Associate Director, Financial Advisory

The Role

We are looking for an Associate Director to join our Hong Kong Financial Advisory team, specifically to support the Restructuring and Insolvency practice. Our Hong Kong business is fully integrated with our Restructuring and Insolvency teams in the International Financial Centres (IFC) namely Cayman Islands, the British Virgin Islands and Bermuda, and therefore you will be part of the growing IFC team with exposure to cross-border engagements.

This is an excellent opportunity to work alongside some of the most experienced practitioners in the field advising the boards, management teams, lenders and shareholders of companies which are underperforming and/or facing any financial stress.

As an Associate Director in the team, you will have the opportunity to work and lead on a diverse range of engagements across all sectors, with responsibility for leading workstreams, managing junior staff and supporting senior leadership in client-facing delivery.

Teneo Financial Advisory

Our global Financial Advisory business advises corporates, creditors and other financial stakeholders in all situations – from well-performing to stressed. No two situations are the same, and our advice and approach is tailored to each set of circumstances and client. 

Teneo guides companies and their stakeholders through periods of uncertainty and stress to create liquidity headroom, reduce costs, improve profitability, turnaround or exit underperforming businesses, assess options, address balance sheet stress, communicate appropriately with all stakeholders, more efficiently run their businesses and, ultimately, deliver certainty from uncertainty. 

Our expert team also brings market-leading experience in establishing and delivering contingency plans and insolvencies across multiple jurisdictions, providing credible fallback plans to protect value or helping to shape and affect a restructuring.

Key Responsibilities

Client service

• Working as a senior resource on restructuring and insolvency engagements on a day-to-day basis, including managing junior team members as required.
• Preparation of take-on procedures, engagement letter(s) and ensuring adherence to all compliance requirements.
• Manage parts of the engagement, providing support to the senior leadership in managing external stakeholders.
• Leading detailed financial and commercial analysis of businesses to identify key issues, challenges, opportunities and risks in financial advisory mandates.
• Taking a lead role in progressing Hong Kong and cross-border insolvencies including receiverships, court liquidations and voluntary wind-downs.
• Presenting findings clearly in client / court reports.
• Understanding the market, topical issues and our Restructuring propositions.
• Liaise with the engaged legal advisors to understand key aspects of legal documentation and also drive any documentation processes (funding agreements, term sheets, waivers, loan documentation etc.)
• Manage engagement economics and apply financial and risk management.

Knowledge acquisition

• Build client relationship skills, sector knowledge and continue to develop leadership skills.
• Continue to build technical expertise, broader business advisory and people management skills.
• Understand the market, topical issues and our Financial Advisory propositions. Having an interest and appetite to grow in Asia’s R&I market is key.

People and leadership

• Support talent development.
• Provide on the job coaching and development to staff.
• Develop junior staff outside of jobs through appraising and mentoring.
• Support wider Financial Advisory training initiatives.
• Manage diverse teams within an inclusive team culture where people are recognised for their contribution.

Business development

• Start to own elements of business development including actively supporting business development activities, building and expending your own contact network and supporting marketing and sales activities.
• Participate in existing business development programmes and key client accounts.
• Identify opportunities to expand jobs as well as opportunities to provide wider Teneo services to existing clients.
• Take responsibility for leading marketing initiatives aimed at specific channels to market, or events.

Key Skills & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in a business or finance-related subject.
• Qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA or equivalent), both time and exam qualified.
• 10-12 years of Financial Advisory experience gained either as an advisor within a professional services company, consultancy or investment bank; as an analyst in a debt or special situations funds.
• Very strong analytical skills and an understanding of insolvency legislation (common law) and practice.
• Understanding of financial statements and related data to assess historical financial performance and future outlook for client companies and prospects.
• Good understanding of the Financial Advisory marketplace, its trends, and key players (principals and advisers).
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Strong project management skills, with ability to lead teams and develop people.
• Ability to conduct business in fluent oral and written English is a pre-requisite.
• A self-starter with entrepreneurial spirit to drive and grow the APAC FA business.
• Flexibility to meet peak demands when required and prioritise workload.
• Act with discretion, integrity and professionalism at all times.