the right things in equipping yourself with the best skill set to try and make the transition to a CF role. Also you are in a strong position in the current role you have, which although not a direct hunting ground for corporate financiers, is somewhat deal led and you also have the security of continuing professional development. However, would you be able to get a FIG CF position with your current profile? - most likely not in this market. The key reason for this is the pure volume of experienced FIG M&A bankers from the investment banks that are currently on the market. You would need to find an employer that would see the potential in you rather than take the simple option of hiring a proven banker.
Most likely if options were presented you may need to come in at a more junior level. I would suggest you send a full version of your CV to corporatefinace.uk@whmarkssattin.com for our team to review in more detail and come back to you.
Best of luck
WH Marks Sattin
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About the WH Marks Sattin Job Doctor
WH Marks Sattin is a specialist recruitment agency dealing with accountancy, finance, tax and consultancy professionals. This is our Job Doctor forum/blog.
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Looking for a career change? Want some advice on which industries are good to get into at the moment?
Go on, ask our consultants some questions! If you want you can comment on our answers... We hope you find it useful!
1. Click "comments" on any of the previous posts (even if it isn't related to your question
2. Type in your question in the box
3. Select "anonymous" if you don't have your own account
4. Click "Publish your comment"
We will try to answer your question in 3 to 5 days.
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Looking for jobs in IT? Why not talk to our sister company Greythorn - specialist IT recruiter.
Friday, 5 June 2009
Thursday, 23 April 2009
A career change into accounting
Anonymous wrote
Hi
I am currently working in Retail banking, more of customer service and sales oriented role. I am looking for a career change to accounting. Infact I am planning to under take ACCA course. However, one of my friend have advised to find a job with some accounting firm as it will help me. I have tried with couple of accounting firm but all reponses are negative. What should i do, What positions should I apply.
Please help.
Regards
An Associate Director at WH Marks Sattin replied
Your friend has indeed offered you the best advice. If you are planning to make a career change then joining an accounting firm whilst training would be the best route. There is no alternative at the moment other than to continue applying to all the different firms - do not limit yourself to just the Big 4 there are plenty of smaller accounting firms out there. Alternatively many financial services and industry employers would possibly take you on as a junior book keeper/trainee accountant and support your studies. However in the current market with only sales skills and no accounting background so far you really will need to go in at the entry level. Good luck in securing a new role that will support your training and qualification, under taking the ACCA off your own back in the meantime will show commitment.
Best of luck
WH Marks Sattin
Hi
I am currently working in Retail banking, more of customer service and sales oriented role. I am looking for a career change to accounting. Infact I am planning to under take ACCA course. However, one of my friend have advised to find a job with some accounting firm as it will help me. I have tried with couple of accounting firm but all reponses are negative. What should i do, What positions should I apply.
Please help.
Regards
An Associate Director at WH Marks Sattin replied
Your friend has indeed offered you the best advice. If you are planning to make a career change then joining an accounting firm whilst training would be the best route. There is no alternative at the moment other than to continue applying to all the different firms - do not limit yourself to just the Big 4 there are plenty of smaller accounting firms out there. Alternatively many financial services and industry employers would possibly take you on as a junior book keeper/trainee accountant and support your studies. However in the current market with only sales skills and no accounting background so far you really will need to go in at the entry level. Good luck in securing a new role that will support your training and qualification, under taking the ACCA off your own back in the meantime will show commitment.
Best of luck
WH Marks Sattin
Concerned about poor A-Level results
Anonymous wrote
Hi
I am currently working for one of the big 4 accounting firms in Financial services audit. I have completed all my ACCA exams with first time passes and will time qualify in the next few months. I also have a first class honours degree in accounting and finance. However my A levels are poor and thats what I am worried about. After qualification, my next aim is to get into a back office position in something like the hedge fund industry. Do you think having poor A levels will mean that I have no chance for such positions and in general do employers look at A levels once you have a professional qualification.
Any advice would be much appreciated.
An Associate Director at WH Marks Sattin replied
From the sounds of your proactively in assessing your career options now and the clear focus you've applied to your academics and career post A-level, most employers will be re-assured and satisfied by this. As a qualified accountant with ambitions for a career in the back office then you should be reassured that you sound like you have all the qualities needed to make this move as an ACCA. However, the hedge fund industry is notoriously competitive, and this sector more than most do place emphasis on continuous academic excellence or industry experience of the buy side in your audit clients. Equally there is the additional challenge of the general market conditions, and if you are competing against a number of candidates then this could be a deciding factor in the current economy. My advice would be to pursue your ambitions, however remain flexible. A career in the back office is well within your grasp, however make sure that you are also considering all financial services and accounting options and not just limiting yourself to the world of hedge funds.
Best of luck
WH Marks Sattin
Click for the latest financial services accounting jobs
Hi
I am currently working for one of the big 4 accounting firms in Financial services audit. I have completed all my ACCA exams with first time passes and will time qualify in the next few months. I also have a first class honours degree in accounting and finance. However my A levels are poor and thats what I am worried about. After qualification, my next aim is to get into a back office position in something like the hedge fund industry. Do you think having poor A levels will mean that I have no chance for such positions and in general do employers look at A levels once you have a professional qualification.
Any advice would be much appreciated.
An Associate Director at WH Marks Sattin replied
From the sounds of your proactively in assessing your career options now and the clear focus you've applied to your academics and career post A-level, most employers will be re-assured and satisfied by this. As a qualified accountant with ambitions for a career in the back office then you should be reassured that you sound like you have all the qualities needed to make this move as an ACCA. However, the hedge fund industry is notoriously competitive, and this sector more than most do place emphasis on continuous academic excellence or industry experience of the buy side in your audit clients. Equally there is the additional challenge of the general market conditions, and if you are competing against a number of candidates then this could be a deciding factor in the current economy. My advice would be to pursue your ambitions, however remain flexible. A career in the back office is well within your grasp, however make sure that you are also considering all financial services and accounting options and not just limiting yourself to the world of hedge funds.
Best of luck
WH Marks Sattin
Click for the latest financial services accounting jobs
Thursday, 12 March 2009
Financial roles in the Middle East
Kamran wrote
With reference to the current economic conditions specifically in UK, I am looking to expand my search to the Persian Gulf countries. I speak both English & Farsi (Persian) fluently and have some understanding of Arabic with commitment and ability to learn further. With 23 years experience in the Financial Services industry and more specifically in sales and sales management, I am looking for a reputable organisation with solid back ground.
My experience covers areas such as; Daily sales activity & management, Dealing with Clients of all different financial and ethnic back ground, Compliance and delivering regulatory requirements, Setting targets on personal and cooperate objectives, Delivering training meetings and seminars, Ability to communicate with people at both local and cooperate level, etc.I would be most grateful, if you could advise on the best way forward in achieving my objective.With that in mind, I look forward to hearing from you and if I can provide you with any further information, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
The Regional Manager of WH Marks Sattin Dubai replied
Economic conditions in the Arabian Gulf are also alot poorer than last year, albeit more due to an uncertainty on trading conditions and a lack of transparency in eg the banking market, rather than a lack of potential for the Gulf economies. GCC economies are forecast to grow at around 3.5% this year, about the same growth rate as the UK at the height of the 2006 boom, so there is potential.
We are not placed to advise on sales related roles in financial services as we focus on technical skills in accountancy, corporate finance, research and private equity, but my own belief is that your chances in the short term are not good. Sales people in particular will be selected for prior Gulf experience, and there are plenty on the market in the short term. In the medium term there is a large pipeline of IPO and sukuk (Islamic Bond) issues waiting for the markets to stabilise before they are launched on the markets and these will all happen at once. Demand for ECM and DCM sales may grow rapidly in circa June - September, and if you have specific product experience you may stand a good chance of getting a decent role, though not through us sadly.
Accountancy jobs in the Middle East
With reference to the current economic conditions specifically in UK, I am looking to expand my search to the Persian Gulf countries. I speak both English & Farsi (Persian) fluently and have some understanding of Arabic with commitment and ability to learn further. With 23 years experience in the Financial Services industry and more specifically in sales and sales management, I am looking for a reputable organisation with solid back ground.
My experience covers areas such as; Daily sales activity & management, Dealing with Clients of all different financial and ethnic back ground, Compliance and delivering regulatory requirements, Setting targets on personal and cooperate objectives, Delivering training meetings and seminars, Ability to communicate with people at both local and cooperate level, etc.I would be most grateful, if you could advise on the best way forward in achieving my objective.With that in mind, I look forward to hearing from you and if I can provide you with any further information, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
The Regional Manager of WH Marks Sattin Dubai replied
Economic conditions in the Arabian Gulf are also alot poorer than last year, albeit more due to an uncertainty on trading conditions and a lack of transparency in eg the banking market, rather than a lack of potential for the Gulf economies. GCC economies are forecast to grow at around 3.5% this year, about the same growth rate as the UK at the height of the 2006 boom, so there is potential.
We are not placed to advise on sales related roles in financial services as we focus on technical skills in accountancy, corporate finance, research and private equity, but my own belief is that your chances in the short term are not good. Sales people in particular will be selected for prior Gulf experience, and there are plenty on the market in the short term. In the medium term there is a large pipeline of IPO and sukuk (Islamic Bond) issues waiting for the markets to stabilise before they are launched on the markets and these will all happen at once. Demand for ECM and DCM sales may grow rapidly in circa June - September, and if you have specific product experience you may stand a good chance of getting a decent role, though not through us sadly.
Accountancy jobs in the Middle East
Friday, 9 January 2009
Negative impact of non first time passes
Anonymous asked a question in response to Moving into Corporate Finance following ACA qualification
I have a fairly unrelated question but still relevant question.
You referenced first time passes. I had to retake at the professional stage (I didn't pass all four the first time they were sat.
I know this is detrimental when it comes to applying for jobs but how much of a negative impact will this have?
I am currently at a small firm (top 20) and would like to move to audit/assurance/forensics at one of the mid-tier or preferably Big 4 firms.
Am I still likely to find a post?
A director of WH Marks Sattin's Professional Services division replied
With the increased number of candidates in the market, 1st time passes and a solid educational background are becoming more and more important. That said, the number one thing is still the industries and type of work you have handled in your professional career and these will often get you the interview. From there it is up to you!
Recruiters will be able to give you a good idea of expectations and possible roles after having a look at CV. By all means send it to us and we can have a look.
Best of luck
WH Marks Sattin
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