Tell us a bit about yourself
I joined Clearwater in 2022 in the Birmingham office as part of the Graduate Scheme. Before that I had studied Economics at LSE and had originally completed internships in Sales and Trading (before seeing the light and coming over to the advisory side).
What originally attracted you to Clearwater?
Clearwater was uniquely situated as being the pre-eminent European mid-market corporate finance firm, that was also growing fast and doing really interesting deals. Moreover, it was recommended to me as a great place to start my career by someone at a smaller CF firm, who said that they’d been impressed at the quality of people he’d met from there.
How did the graduate scheme set you up for a successful career with Clearwater?
The graduate scheme was a great introduction into working life and corporate finance. I was given lots of training and support upfront, along with research-based tasks to get me up to speed in a particular sector. This gave me a really a good base ahead of moving on to live deals. The graduate case studies, where you’re assessed on simulated deal scenarios, were invaluable learning tools and the best preparation I could have for the subsequent work I’d complete on live deals.
What do you enjoy most about working at Clearwater?
The people. Clearwater has a great ability to attract people who are driven but approachable and fun. The team’s willingness to help others no matter how busy they are still surprises me today. Moreover, you’re supported and encouraged to have direct contact with clients very early in your career. I’ve found this a great part of the job as you get an insight into how successful senior people interact and think about their businesses.
What advice would you give to applicants looking to start their career at Clearwater?
Be yourself. You’ll be taught everything you need to know once you join, but working with others is the key to differentiating yourself from other applicants. Moreover, ask as many questions as you can. When you’re starting your career people can often be shy about asking “silly” questions. It’s actually the best way to learn, and people will like that you’re curious as we don’t expect applicants to know everything before they join.
What do Clearwater’s values / culture mean to you?
Clearwater’s values really align with how I’d want a team to work together. We’re all committed and driven towards a common goal, and everyone is keen to help others achieve more. Nevertheless, because our teams are so closely knit, we also treat people as human beings rather than finance machines.