Bulqees Majid
Group Compliance Co-ordinator
Queens Court, 24 Queen Street, Manchester, M2 5HX
- Specialism: Compliance
- Sector: Public Sector
- Office: Manchester
The latest
Insight in Finance & Accountancy
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Moving from Back Office to Front Office within Investment Management: mission impossible or not?
Generational issues and perceptions within the Wealth & Investment Management sector often mean that the move from Back Office into Front Office roles can seem unattainable for candidates. For a long time this move was seen to be almost impossible, however more recently some candidates have been able to make the move seem like a much more viable option for skilled candidates in this sector. That is not to say the move is easy – it is far from it. But anyone who truly has what it takes – the intellect, drive and perseverance – to thrive in a Front Office role should not dismiss their chances of securing their dream job. But what does it actually take to make the move into Front Office? I recently had the pleasure of speaking to James Charlton, who is the past President of the CISI Liverpool, Chester & North Wales branch who has successfully made the move and helped me get to the bottom of how it can be done. Candidates that thrive in Back Office will not necessarily make it in the Front Office. Generally, Back Office candidates are incredibly process driven and do the job very well, however to be successful in Front Office they need to have something extra. To be considered for a move to Front Office, candidates need to be able to show they are aware and understand what it means to be client facing, and go above and beyond to show that they have the relevant skills and know-how to deal with challenging situations. This is not to say that Back Office roles are not challenging. But I find that candidates that are likely to succeed in Front Office have something extra, a spark that makes them really stand out. For me, that is a candidate that has a full understanding of how the investment management life cycle works. Someone who is aware of the business outside of just their role, and also someone who is genuinely interested in the sector and shows it by keeping abreast of what is going on. It is also incredibly important for candidates to be ambitious, know where they want to end up and to be extremely committed throughout. The interview process alone will be challenging, and that, alongside studying can often impact life outside of work. Roles in the Front Office generally require a much greater commitment than Back Office roles. The role often requires candidates to work unsociable hours due to market openings and closings and travel to client sites, so candidates really need to be absolutely sure it is the route for them before applying. Finally, and possibly most importantly, candidates need to have a very open-mind. The Wealth & Investment Management sector is vast, and there are countless opportunities across many organisations to choose from. We regularly discuss options with candidates that they have never considered, so it is important to remain adaptable and open throughout the process. Our advice here would be for candidates to go into the process with a clear plan of what they want to achieve, and adapt that plan to suit the organisation or role that is best suited to them. Whatever the situation, the move into a Front Office role is not going to be easy, so candidates need to really want it if they are going to stand a chance of making it. Candidates need to be absolutely sure a Front Office role is what they really want, and commit to getting it in any way they can. It is this commitment, ambition and determination that sets Front Office candidates apart and ultimately helps them secure a role they will thrive in and love. If you are looking to make the move from Back Office to Front Office, or are looking for a role within Wealth & Investment Management please do not hesitate to give me a call on 0151 224 1480.
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Finance & Accountancy firms need to be strategic and act fast to secure the best graduates
Graduates can be a valuable asset to any organisation, especially those within the Finance & Accountancy sector, but only if businesses act fast and find candidates that have the right skillset and are the right cultural fit. Graduates represent the future growth of businesses and give them a pipeline of new talent to train and mentor, and if firms are able to attract the ‘cream or the crop’ they will be in a very strong position against their competitors. I regularly speak to businesses that have been left disappointed come September because they have been unable to attract the graduates they need. In my experience, one of the major reasons organisations miss out is due to the way they promote their benefits, and what they have on offer. The market is very much graduate-led, and it is unlikely that the most sought after candidates will spend a great amount of time researching what you have to offer. Instead, businesses need to ensure they are promoting the right benefits in the right places. For example, an ambitious Finance & Accountancy graduate will want to know that they will get the support and mentoring needed to build a successful career, so firms that are interested in securing these candidates need to promote benefits such as what training and development is on offer and whether there is access to any additional qualifications. These benefits should be promoted directly to candidates where possible at open days, on websites and job boards where graduates are likely to be most active. I would also urge Finance & Accountancy firms to properly vet candidates properly and ensure they are speaking with the right talent on the market. Generally, graduates will have a good idea of what they are looking for, however I have had experience with candidates that have been unsure and are considering various roles and sectors. Firms need to, where possible, ensure that the candidates they are speaking with are 100 percent committed and have a genuine interest in the business and role from the offset. A strong vetting process during the interview stage can help with this, and will help ensure businesses are employing committed and motivated candidates that will contribute towards future growth. Finally, it is important to know where to look for graduates. Businesses need to be proactive and not rely on graduates coming to them. Firms that know they need to employ graduates should have a presence on campus throughout the year at careers days and recruitment fares. Failing that, businesses can engage with a recruitment agency such as Sellick Partnership that specialises in the Finance & Accountancy sector and already has relationships with higher education establishments across the North West. Generally, agencies will have up-to-date market knowledge and insights, and have access to a wealth of readily available candidates, including graduates. Working with a recruitment firm can assist with your recruitment and act as an extension of your HR team, saving time and money long-term. If you need help securing graduates for your business, or would like some advice on how to attract the very best candidates on the market, please contact myself or a member of my team by calling 0161 834 1642. Or click here to view the full article in the Manchester Evening News. Article can be found on P28-19. Martin Parr, Manager, Sellick Partnership
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10 reasons to become an accountant
Have you ever considered a career within the Finance & Accountancy sector but unsure what it can offer? We can help. We regularly advise candidates of all levels on the best job roles for them. Here we answer the questions we always get asked and outline the top reasons why so many of our candidates choose to become accountants. Today the Finance & Accountancy sector is huge, and accountancy specifically is an integral part of most businesses across the globe. However, despite the size of the sector we are still constantly on the lookout for high-calibre, qualified accountants to take key positions across the UK. In this blog I take a look at what I think are the top ten benefits of becoming an accountant and why people should really consider it as a legitimate career move. 1. Excellent development and career prospects: you will get out what you put in while working in finance. If you are career driven, hardworking and focused the world really is your oyster. The training on offer and the opportunities to learn new skills and develop both personally and professionally in this sector are second to none and hard work always pays off. 2. A better than average salary: accountants can work in high pressure environments, and the salary often reflects this. Accountants in the UK can earn anything from £25,000 as a gradate entering the profession to over £100,000 as an experience chartered accountant. There are also opportunities to earn upwards of £500 per day as an interim contractor, making it a very well paid profession for candidates that are willing to work hard. To find a job with a better salary today, head to our jobs page! 3. Job Security: businesses will always need accountants, so overall accounting is a very stable industry to work in, and while no field can guarantee anyone a job, the prospects in accounting are excellent and are likely to stay that way. 4. Variety: as an accountant you will be able to work in almost any industry, so the variety and choice within the role is excellent. You will also work with a range of people across the business you are in, giving the role variety and making each day different and interesting. 5. A number of career options: as an accountant you will also enjoy access to a vast number of different roles on a permanent, contract and interim basis. This gives candidates in the Finance & Accountancy sector a much greater chance of securing work, and if you are flexible with what you want you will likely be able to secure a role you want with relative ease. Roles that you could get into include audit, reporting, business partnering and commercial and analysis. 6. Ability to make real change: today’s finance professionals do much more than just crunch numbers. Accountants are often required to have technical abilities coupled with a commercial acumen that enables them to advise decision makers on strategy and business processes. This makes the role of an accountant incredibly varied, challenging and often very exciting. 7. Technology and the ever changing environment: technology is changing the way finance leaders run their teams and how they conduct business. As a result, more finance leaders are investing in digitisation of the finance function, opening up opportunities to gain efficiencies and analyse trends. This again means varied career paths as professionals who are tech-savvy have an opportunity to excel, and trained accountants will be at the forefront of exciting business change. 8. You will gain transferable skills: the skills you will learn and develop as an accountant are easily transferable to other roles and even sectors. For example, accountants could go into teaching, trading or recruiting, so if you ever want a change of scenery you will have plenty of other options to choose from. Many accountants also become business leaders in their own right, securing Managing Director roles and setting up their own businesses. 9. You have the option to travel: with qualifications like CIMA, ACA and ACCA, you can work in more than 120 countries. Giving you the ability to travel with work and pleasure. This is especially advantageous as you might end up working with a big firm with multiple offices in different countries. 10. No need for a university education: you don’t need a degree to become an accountant. Having an accountancy degree can enable you to skip a few exams on the way to full qualification, but generally it will not matter whether or not you have been to university. I believe becoming an accountant is a clever career move for anyone that is ambitious and focussed. I have seen so many candidates progress through the ranks relatively quickly within finance. It is a sector that is constantly growing, and I firmly believe that the role of an accountant will always be needed. If you are interested in a role as an accountant and want to discuss how you could get on the accountancy career ladder, get in touch with me by emailing martin.parr@sellickpartnership.co.uk. Alternatively, you can check out our latest Finance & Accountancy jobs here.
