Our client is a fully retained executive search firm that competes head-to-head with the SHREK firms for board and C-suite mandates, without the size, bureaucracy or conflict constraints that come with them.
Teams are deliberately lean. Partners stay hands-on across delivery, and Associates work directly alongside them rather than sitting behind layers of research and project management. The firm has built a strong reputation in Financial Services and is now adding a Senior Associate to the practice as mandate volume grows.
The Role
The Senior Associate will run the day-to-day delivery of retained Financial Services searches, reporting into the practice Partners.
It is a delivery-first role with genuine client exposure from day one. The right person will own searches end-to-end, be trusted in front of candidates and clients, and have a clear route to Principal for someone who wants to build towards business development.
Key Responsibilities
- Project-manage multiple retained searches at once, from briefing through to offer and onboarding
- Build target lists and market maps across banking, asset and wealth management, insurance, private markets and fintech
- Lead candidate approaches, in-depth assessment interviews and referencing at senior level
- Write candidate reports and shortlist presentations to a standard ready for board and CEO audiences
- Present progress updates to clients alongside the Partner, and own the day-to-day client relationship on live mandates
- Contribute market intelligence and candidate insight to pitches and new business development
- Mentor and direct Researchers and Associates working on your searches
What they're looking for
- Typically 2–5 years in retained executive search (or high calibre FS contingent recruiters with good academics), currently Associate or Senior Associate
- Search experience within Financial Services, either in a dedicated FS practice or with a strong FS bias across your assignments
- Delivery track record at C-suite or board level, with a portfolio of completed searches to talk through
- Experience in a SHREK, a top-tier boutique, or another challenger firm working at the same level
- Confident leading senior candidate conversations and holding your own with clients
- Polished written work: reports and shortlist documents that need little Partner editing
- Commercial curiosity, and an appetite to move towards business development over time
Why this role
- Mandates at the same level as the SHREK firms, with far more ownership of each search
- Direct, daily exposure to Partners and clients, rather than sitting behind a research function
- A visible, credible path to Principal within a growing practice
- A smaller, collegiate team where individual contribution is noticed and rewarded
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Senior Associate, Executive Search employer: Carlin Hall
As a leading Executive Search and Interim Management firm, we pride ourselves on fostering a dynamic and supportive work environment in London, where our close-knit team thrives on collaboration and shared success. With a strong focus on employee development, we offer structured onboarding and active business development support, ensuring that new joiners are well-equipped to excel in their roles. Our commitment to a high-performing culture, combined with competitive salaries and a quarterly bonus scheme, makes us an exceptional employer for those looking to make a meaningful impact in the private equity sector.
