Scots leveraged financiers still hiring

Leveraged finance is powering ahead in Scotland, undeterred by the anxieties in other parts of the financial markets.

In mid-August, Bank of Scotland Integrated Finance sealed its second large buyout in three months: the acquisition of a minority stake in Keepmoat, a Doncaster-based community housing business, for 783m.

Mike Leeman, manager at Michael Page Financial Services, says companies such as Barclays, HBOS and Clydesdale are very strong in the leveraged finance market in Scotland and have constant demand for good candidates. Lloyds, Barclays and HSBC are also thought to have been recruiting leveraged financiers in Scotland.

The relative health of the Scots market comes despite the meltdown of the market south of the border, where banks are stuck with billions of dollars of leveraged which can't be sold on.

Leeman says banks are looking for candidates who have completed deals. Rewards for experience are in three figures with 20% to 100% bonus potential.