Using my background and experience of having worked within the Finance Industry.
When the opportunity arose for me to join Optimus Recruitment as a consultant, it seemed the perfect career move for me. After four years at university and over six years working in the Finance Industry, it attracted me as the ideal environment to draw on those experiences and the skills I had developed over the years in ways which would help others find the perfect job.
I studied Law at the University of Glasgow and graduated with Honours in 2001. As part of the course, I spent two terms studying in Copenhagen and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. It made me realise I wanted to gain sufficient professional qualifications to allow me the option of working abroad in the future. This led me to train as a Chartered Accountant, a qualification recognised around the world, and I qualified in 2004 after a three year traineeship at Ernst & Young in Glasgow. When I gained my qualification, I registered with a recruitment agency to explore the range of opportunities available to me. They illustrated to me how successful the Finance Industry in Jersey was and the number of interesting positions available in a variety of fields for Chartered Accountants. I researched the pros and cons of living and working in Jersey before accepting a role with one of the island?s leading fiduciary service providers in their growing Real Estate team. In February 2008, having enjoyed three and a half years specialising in the provision of offshore administration services, I felt I was ready for a new challenge.
The Finance Industry in Jersey continues to thrive and the number of exciting opportunities at all levels is constantly growing. As a result, the recruitment industry is growing too and appeared to me to be a very interesting field in which to work. Optimus is a boutique financial recruitment firm which differentiates itself by employing only experienced, qualified finance professionals. This approach struck me as a winning formula. My own very positive experience with a recruitment agency in Glasgow had engendered an interest in me to work in that particular field, as long as I would be able to use the skills and knowledge I had accumulated over my working life so far.
At Optimus the consultants specialise in Accountancy, Banking, Compliance, Funds and Trust with each consultant having a minimum of five years experience in their field and the directors having amassed considerably more. This identified Optimus to me as an ambitious outfit and one in which my background in Accountancy, backed up with my Law degree and experience gained in the Trust and Funds sector would enable me to add value immediately to the team.
When someone makes the decision to start a career, or to change jobs within a career, this should not be a decision which is taken lightly. They should ensure that they are fully aware of the opportunities in the marketplace and be confident that they are being guided by someone who understands the position they are in. Having used a recruitment consultant in the past to help me decide what my next career move would be, I appreciate the importance of working with someone who you can trust and depend upon.
I moved to Jersey following advice from a consultant whom I trusted and have not looked back since. I want to be able to ensure that my candidates have the same trust in the advice and information I give them and the reassurance that my colleagues and I will provide them with all the relevant facts to allow them to make the best career decision in their circumstances.
Although the main motivation in my decision to change career was the prospect of a new challenge and the fulfilment of a personal ambition, working directly with company and individual clients to ensure the right person ends up with the right job was also a major factor.
