Strategic Advisor/Executive - Frankfurt

Opportunities to join Hakluyt

Hakluyt, the global strategic advisory firm for businesses and investors, is growing, and we are looking for an excellent person to join us as an Executive in our Frankfurt office - the newest of Hakluyt's global offices, having opened in 2023. While it is not necessary to live in Frankfurt, we would expect this person to work from the office at least three days a week.

What we do

Hakluyt advises decision-makers on the opportunities and risks facing their businesses. Our clients develop deep relationships with us, and trust us on their most important commercial issues. They value our discretion, our independence of thought, and our highly differentiated approach.

Our advice is delivered by an in-house team of professionals, who are based in more than a dozen offices globally. It is informed by insights generated through a global network of well-connected individuals - a network that is unique in its scale, reach and seniority. For over 30 years, we have worked on some of the most consequential and high-profile problems facing business leaders, and the range of what we cover is extraordinary: M&A, strategy, shareholder perspectives, regulatory and policy issues, disputes, senior hires, digital and cyber, sustainability, and more - across every industry sector, and all over the world.

As a partner-owned firm, we are discerning about whom we work for and with. We hold ourselves to exacting ethical standards, and we take on mandates only once we are confident that we can provide value. We love what we do, and we take enormous pride in our work, and in the culture and the values of our firm.

This approach to doing business has helped us build a blue-chip client base that includes many of the world's largest companies (including at least one of the world's top five corporations in every major sector globally); more than three quarters of the top 20 private equity firms in the world by AUM; and some of the most respected sovereign wealth and pension funds.

What we are looking for

Our team comprises people from diverse professional backgrounds, including law, finance, government, and strategy consulting.For this role, we are looking for candidates with six to ten years’ experience in a top-tier professional services environment, such as a leading law firm, strategy consultancy, or investment bank, who are now considering a different kind of career.

We are especially interested in candidates who have worked closely with private equity firms, whether as advisers or otherwise. They may, for example, have spent several years in the private equity or M&A practice of a leading law firm, working directly with sponsors and senior deal teams. Direct investing experience is not required.

The role could suit someone who has enjoyed operating in a demanding, high-performing environment, but is increasingly drawn to the commercial and strategic questions behind a transaction or business decision; to advising senior decision-makers; and to developing long-term client relationships.

Candidates should be comfortable engaging with, and building credible relationships across, the private equity industry – including with Germany’s leading sponsors. A good command of German is preferred.

Our business is built on bringing people with different perspectives and professional backgrounds together to solve problems, and diversity is an imperative for us. We are looking for:

• Problem-solvers: Hakluyt Executives must be able to understand new issues quickly; to make sense of, and ‘join the dots’ between, diverse sources of qualitative information; and to demonstrate nuanced human, commercial and political judgement in interpreting such information.
• Sophisticated advisers: Our Executives must be able to use the evidence available to them – which is usually complex and can be ambiguous – to build cogent arguments; derive credible conclusions; and develop pragmatic, actionable commercial advice for our clients.
• Persuasive communicators: We also need to have the ability to convey our findings and recommendations in clear, convincing and compelling fashion, both orally and in writing.
• Natural networkers: Our people must have high EQ, and the ability to establish and maintain warm relationships with a wide range of people. Sensitivity to others’ needs and good judgement are essential.
• Collegial potential leaders: Our culture is extremely collaborative. Sharp elbows and arrogance are simply not tolerated. We are looking for fun and interesting people who will enjoy the job and who can, over time, contribute to the growth and management of the business. We only want to hire people who have the potential to be Partners in the firm.
• Capable generalists: While many of us have specific areas of expertise, we are all curious by nature and interested in people, politics and business.
• Resourceful entrepreneurs: We are seeking individuals with ideas, creativity and a bias towards action, rather than passengers. Our growth will come from recruiting outstanding talent, and our commitment to finding innovative ways to use and deploy our assets.
• Individuals with excellent academic records: Our team includes people who have demonstrated high levels of academic success at top universities around the world.

What we offer

On joining, Executives operate at the heart of several client teams, and develop advisory and client management skills – learning the Hakluyt ‘trade’ in a systematic fashion. The primary focus for Executives will be on ensuring the high-quality execution of projects, but they will also be encouraged to contribute to the development of the firm more broadly: our client relationships, our wider connectivity, our people, and our culture.

Our highest-achieving Executives can be promoted to Director and then elected to the Partnership within a small number of years: performance and merit trump time served.

We pay competitively and in line with other high-end professional services and advisory firms.Total compensation for an Executive comprises a base salary and an annual performance-related bonus, with the potential for significant upside commensurate with an individual’s impact and their progress in the organisation.

There is also opportunity for people to work internationally, and external not-for-profit and board roles are encouraged.

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Hakluyt is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status or any other status protected by applicable law.

This position is classified as Exempt under the US Fair Labor Standards Act, where the FLSA applies.

Hakluyt is committed to complying with its accommodation obligations in respect of individuals with disabilities.

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