The Graduate Programme
Working alongside experienced colleagues, you will advise companies in a range of industries and on a variety of transactions including corporate sales and acquisitions, private equity and debt-raising.
This is a 2 year structured programme which includes top quality classroom based training along with on the job learning.
In Year 1 you will be assigned a key end sector and whether that be consumer, healthcare, business services, technology or industrials you will spend a fair amount of time ensuring the development of the core corporate finance skills. These include pitch production, the sales and deal process, deal marketing, buyer research, sector mapping, valuation and exit reviews with some exposure to live clients. Technical skills training will be provided to commence the process of building core technical capability.
Year 2 will be more of a client facing role, where you will continue with your on the job development, supported by formal training, building out deeper transaction knowledge and capabilities including, completion mechanics, buyer interaction, tax and legals as well as additional technical skills training on financial modelling and deal structuring.
The Clearwater Graduate programme enables you to gain a broad view of corporate finance that is hard to find on other graduate programmes without being in a smaller and less well-established firm. You will also have the option of gaining a professional qualification in corporate finance via the ICAEW. On successful completion of the 2 year Graduate programme you will be promoted to Associate.
Your role will incorporate the following responsibilities
Transaction work
- Prepare buyer research and valuation material for pitch books and buyer reports. This will include financial and strategic company research as well as analysis of markets and trends, deals and listed companies.
- Write concise, logical and articulate draft documents which demonstrate a strong commercial understanding.
- Develop good working relationships with clients and professional contacts such that they are comfortable using you as their main point of contact on day to day matters
- Attend and contribute to relevant sector team meetings.
- Establish effective relationships with potential providers of work within the professional community
Deal Origination and Marketing
- Identify potential new clients and marketing opportunities.
- Support marketing activities including organising events, writing reports and mailers and PR responses.
- Suggest marketing strategies and support on ideas to help future growth.
- Represent the firm appropriately at seminars and social functions
More broadly you will
- Demonstrate a sound awareness of issues surrounding Corporate Finance and the economy at large
- Work collaboratively with individuals across the Clearwater business; both junior and senior and both within the UK and overseas.
- Positively reinforces the reputation of the firm through sound professional execution of all duties
- Improve Clearwater standards through constructive criticism, positive feedback and looking for new ways to manage processes or present information
What we’re looking for
Our preferred, but non-essential, degree disciplines are Economics, Business and Finance or quantitative degrees such as Mathematics, Engineering or Chemistry. You will have gained, or be on track for, a 2:1 or a 1st and achieved a minimum of 3 B's at A Level or 120 UCAS points (or equivalent qualifications).
To secure a role at Clearwater, you will need to be highly numerate with excellent writing skills. You will also be able to demonstrate strong commercial acumen and a keen interest in Corporate Finance through your research and reading. Previous internships within Financial Services or Professional Services businesses will be an advantage.
In terms of personality and attitude, we are looking for graduates who are;
- natural communicators
- at their best when working as part of a team
- confident in dealing with senior individuals early on in their career
- enthusiastic with the drive to learn quickly and take on early responsibility
- humble with a strong work ethic so happy to carry out more basic tasks when needed
Some of our projects are cross-border in nature and therefore languages are an advantage but not essential.
The application process
- Initial application submission
- Blended assessment (incl. psychometric questions and a video interview)
- Shortlisting
- Assessment centres
