Chief of Staff to the CEO

Our client is one of Europe’s leading private equity firms. Investments have typically been in asset-rich businesses that require transformational change, and the firm takes a longer-term view than more traditional private equity investors. Working closely with management teams, the business has an exceptionally strong track record in growing businesses and in achieving substantial capital gains for its clients.

Based in London, the Chief of Staff will support the Chief Executive Officer in implementing the firm’s agreed strategic, operational and reporting priorities. This will include proactive communication on key initiatives and workstreams; assisting in aligning the budget to the agreed strategic direction; helping build and maintain a high-performance culture; building effective and consistent governance, reporting and management teams within the portfolio businesses and helping ensure that the firm runs efficiently, profitability and effectively with appropriate resource allocation.

The role of the Chief of Staff is to build efficiencies into the CEO’s diary by ensuring tasks and projects relating to these goals are planned, managed and delivered effectively. The main responsibilities include supporting the CEO in the operations, financial analysis and resourcing of the business, working closely with the Heads of internal departments and helping coordinate and progress projects and tasks for the CEO. There will a significant project management aspect to the job content, helping improve operations and the efficiency of the business by progressing workflows, ensuring projects are delivered on time, providing guidance and advice to employees on how to action items and following up where conflicts arise and bringing up urgent issues for the CEO’s attention. You can also expect to assist with the drafting and proof reading of communications from the CEO’s office.

Additional responsibility will include making sure that the consolidated business reporting is presented in a timely and concise manner and working with Portfolio Business Principals, Finance and the Head of Tax in ensuring the quality and accuracy of the information presented.

The successful candidate will possess relevant experience gained in services, operations and/or consulting with a leading international firm. You should have strong leadership skills and business acumen, and candidates must be financially literate and comfortable with interpreting financial models. Possessing an understanding of the Private Equity environment and structures will be essential, even if only in an advisory capacity. You should be willing to be hands-on with portfolio companies day in and day in helping to execute overall strategy. 

Personal characteristics include gravitas, presence, and the credibility necessary to command the attention and respect of senior stakeholders and the individuals you will work alongside day to day at the portfolio companies. You should thrive in a high-pressure environment and have a flexible approach to work and be able to cope with ambiguity. Highly responsive, organised and detail oriented, you will be a team player, able to multi-task and prioritise tasks and deadlines and perform duties with the highest level of confidentiality and integrity.

To apply to this role, please use the Apply button.

Please note that due to the expected volume of applications, we will only be able to respond to those candidates whose experience matches the requirements of our client. We are sorry, but if you have not heard from us within the next ten days, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

Walker Hamill has been a specialist finance and strategy recruiter for 30 years. We have an extensive client group, including major multinational listed organisations, private equity backed businesses and privately-owned companies. We recruit across all sectors and have particularly strong client relationships in media, retail, pharma/biotech, technology, property/real estate, leisure and business services. Headquartered in London, we have additional offices in continental Europe. For more information, please see the Walker Hamill website.