Few jobs, even fewer candidates

Several weeks ago we reported upon a dearth of corporate finance opportunities in Scotland. Now it seems that the few openings that exist are being filled beyond the Scottish border.

Noble Grossart, the Edinburgh merchant bank, is currently looking for a corporate finance specialist, through headhunter Finlayson Wagner Black. Meanwhile, HR Consultancy, a Glasgow-based recruitment outfit, is also hiring a corporate financier on behalf of an un-named Big Four corporate finance outfit.

Neither are restricting their search to Scotland.

Amanda Guthrie, of HR Consultancy, says Scottish corporate finance talent is absent at all levels of experience.

Her vacancy carries with it a salary level of 31,000-45,000 - more middle manager range.

"The Scottish market is producing a few corporate finance posts, but it does remain difficult to find local candidates with sufficient experience.

However, what we are getting is applications from ones based down south."

Margaret Dyer, Scottish director of Joslin Rowe explains that the biggest issue remains, "a much greater level of M&A activity taking place in London than in Scotland's business heartlands."

The outcome, says Dyer is that the pool of talented (and experienced) corporate financiers is considerably deeper south of the border. While opportunities therefore exist for those Scots corporate financiers who have cut their teeth down south, the possibility of leaping into straight into corporate finance roles in Scotland is all too limited.