For senior professionals, deciding to move firms is rarely just about finding another job. It can mean stepping away from a firm where you have built your reputation, developed long-standing relationships and potentially expected to spend your entire career.
For one candidate recently supported by Charles Magill, that decision came after 15 years with the same firm.
They were progressing towards partnership. However, as their career developed, they had also become increasingly clear about the type of adviser and ultimately the type of partner they wanted to become.
Over time, there was a growing recognition that their own ambitions and the strategic direction of the firm were no longer completely aligned.
The question wasn’t simply whether another opportunity was available. It was whether there was a firm that could provide the right environment, platform and support for the candidate to realise their longer-term career ambitions.
Understanding what you want from your career
Having spent 15 years building their career, the candidate had developed a strong understanding of their strengths, the clients they enjoyed working with and the market in which they wanted to build their reputation.
They were equally clear about the type of partner they wanted to become.
While their existing firm provided considerable freedom, its wider strategic priorities were increasingly different from the candidate’s own area of focus. This created a situation where progression alone wasn’t necessarily going to provide the career they wanted.
Reaching the next level of seniority or achieving the title of partner wasn’t the sole objective. The candidate wanted to find an environment aligned with the type of adviser they wanted to be, the clients they wanted to support and the practice they wanted to develop.
I’m very self-reflective. I know what I’m good at, what I enjoy and what I want to be known for. I had a lot of respect for my previous firm, but I realised its direction and my own ambitions were becoming less aligned. Working with Charles helped me explore what else was out there and consider not just the next role or becoming a partner, but the type of partner I wanted to be and the environment that would allow me to achieve that.
Starting with a conversation, not a job search
The candidate’s initial contact with Adlestrop came before they had made any firm decision to leave.
Following an initial approach, they were conscious that they didn’t want to make such an important career decision because of a difficult day or a period of short-term frustration. Instead, they decided to remain with their existing firm and see how things developed.
When Charles Magill subsequently reconnected with the candidate, the starting point was simply a conversation over coffee.
It was through those discussions that Charles introduced an opportunity with another firm – one the candidate already knew and respected.
The candidate had previously recognised the firm’s reputation for its approach to both clients and people. The opportunity therefore warranted further exploration.
Understanding the person as well as the opportunity
One of the things that stood out to the candidate was the depth of Charles’ understanding of the firm.
Rather than approaching the process as a simple match between a CV and a vacancy, Charles understood the wider business: its strategy, leadership, culture and the people the candidate would potentially be working alongside.
Just as importantly, Charles had taken the time to understand the candidate.
That enabled him to introduce them to people within the firm who could answer the questions that mattered and whose personalities and outlook would help the candidate properly assess whether there was genuine alignment.
The process became an opportunity for the candidate to conduct their own due diligence – not simply on the role, but on the people, leadership and environment around it.
It reinforced that the right career move was about much more than title and remuneration. Culture, leadership, resources, personal development and shared ambitions all mattered.
Guidance through a significant career decision
After 15 years with one employer, the candidate was also entering unfamiliar territory.
Their previous firm had been their first employer. They had never resigned, navigated a senior lateral move or experienced the inevitable emotions and uncertainty that come with leaving somewhere that has played such a significant part in your professional life.
Charles’ experience became particularly valuable during this stage.
He was able to explain what was likely to happen at different stages and prepare the candidate for situations before they arose. The support wasn’t simply reassurance. Charles was also prepared to challenge the candidate and provide direct advice when required.
It was this combination of knowledge, experience, support and constructive challenge that helped establish trust throughout the process.
Charles understood the firm incredibly well – from the wider strategy and leadership through to the people I would be working alongside. He knew who I needed to speak to and was able to answer my questions or point me in the right direction. Having spent 15 years with one firm, this was completely new territory for me, and Charles was there throughout the process, helping me understand what to expect and giving me confidence at each stage.
Finding long-term alignment
The real measure of a successful senior appointment isn’t simply whether someone accepts an offer. It is whether the opportunity they were presented with matches the reality once they join. For the candidate, that has proved to be the case.
Having previously expected to spend their entire career with one employer, the candidate can once again envisage building something for the long term.
They describe themselves as fully committed to the firm’s journey and confident about what lies ahead – an important endorsement of the alignment Charles had identified during those initial conversations.
Looking back, everything Charles told me about the opportunity has proved to be true. I’m really happy with the move and have full confidence in the journey ahead. I can see myself committing to the firm for the long term and putting everything into helping it succeed. I’d describe Charles and Adlestrop as professional, caring, knowledgeable and experienced – there was a genuine interest in me as an individual and in finding the right fit.
More than finding the next role
For senior professionals considering their next move, finding the right opportunity requires more than matching experience to a job description.
It starts with understanding what you want the next stage of your career to look like: the professional identity you want to build, the clients and markets you want to work with, the people you want around you and the ambitions you want to realise.
For this candidate, working with Charles Magill and Adlestrop Consulting helped turn that understanding into the right opportunity – finding not simply their next role, but the right firm and environment in which to build the next chapter of their career.
