Will Evans at Anticus Partners was this years Emerging Dealmaker of the Year and his contribution to the deal community over the last year has been truly impressive. Will is an Investment Manager responsible for investment origination, appraisal and execution, supporting and growing start-ups and established businesses in the Yorkshire region.

Will is a Qualified Chartered Accountant with experience working with SMEs for over 7 years and Gillian McBride was delighted to spend some time with him as he shares his career to date and advice to anyone thinking of a similar career path.

What does it mean to be an Investment Manager in an equity investment fund?

As an Investment Manager, no one day is the same and that is why I love my role. One day, I could be meeting with management teams of prospective investment opportunities. The next, I could be attending the board meeting of one our portfolio companies. I also spend time meeting local business advisors to generate deal flow and build my network, writing and presenting to our investment committee and carrying out due diligence on investments we are working on.

Once an investment has been completed, the growth journey then starts. My role then naturally progresses into a portfolio role, working with the business to help them to grow. This involves implementing/attending monthly board meetings to discuss the company’s strategy and how we are going to grow and scale the business from where it currently is. I aim to be helpful and supportive, whilst also providing challenge to the board and keeping the management team accountable to delivering their business plan.

Building relationships with businesses and advisors is an important part of being a successful Investment Manager. One of the most rewarding aspects of my role is being able to help and support businesses and generating growth and economic benefit for Yorkshire & Humber.

The past two years have seen high activity for investment and the M&A market. How do you foresee the next two years?

The current economic environment and cost of living crisis is impacting a high proportion of businesses and many of these are still facing staffing and recruitment issues. This will continue to affect the M&A market and investor appetite.

Despite the ongoing economic uncertainties, we are still seeing lots of exciting businesses with good growth prospects. Investors will continue to be cautious when making investments, considering the current economic climate. However, with the number of good businesses, which are trading well, I expect M&A activity will continue to remain high over the next two years.

Increasing interest rates continue to impact businesses, especially where they are on variable interest rates and cheap COVID debt is due to be repaid. Increased rates will likely make more businesses consider an equity partner to refinance debt and allow the business to focus on growth rather than worrying about cash flow issues.

Less than 10 years since leaving school until you are 2 years into your first Investment Manager role and having won the prestigious Emerging Dealmaker of the Year Award – that is some achievement. How early did you start planning your career to get to this point?

Thank you. It was a privilege to have won the award amongst such a talented group of individuals.

Growing up around my father’s businesses, business and finance has always been a prospective career choice that has interested me. When leaving sixth form in 2014, I wouldn’t have been able to predict that this is where I would be today. I didn’t feel University was going to be the most beneficial route to achieve my potential. I started to look into higher apprenticeships and discovered an opportunity to gain the AAT and ACA qualification, whilst getting hands on experience working in an accountancy practice. I loved the sound of being paid to gain prestigious qualifications, without building up significant university debt! Going straight from a school environment into a professional workplace was invaluable. Putting my studying into practise, I worked incredibly hard, and I am proud of my own personal achievements. This wouldn’t have been possible without the support of so many talented, experienced and motivated individuals within BHP. They have contributed to my own personal achievements and allowed me to progress in my career, providing me with the skill set I needed to be where I am today.

Training at a great firm like BHP, you decided to stay and reach Manager before moving on – a route that we often advise, but we see so many newly-qualified Accountants jumping ship as soon as they have opened their results. Why did you stay and how did that help you?

BHP is a great company to train and qualify with. They are extremely supportive, and I would advise anyone interested in a career in accountancy to apply for one of their training programmes.

My decision to stay after qualifying was helped by the supportive and caring nature of BHP. Despite the significant amount of experience I gained during my training contract, I was keen to gain managerial experience. I developed relationships with clients through managing my own portfolio, reported directly to the partner group and was responsible for managing a number of teams at once. This allowed me to build and develop a completely new skillset which has helped me to succeed in my current role.

What advice would you give anyone looking to start their career in finance?

My advice would be to find a good training firm that will support you through your professional qualifications. Speak to people that work for the companies you are interested in and find others who have applied for similar roles. This will give you a good idea if it sounds like the right fit for you.

Try to find companies offering work experience placements. This could lead to job opportunities and if you leave a good impression, it will set you apart from other candidates applying for the same jobs.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions and get things wrong. No one can expect you to know everything. The managers you are working with are there to help you to develop but ultimately you are responsible for your own career development.  

Once qualified, it is difficult to know whether to stay or leave for a new opportunity. My advice is to not rush into anything. Find out what progression is possible where you are and consider if it is the right time to make a move.