The skills you need for the hottest sectors in the City
ACCOUNTING & FINANCE
COLIN WEBSTER, BRUIN
MARKET conditions mean that current opportunities are much more heavily weighted towards asset management firms than investment banks. There is continued demand in financial planning and analysis and in the minority interest arenas for candidates at a range of levels. In general we’re seeing a shift to business partner functions rather than line finance positions. As always, our clients tend to favour ACA or CIMA qualified candidates with excellent academics and well-rounded skill sets who are able to supplement high levels of proficiency on Excel and similar applications with strong presentation skills. Strong technical skills are also usually a pre-requisite, either from an accounting standards or financial products perspective. Although job flow is lower than 12 months ago, in financial services there is always high demand for newly-qualified ACAs, particularly from the Big Four or those with financial services audit experience. Such candidates are able to move into roles including product control, management accounting and equity research.
PRIVATE EQUITY
CHARLIE HUNT, PRIVATE EQUITY RECRUITMENT
THE private equity industry is experiencing demand not seen since the credit crisis began. It is from all types of funds – direct venture capital/private equity funds, fund of funds, secondary funds and placement agents. It spans all levels, from the most junior analyst to the most senior partner, and in some cases even founding partners for funds that are in the process of closing or have recently raised capital. Whether this lasts or not is uncertain but there seems to be much more positivity than six months ago. The industry focuses on people with prior private equity experience for senior roles, and either investment banking, consulting, accounting, or a relevant MBA for more junior positions. Private equity is a prestigious industry to work in so candidates need to “shine” and show superior inter-personal skills and intellect.
RISK MANAGEMENT
RICHARD PICKARD, OLIVER JAMES
WITHIN banking, candidates who can relate regulatory liquidity risk to the bigger picture of bank funding and balance sheet management are still sought after. As a consequence of the impending implementation of the Volcker rule a large amount of proprietary trading operations will close, resulting in investment banks possibly losing risk managers, who prefer to work in a trading environment, to hedge funds. The Big Four consultancies continue to show interest in candidates with knowledge of Basel II & III, capital modelling, ICAAP and stress testing.
INVESTMENT BANKING
NICK STEVENS, EXIMIUS
TO attract attention in 2012’s investment banking market you need to show you can move the revenue or cost needle singlehandedly. Top revenue producers are always in demand, people with senior relationships with the movers and shakers in Bric economies in particular. Qualified professionals with the knowledge and relationships to reduce the need to hold capital, or avoid FSA levies, are attracting exciting packages and building their careers. If you can drive revenue in, drive cost out, or keep cash in the business, 2012 is your year.