We’re delighted to welcome James Rodgers to SRM Recruitment to head up our Tax recruitment division. James tells us about his career to date, what appealed to him about working for SRM and his advice for candidate and clients.
Tell us about your career to date?
I trained initially as a solicitor in the early 2000s, quickly realising I wasn’t going to be hot shot lawyer, so I joined the recruitment industry in 2004 working for a well-known listed global recruitment business. Early on I focused on the London Accounting and Finance market, placing part-qualified and then, later, qualified accountants into in-house commerce & industry roles. I loved it and knew I’d found something that really suited me. I worked my way up the ranks, placing more senior finance professionals and then moving into a management role where I ran a team supporting temporary and permanent recruitment for our central London clients. Since 2009 I’ve focused solely on the in-house tax market, placing tax professionals both in financial services and commerce & industry, working for both a smaller boutique search firm and a larger exec search practice. I can’t believe I’ve been in the industry for 20+ years’ now but I couldn't be more excited about the next chapter with SRM!
What prompted your move to SRM?
I’ve known the founders and some of the key people at SRM for many years and I’ve always been so impressed by what they have achieved and built to date. After 16 years in the same firm, I knew I needed to shake things up, but hadn’t made the firm decision to leave till a chance meeting with one of the founders really got me thinking. Within a short space of time, following more meetings and discussions, it became very clear to me that the opportunity at SRM to lead their tax division was huge and that I really wanted to go for it.
What was it that appealed to you about working for SRM?
Perhaps stating the obvious, but for me it was essential that I really liked and trusted the people I was going to be working with. From the founders to the whole team, I felt very confident on those two points straight away. Professionally, the opportunity to help further grow the in-house tax offering and reputation at SRM is superb. They already have a great platform in the tax market both domestically and internationally, complemented by their strong presence across finance, legal, M&A insurance, transformation and technology. Quite honestly, considering the team and the opportunity overall just felt so good that when it came to making the final decision to join SRM, it was a very simple one indeed!
Tell us about yourself?
First and foremost, I’m a family man and dad to two boys (aged 12 and 9). We live in Berkhamsted in Hertfordshire, following our move out of London in 2014. We love the countryside and it's great to be back there having grown up in the middle of nowhere in Lincolnshire and Norfolk. The boys have followed my passion for cricket as well and we’re members of Surrey CC so love getting to the Oval whenever we’re permitted! Outside of family life, I’m a keen rock climber and have been fortunate enough to climb extensively in the UK and around the world - if only I was better…but I still love it! I’m also a regular squash player as well, but the body struggles to handle too many games a week these days! Rugby has always been a big passion of mine as well - I used to coach my son’s teams but have since lost them to football which, honestly, I’m still trying to get over!
What led you to specialise in tax roles?
I really wanted to be a specialist and be known for something unique. Tax is obviously a specialism within the broader remit of finance, so it naturally followed but it just really appealed to me. I was also fortunate to work with one of the best tax recruiters around at the time - he really inspired me to focus on it. However, like in many aspects of life, it's the people themselves involved in the industry that make it a great! So, a specialist market was attractive; in larger more generalist areas it can be difficult to establish a name and brand as a recruiter - there are simply so many players. As a result, I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to build deeper and longer lasting relationships in tax where my advice, experience and discretion is really valued.
Tell us about the roles you’ll be working on?
My primary focus will be the in-house tax market across commerce & industry and financial services both in the UK and internationally, typically from Manager to Head of Tax. However, there will also be some cross-over with treasury in some cases where Head of Tax & Treasury roles exist as we’re seeing more and more of these positions in some organisations. I have always worked with a wide range of clients across sectors and industries and look forward to continuing that, but one of the real growth areas has been the newly created or “greenfield” Head of Tax/Treasury positions, so again that is an area I hope to continue to develop further.
What do hiring managers and job seekers like about working with you?
I’d like to think I’m a relaxed, approachable and likeable guy who knows his market very well. I’m not especially comfortable talking myself up, so maybe I’m not particularly “salesy” as sometimes people in this sector can be. 20 years in the industry has taught me a thing or two, so I feel that I can add significant value to a recruitment process as a result.
What’s your top piece of advice for hiring managers right now?
To have absolute clarity on what realistically you are looking for and can secure, and speed through the hiring process. Time kills deals!
What’s your top piece of advice for candidates right now?
If circumstances allow, be patient in your search. It can take time to find the right role in the tax market particularly at the senior level.
Get in touch:
Need help to hire or finding your next in-house tax role? Contact James on jamesrodgers@srmrecruitment.com or call +44 7852 322955. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn here