On my CV: Sylvester Oppong
Selling a cutting-edge IVF business meant making sure the new partner had the same mindset, says EY’s Sylvester Oppong
Corporate finance careers
Leading figures and up-and-coming professionals who have developed their careers share their experiences.
Featured items
Career journeys
Breaking glass ceilings
Marc Mullen speaks to six women in mid-market private equity about the changes so far in this once male-dominated world – and what’s still to come for diversity and inclusion, and supporting talent
Career paths: Katie Leitch
Katie Leitch trained in Edinburgh then moved to Glasgow, where she’s building her private equity experience as an investment manager with Panoramic Growth Equity
On my CV: Danny Lee
Investors in biotech businesses must believe in management. Credibility is key, says Danny Lee, Burges Salmon corporate partner
Career paths: Sarah Leiper-Jennings
Sarah Leiper-Jennings, senior associate at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, has taken the opportunity for industry and overseas secondments to build her experience as an M&A lawyer
Career paths: Klara Klarowicz
Drive and determination has seen Klara Klarowicz make it to investment manager at LDC. Now she has big plans for the future, she tells Jo Russell.
Profile: Lucy Stapleton, PwC
As head of the UK deals practice at PwC, Lucy Stapleton oversees more than 200 partners and 2,000 staff. Diversity of thought is key to better advice, she tells Marc Mullen.
Career paths: Lucy Merson
Training as an ACA continues to help after the move from corporate finance to private equity, recounts Connection Capital investment manager Lucy Merson.
Career paths: Louise Leung of EY
Originating the first deal you work on gets your corporate finance career off to a flying start. EY’s Louise Leung is a very good example of how structured progression can be swift.
Articles
Career paths: Fiona Foreman, haysmacintyre
Flora Foreman of haysmacintyre hedged her bets at university, taking a degree in economics and art history. In the end, a career in finance won the day and after she passed her ACA she opted for advising on deals.
On my CV: James Wood, Buzzacott
James Wood of Buzzacott says never assume too much deal knowledge – even when advising one accountancy firm on acquiring another.
Career paths: Hana Bell, Simmons & Simmons
Hana Bell arrived in London from Canada in 2020 amid COVID-19 restrictions and hiring freezes. It took a year before she joined Simmons & Simmons’ corporate law team, but she used her time wisely.
On my CV: Mark Wilson, Headpoint
If expectations are not initially met, the advice from Mark Wilson of Headpoint is to be patient and address buyer value issues before re-engaging.
Career paths: Kelly Clarke, TLT
Kelly Clarke, legal director at TLT, describes her tumultuous training period and her long-term goals.
On my CV: Harry Knight, Corbett Keeling
Crafting a deal that meets the needs of all stakeholders is always possible, says Harry Knight of Corbett Keeling.
Profile: Gillian Sharman, LDC
Keeping deals flowing and generating opportunities requires innovative thinking. Marc Mullen speaks to Gillian Sharman, LDC origination director in the North West of England.
Career paths: Charlie Copp, Crowe
Getting into lead advisory was an early goal for Charlie Copp, corporate finance director at Crowe.
Resources
What is corporate finance?
The terms "corporate finance" and "corporate financier" tend to be associated with transactions in which capital is raised in order to create, develop, grow or acquire businesses.
Corporate Finance Qualification
The Corporate Finance (CF) qualification is recognised around the world and establishes a high level of expertise across international markets. It is designed with a focus on the commercial, practical and technical skills demanded by major corporate and financial clients and investors.
Faculty member organisations
The Corporate Finance Faculty’s professional network includes more than 7,000 members and more than 80 member organisations. More than 40 per cent of the faculty’s membership is from beyond ICAEW.
AI in Corporate Advisory
The Corporate Finance Faculty and Drooms have published the world’s first research about the role of artificial intelligence in deals.