Metis Search

Our consultant Caitlin Byrne recently attended eFinancialCareers' Breakfast Roundtable, where hiring leaders discussed the latest trends shaping financial services recruitment. One of the biggest takeaways was that AI capability is rapidly becoming a baseline expectation across many roles. Rather than hiring dedicated AI specialists, firms increasingly expect professionals to understand and utilise AI tools as part of their day-to-day work. At the same time, this is creating new challenges for employers. As AI becomes more accessible, firms are rethinking how they assess candidates' skills, with many placing greater emphasis on in-person interviews and practical assessments to validate experience and capability. The discussion also highlighted a continued shift towards increased office attendance and growing demand for technology talent, despite softer hiring across some areas of investment banking and private equity. It will be interesting to see how these trends continue to shape hiring over the coming months. If you are keen to discuss how this may impact your hiring processes, reach out to one of our consultants. #FinancialServices #Recruitment #ExecutiveSearch #AI #HiringTrends #PrivateEquity #InvestmentBanking

We are seeing an interesting development in the standing of UK REITs in the public market. While retail investors have looked elsewhere, PE firms have been steadily acquiring listed REITs at some of the lowest valuations in recent memory. The numbers tell the story: five years ago, there were over 80 listed REITs in the UK. More than half have since been taken private or liquidated, with Blackstone, KKR and others among the most active acquirers. Wide discounts to NAV, dividend yields of 5-7% and underlying asset values that private capital recognises. What does this mean for talent? - Teams are evolving. As vehicles are taken private, the front office skill set required shifts significantly. - Deal activity drives hiring. Every acquisition creates demand for professionals who can execute and asset manage in a private ownership structure. - Specialists are scarce. The pool of people who understand both real estate fundamentals and private capital remains small and competition for them is intensifying. We place front office professionals across real estate investment, infrastructure and private capital. If you're building a team or exploring what's out there, reach out to Lennard Heppner for an introductory conversation. #RealEstate #REITs #PrivateEquity #RealEstateInvestment #UKProperty #AssetManagement #ExecutiveSearch #Hiring

The 2026 London IB hiring market in one word: precision. This year, Investment Banks and Corporate Finance Advisory firms are being deliberate. Growth is targeted, sector-driven, and tied directly to revenue visibility. If there isn't a clear pipeline to justify a hire, the role doesn't open. What does that mean in practice? - Fewer roles, but higher-quality opportunities - Longer, more rigorous processes - Cultural fit and long-term alignment weighted just as heavily as technical skill - Wrong hires are simply not an option at this level For candidates, this is a market that rewards preparation, not opportunism. If you're thinking about your next move in M&A, now is the time to be strategic, not reactive. For hiring managers, this precision cuts both ways. The best candidates have options. A slow or unclear process will cost you. This is exactly the environment where a specialist recruitment partner earns their value, knowing where the pockets of genuine demand are, who the right candidates are, and how to move quickly when the moment arrives. If you're hiring, or exploring what's out there, reach out to one of our consultants for a conversation. #Hiring #FinancialServices #InvestmentBanking #MergersandAcquisitions #LondonJobs #NewYorkJobs #ExecutiveSearch #FrontOffice

Wall Street bonuses are set to rise again in 2026, after a challenging period for deal activity.   New compensation projections suggest: • M&A and ECM bankers could see 10-20% bonus increases • Equity traders may see 10-15% growth • Fixed income and wealth management professionals are also expected to benefit   What’s driving the rebound? • A resurgence in large-scale M&A • Continued market volatility across rates, geopolitics and AI-driven sectors • Record early-2026 bank profits and stronger deal pipelines   Rising bonuses typically signal improving confidence across investment banks, which leads to strong hiring appetite and increased competition for top performers.   There seems to be momentum returning to the front-office hiring market. #InvestmentBanking #NewYork #FinancialServices #MergersAndAcquisitions #Recruitment #NewYorkRoles #WallStreet #Bonuses

A recent piece from Infrastructure Investor highlights an interesting shift happening across private markets.   After years of explosive growth, private debt fundraising is slowing, with capital rotating towards infrastructure debt.   Why? Because the current macro environment is forcing a rethink.   Infrastructure debt offers a compelling combination: - Long-term, contracted cashflows - Inflation-linked revenues - Essential-service demand - Attractive yields vs public fixed income   In other words, it sits in the sweet spot between sovereign bonds and traditional private credit.   The energy transition is accelerating this trend. Renewables, digital infrastructure, transport and utilities will require trillions of capital over the coming decades and governments cannot fund this alone.   This is turning infrastructure debt from a niche allocation into a core portfolio strategy.   If you are interested in discussing the development of the infrastructure market, reach out to our consultants for a confidential conversation. #InfrastructureDebt #Hiring #FinancialServices #ExecutiveSearch #LondonRoles #NewYorkRoles #Infrastructure #Investment #PrivateEquity

The EU is reportedly preparing the biggest overhaul of its merger rules in decades, and it could reshape the future of European corporate growth. For years, EU competition policy has focused primarily on protecting consumers from higher prices and reduced competition. But the global landscape has changed dramatically. Geopolitical instability, supply chain disruption and intensifying competition from US and Chinese giants have exposed a key challenge: European companies often lack the scale to compete globally. The proposed changes signal a clear shift in mindset. Regulators are now looking to place greater emphasis on: • Innovation • Investment • Supply chain resilience • The ability for companies to scale internationally In short, Europe wants to make it easier to build “European champions”. For investors, and advisers, this could unlock a new era of consolidation and strategic M&A across the continent. After years of tighter scrutiny, the pendulum may be swinging toward growth and global competitiveness. If implemented, this policy shift could significantly influence hiring, deal activity and strategic expansion across multiple sectors. We are looking forward to seeing how the market develops. #MergersandAcquisitions #EU #Europe #FinancialServices #ExecutiveSearch

It’s been a really positive start to the year, and the momentum hasn’t slowed as we head into April. We’re continuing to see strong hiring activity across the market, with a number of exciting opportunities now live across our key areas. With Easter around the corner, it feels like the perfect time for both clients and candidates to take stock, reflect on goals for the year ahead, and make that next strategic move. If you’ve been thinking about growing your team or exploring a new opportunity, now is a great time to start the conversation. Take a look at some of our latest live roles below, and feel free to get in touch if you’d like to learn more. #LiveJobs #FinancialServices #InvestmentBanking #LondonJobs #NewYorkJobs #HedgeFunds #FranceJobs #RealEstate #InvestorRelations

Recent reports suggest that Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group is exploring a potential acquisition of Jefferies – a move that would significantly expand its global investment banking footprint. This is another clear example of how large financial institutions are increasingly looking beyond domestic markets to scale capabilities, access new client bases, and compete more effectively on a global stage. For the market, this signals: 🔹 Continued consolidation across investment banking 🔹 Growing importance of global platforms and cross-border capabilities 🔹 Increased demand for experienced advisory and execution talent As firms evolve and expand internationally, the ability to build and integrate high-performing teams will be critical to delivering on these strategic ambitions. It will be interesting to see how this potential transaction develops, and what it means for the broader competitive landscape. #MergersAndAcquisitions #InvestmentBanking #FinancialServices #LondonRoles #NewYorkRoles #Hiring #Recruitment

Recent data from PERE News indicates that real estate M&A transactions jumped around 40% from 2023 to 2025 – a clear sign that capital markets and dealmakers are returning to the table with renewed confidence. After a prolonged period of cautious activity, driven by rising costs of capital and valuation recalibration, this increase in transactions highlights: Strengthening investor sentiment Improved financing conditions and risk appetite Strategic repositioning and portfolio consolidation For real estate and private equity professionals, this trend reinforces the importance of market readiness and quality deal teams to capture opportunities in an increasingly active environment. If you’re navigating real estate hiring, exits, or growth strategies in 2026, now is a strong moment to consider how your team and capabilities align with the resurgent M&A landscape. #InvestmentBanking #Hiring #RealEstate #MergersAndAcquisitions #DealFlow #Investment #PrivateEquity #RealEstateInvestment #MarketTrends

Today we celebrate International Women’s Day, an opportunity to recognise the achievements of women across every industry. In financial services and the broader investment landscape, progress continues to be made but there is still important work to do to ensure greater representation at every level. At Metis Search, we are proud to work with many exceptional women across investment, advisory, and leadership roles, and to support firms that are committed to building more inclusive teams. A big thank you to the women we work with every day for the impact you make across the industry. #InternationalWomensDay #IWD #WomenInFinance #Diversity #Inclusion #Leadership #IWD2026 #GiveToGain