Why did you choose to train as an ACA?

I studied physics at UCL, but wanted to enter the corporate world. My cousin had trained as an auditor at Buzzacott. Although he had since moved into industry, he spoke highly of the firm and the opportunities the ACA provides for a career in finance, so I applied for the graduate scheme. 

Looking back, it’s interesting to see how a role model at that stage influenced my career path. I saw first-hand how much he enjoyed his time at Buzzacott and the positive impact it had on his career progression. 

What attracted you to corporate finance?

I first joined Buzzacott’s audit team to train as an auditor, but I soon realised that the ACA qualification provided a good foundation for a range of finance roles. I had friends working in investment banks and corporate finance sounded interesting and rewarding. So I took the opportunity to set up a secondment in our corporate finance team and shortly after moved across full-time. That moment is a good reminder that moving out of your comfort zone often leads to something rewarding. I got good exposure across M&A, transaction services and valuations, which provided a strong foundation from which to specialise in M&A. 

Which transaction stands out for you?

My first full transaction was ehouse, a property marketing technology firm, on its sale to CoreLogic, a property data and analytics business, in March 2021. It was a real eye-opener as I hadn’t appreciated how much work goes into selling a business. To achieve the best outcome for a client, you need excellent sales skills, strong analytical and negotiation abilities, effective project management skills and high emotional intelligence. It was very motivational watching my seniors in action and it confirmed that this was the right role for me. 

As with every deal, there were challenges, so getting it over the line was really rewarding.  

What is your current role?

I’m currently a manager in our M&A team. I lead transactions from the first client conversation through to completion, whether it’s a trade sale or a fundraise. While the team is sector agnostic, helping those in the £10m-£50m valuation range, I focus on the technology sector – it’s great to be thought of as that ‘go to’ person. I manage the day-to-day transaction and my focus is increasingly on the strategic side, making sure we are positioning the business in the right way, understanding and mitigating key risks.  

What recent transactions have you led?

The sale of Ascertus, a legal technology service provider, to Harbor Global, a professional and legal services firm, backed by Renovus Capital Partners. The deal meant a lot as I had been working with the Ascertus team for quite a while. Finding the right buyer can take time. We’d had interest from others, but Harbor was their preferred buyer, so we worked on getting them to the table. We spent time building relationships with internal promoters at Harbor and after a year they approached us rather than us having to do the big sell. 

It was a good reminder of the need to be patient, to understand what matters most to clients and build relationships. The actual transaction only took three months. We wanted to finalise it before the October 2024 Budget and having that deadline was helpful.  

What are your ambitions?

I really enjoy my current role and there are plenty more challenges ahead. I’m comfortable leading deals and can rely on my team to execute large parts of a transaction now. Therefore, I would like to focus more on winning new business over the next year by building on my network. I won my first client last month and am now leading on that transaction.

Also, I want to spend more time mentoring. I find it rewarding using my experience to guide others; I’d encourage others to find time to advise those at school, university or early in their career. As many different people have acted as role models for me, whether they knew it or not, I strive to embody a role model mentality in all aspects of my life.