In a series of interviews, we will introduce you to the consultants from the Simplify Consulting team. Today we meet one of our wealth consultants to find out more about them, their background and the work they are fulfilling at our busy consultancy.
Today’s spotlight is on Matt Short Business Manager at Simplify Consulting. Matt has previously held key leadership roles for many years with a Global Bank and has with a wealth of knowledge in Financial Services across many functions including Contact Centres, Operations, Projects and HR.
What do you do at Simplify?
I look after the Business Management side of Simplify Consulting. This could be anything from office maintenance to speaking with our clients, this is a very diverse role. A key part of my role is managing our pool of associates who are a key element to our ability to deliver on client commitments, often at short notice. Its fundamental that we can mobilise teams quickly and provide a range of services and not all of this can be done in house by our skilled team of consultants. We partner with likeminded practitioners in Wealth to work with us on change programmes. Building relationships and staying close to our network is important and its part of the job I really love.
What’s your past experience?
Previously I worked at HSBC for 19 years in Wealth Operations, projects and primarily in a contact centre, running the centre for the last 7 years, where we serviced HSBC’s Life, Pensions and Investments customers. Much of my role was about customer service, dealing with suppliers, recruitment and people management whilst managing senior stakeholders. Many of the skills I gained at HSBC have helped me in my role at Simplify. I enjoy working with people and enjoy both the joys and challenges that come with that.
Whilst I’m not a technical person, working in Wealth has helped me move across to a Consultancy that operates in the Wealth space. I was heavily involved in recruitment at HSBC for both the contact centre and for our graduate scheme. Recruiting the right people is important in any role, it certainly was at HSBC and it’s even more important at Simplify. It’s very satisfying when you secure the right person for a role with everything aligned, as this is where the relationship really works, and all parties reap the rewards. I have found that being really open with candidates, at the outset, giving the best possible insight into what it’s like to work for the company and what the role entails is key to ensure there are no surprises when they start.
What’s it’s been like working at Simplify?
It’s so different working at Simplify. What I love is that you can make so much more of a difference. Simplify is so agile in the way it works; you can have an influence on the business and that’s not just me that’s everyone that works for Simplify. Input and ideas are encouraged and used to improve, if it passes the sense test then it happens and quickly. When you work for such a large business it simply isn’t the same. I love the flexibility I get; I play golf on a Wednesday morning and football on a Friday lunchtime, I do my work flexibly that meet the demands of the business whilst allowing me to do the things that are personally important to me. Its all about delivery not hours and I love that approach to work.
The culture is one of hard work, tenacious delivery, flexibility and having a laugh.
And finally what do you enjoy outside of work?
I like to challenge myself from time to time to give me something to train for or focus on, fundraising has always formed part of these challenges as it gives me the motivation, I need to do it. I’ve done an Olympic triathlon, marathon, South Down Way on a bike and my next challenge will be climbing mount Kilimanjaro.
Equally Simplify like us all to challenge ourselves to raise money for local charities and give us the platform and encouragement to do it so this links in nicely with my motivations.
Stay tuned for more insight to the Simplify team.
Let us know how we can help you by getting in touch today using info@simplifyconsulting.co.uk
Practitioners, Proportionate, Professional. Simplify Consulting. It’s what we do.
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