Joe Pocknell

In your view, how does Greenhill set itself apart from other banks and boutiques?

The thing that immediately stands out when you start at Greenhill is the quality of the people. All those I’ve worked with are engaging, motivated and friendly. In what can be an intense job that is often all-consuming, having people around you who are supportive makes things immeasurably more enjoyable. Colleagues at all levels within the firm are also always willing to give their time to facilitate your understanding and learning. This, for me, has been a defining factor of the firm since joining. In a similar vein, Greenhill is an entrepreneurial place. Deal teams are small and levels of exposure are high. You’re given the opportunity and encouraged to push yourself to improve right from the start, working on challenging tasks in complicated situations. If that’s a proposition that excites you, Greenhill is likely a good fit for you.

What is the most rewarding part of your role?

There are a few things about this role that I think are unique. Greenhill gives you the opportunity to develop relationships with senior individuals both within the firm, where there is regular direct communication between Analyst, MD and everyone in between, but also externally, where you will find yourself sitting in meetings with C-suite executives discussing their corporate and M&A strategy. You are working on transactions that are going to have a material impact on your client and often the markets in which they operate. Seeing a public transaction announcement after having worked hard to get that deal over the line is hugely rewarding. Further still, given the lean working style at Greenhill you will likely have played a meaningful and important role in the transaction, and that is an experience I imagine not many other graduates have the privilege of experiencing so early on in their careers.

What skills would you say you use the most on an everyday basis?

It’s fairly broad – the job requires interpersonal skills, technical aptitude, and an ability to organise yourself efficiently. A lot of the work is team-based and client-oriented so you find yourself developing and utilising the important skill of clear communication. Similarly, you will spend a significant amount of time undertaking technical analysis and modelling so you very quickly develop your technical skills in corporate finance and valuation. Finally, you will find yourself working on a large number of projects each with their own deadlines and so managing your time is an important skill that you will develop and use every day. This is particularly salient given the generalist model in which you work on a number of different projects with different people across different industries – you learn to spin a large number of plates!

From your current position, what advice would you give to students considering an internship at Greenhill?

Apply! I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do as a graduate but the internship gave me the chance to jump in at the deep end and experience what it’s like to work in a fast-paced industry with high levels of exposure, both to seniors within the firm and to clients from all industries. In the internship the work you complete is very similar to that of a First Year Analyst so you get a proper sense for what the job is like. After the internship I was convinced that this job offered unparalleled learning opportunities in a friendly and motivating environment – it was a no brainer. In terms of preparation, I would recommend doing a bit of reading on the role, the industry and the firm but I wouldn’t worry too much about knowing everything before you arrive – that’s the point of the internship. It’s a steep learning curve but as long as you’re eager to learn and willing to work hard, it’s a fantastic opportunity and I cannot recommend it enough.