eFinancialCareers

As Scots plans for a local income tax steam ahead, recruiters have begun warning of the dire effect it could have on jobs. One recruiter says the tax proposals, introduced by the SNP as a replacement for council tax, will spell the death of Scotland’s financial services industry. William Finlayson of Scottish search firm Finlayson Wagner Black agrees: “People would think twice about taking up opportunities. The pool of talent... Read more

Scotland’s companies are still as eager as ever to raise capital, but recruiters say the hiring emphasis is shifting to old hands who can work a difficult market. In London, the value of IPOs fell 90% in the first quarter. But if the UK market’s dropped off the edge of a cliff, no one seems to have told Scotland’s corporates. John Llewellyn-Lloyd, head of corporate finance at Edinburgh’s... Read more

Forget the credit crunch, Edinburgh’s SVM Asset Management more than doubled its profits in 2007, and has plans to hire. According to chief exec Colin McLean, SVM is on the lookout for new investment analysts after its bumper year. Although past hires have come from London as well as Edinburgh, McLean says there’s a “body of experience” in Scotland’s life offices, which is waiting to be tapped. SVM could... Read more

“The more investment hits the TV screens and the more pension fund trustees read about it, the more they want to know the impact.” So says a source at Aon Consulting, explaining increased demand for investment consultants for pension consulting in Scotland. At HSBC Actuaries & Consultants, they tell us the firm’s expanding and they’re actively hiring, although not on a specific regional basis. They add that there’s currently “unprecedented”... Read more

Baillie Gifford’s Pacific Fund has recently lost its co-manager Ben Lloyd, who, according to FT Advisor, is planning to travel in China for a spot of R&R. Stephen Leach, head of human resources at Baillie Gifford in Edinburgh, says it’s all part of a trend: “Modern generations have become less shy about requesting sabbaticals.” According to Leach, Scottish fund managers have made use of extended leave to visit relations... Read more

Is the credit crunch making the Scots bluer than the Saltire, or do the Scots just need cheering up? BNP Paribas in Glasgow has apparently hired a culture consultant who’s prescribed more laughter for its staff (The Independent). But Margaret Dyer, director of Joslin Rowe in Scotland, pours cold water on the notion that Scots financiers are unduly dour: “BNP have expanded their business in Glasgow. They will have... Read more