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Corporate finance careers

Leading figures and up-and-coming professionals who have developed their careers share their experiences.

Career journeys

Breaking glass ceilings

Marc Mullen speaks to six women in mid-market private equity about the changes so far in this once male-dominated world – and what’s still to come for diversity and inclusion, and supporting talent

Career paths: Katie Leitch

Katie Leitch trained in Edinburgh then moved to Glasgow, where she’s building her private equity experience as an investment manager with Panoramic Growth Equity

On my CV: Danny Lee

Investors in biotech businesses must believe in management. Credibility is key, says Danny Lee, Burges Salmon corporate partner

Career paths: Sarah Leiper-Jennings

Sarah Leiper-Jennings, senior associate at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, has taken the opportunity for industry and overseas secondments to build her experience as an M&A lawyer

Career paths: Klara Klarowicz

Drive and determination has seen Klara Klarowicz make it to investment manager at LDC. Now she has big plans for the future, she tells Jo Russell.

Career paths: Lucy Merson

Training as an ACA continues to help after the move from corporate finance to private equity, recounts Connection Capital investment manager Lucy Merson.

Career paths: Louise Leung of EY

Originating the first deal you work on gets your corporate finance career off to a flying start. EY’s Louise Leung is a very good example of how structured progression can be swift.

Articles

On my CV: Daniel Jonas, Azets

Daniel Jonas, transaction services partner at Azets, says being clear with vendors is key to keeping things moving in a deal.

Career paths: Gemma Legg, RSM UK

Collaboration is key when it comes to getting complex deals done, says Gemma Legg, head of M&A for Thames Valley and South Coast at RSM UK.

On my CV: Jon Dawson, haysmacintyre

Working as a group of advisers can move deals to the most appropriate and most efficient solutions, says haysmacintyre partner Jon Dawson.

Profile: Charindra Pathiwille, Deloitte

From ACA training two decades ago to taking over as managing partner of UK financial advisory last year, Deloitte’s Charindra Pathiwille can be considered a company ‘lifer’. He talks to Marc Mullen about the challenges facing M&A and aligning the firm with client needs in 2024

On my CV: Michael Pay, EMC Corporate Finance

Understanding how centuries-old trust status impacts lending in the modern world was key to refinancing Shoreham Port, says Michael Pay of advisory firm EMC Corporate Finance.

Resources

What is corporate finance?

The terms "corporate finance" and "corporate financier" tend to be associated with transactions in which capital is raised in order to create, develop, grow or acquire businesses.

Corporate Finance Qualification

The Corporate Finance (CF) qualification is recognised around the world and establishes a high level of expertise across international markets. It is designed with a focus on the commercial, practical and technical skills demanded by major corporate and financial clients and investors.

Faculty member organisations

The Corporate Finance Faculty’s professional network includes close to 10,000 members and more than 80 member organisations. More than 40 per cent of the faculty’s membership is from beyond ICAEW.