Oliver James Associates is a search and selection consultancy operating exclusively within the financial services industry since 2002. They have a dedicated team that specializes in quantitative finance and technology recruiting, with experience placing candidates at both buy-side and sell-side firms. Their methodology includes an in-depth initial client consultation, thorough search processes like headhunting and referrals, and specialized knowledge of areas like front office quant roles, trading technology, and quantitative risk modeling.

1. Quantitative Analytics
& Technology

2. Search & Selection to the Financial Services Industry
Oliver James Associates is an established search and selection consultancy operating exclusively within the
nancial services industry since 2002.
Our business was initially built as the chosen recruitment partner for a large proportion of the Insurance and
Asset Management industries. In 2011, we launched our Banking and Broking teams in response to two main
areas of weakness in nancial services recruitment:
Most recruiters have contractual preferred supplier relationships in place across the majority of major banks,
and therefore have no ability to market map & pro-actively source talented individuals
There is a supply gap between the reach of the top-end of most contingency recruitment rms and the
bottom-end of most search rms – this gap results in poor quality of service being delivered in the £75-150k
salary range
Oliver James Associates satisfy these needs by:
Building long-term relationships with a handful of banks, and ring-fencing the rest of the market as source
clients where we spend time mapping relevant teams
Through an experienced and talented Research team we reach out to build relationships with high calibre
individuals who are not actively looking for a new role, but are receptive to being presented with their next
logical career step
We treat each instruction as an individual project, and apply search methodology to sourcing a high quality
shortlist for roles in the mid-senior level

3. The Quant Team
While most agencies see the Quant space as an extension of IT or Risk, we understand the true value of the rocket scientists in the banking world.
With a dedicated team covering the Quantitative Finance and Technology market, we possess a deep technical understanding of the requirements
allowing us to source the very best active and passive candidates in the market.
Our senior consultants have over a decade of combined experience recruiting in the quant and technology sectors and have placed at Global Head
through to Associate level, and PhD candidates looking for their rst step on the Quant ladder.
Previous successful projects have included:
• Director, Credit Derivative Analytics, London
• Managing Director, Head of Library Development, New York
• Senior Vice President, Equity Quant Strategist, London
• Managing Director, Global Head of CVA Analytics, Singapore
• Senior Strategist, Equities Algo Execution, London
• Head of Trading Engineering, High Frequency, London
• Director, Trading Performance Engineer, London
• Vice President, C++ Developer (FX Trading Systems), London
We endeavour to truly immerse ourselves in all aspects of quantitative analytics, strategy and technology to provide a true consultancy service to our
clients and candidates.
Areas of specialism
• Desk Quants (Strategists/Modellers/Researchers)
• Front Office Development & Implementation
• High Frequency and Algorithmic Trading Technologists
• Quant Development and Library Architects
• Model Validation and Quantitative Risk Modelling
• Quantitative Advisory and Consultants

4. Area of Specialism: Front O ce Quantitative Analytics
Oliver James Associates has a dedicated team focusing on placing Front O ce Quantitative professionals into a variety of di erent roles at varying levels of seniority. There
are many challenges in recruiting Front O ce Quants; with CV’s brimming with mathematical processes and programming languages, they can be hard to di erentiate.
We therefore ensure that we have as good an understanding as possible of both the technical pro ciency as well as communication ability required to work in such a
group
Desk Quants / Modellers
Our team have extensive experience in this area working with some of the very best derivative modelling and pricing Quants in the market. Having ring-fenced certain
top tier Investment Banks we are able to actively source the passive candidates who have been involved in new model development across vanilla, exotic and hybrids
desks. Our candidates are thoroughly tested on their mathematics, programming but often more importantly the ability to communicate complex derivative pricing
methodology in a clear and concise way.
Quantitative Strategists / Research
We have experience recruiting Quantitative Strategists and Researchers on both the buy side and the sell side, and understand the importance of these candidates in
creating trading strategies and recommendations which are vital to a successful trading operation. We look out for candidates with an excellent statistical and economet-
ric skill set as well as the ability to look at the larger implication of micro level quant work.
Quant Development & Library Architects
Recruiting into the Quant eld, we understand the importance of Quantitative Technologists within the Front O ce. Our team have had various assignments to source
top level Quantitative Developers and Library Architects onto Front O ce desks. We understand the di erences between a pure Quant and a Quant Developer and utilise
our expertise to source the best candidates in the market. We endeavour to nd specialists with an exceptional numerical background and passion for technology.

5. Area of Specialism: Technology
Oliver James Associates Quant and Technology team specialises in placing Developers, Engineers and Programmers across Investment Banking, Electronic & High
Frequency Trading Firms, Proprietary Trading Firms, Asset Management and Hedge Funds. Due to our intrinsic knowledge in the eld of technology, our clients trust us
with assignments to nd the best programmers and developers with experience either inside or outside of the industry.
Front O ce Development & Implementation
We cover Object Oriented coders in Java, C++ or C#, however the team also focuses attention on numerical and functional programming. We work across all asset classes,
varying trading systems and resource at all levels of seniority.
High Frequency & Algorithmic Trading Technologists
Oliver James Associates has identi ed the High Frequency & Algorithmic Trading space as a major growth area for a number of our clients. With a comprehensive network
of exceptional development pro les, we are able to distinguish whether a candidate will be suitable for a role within this area. The team will actively head hunt top candi-
dates from within the industry and locate exceptional talent from outside looking to begin their career within this highly exciting business area.

6. Area of Specialism: Quantitative Risk
Over the last few years there has been a very high demand for quantitative talent in risk modelling teams. Many Quant’s nd the more research and simulation element
of risk modelling intellectually stimulating and we endeavour to indentify the talent with this mindset as well as the right technical capability.
We have experience of placing Quants and Technologists into the following broad areas of quant risk:
Model Validation
Working with some of the very best Derivative Model Validation teams in the market we approach the very best active and passive candidates that not only validate and
document ndings but build their own benchmarking models to implement to the analytics library.
Credit Risk Modelling
Currently a very hot topic with new capital requirements and the preparations for Basel III. We have kept up to date with all the latest requirements in the world of CVA,
PD & LGD modelling and Credit portfolio management, to ensure we understand what our clients are looking for.
Market Risk Modelling
Our team have placed people in all areas of VaR modelling and quantitative risk professionals dealing with particular markets and asset classes.

7. Recruitment Methodology

8. Consultation
To ensure a successful conclusion to a recruitment assignment, it is essential that it begins
with an in-depth consultation with the client. When Oliver James Associates takes on any
recruitment assignment, it is imperative that the initial consultation provides us with
detailed information in order to attract the client the best possible candidates within the
market. Key points to be covered shall include;
An analysis of the business
Competitor benchmarking
Understanding of the job speci cation
Short/medium/long-term goals of the position
Reporting lines
Promotional prospects
Culture of team/department
Remuneration package
Interview processes
Company strategy
Pro le of the desired candidate
Oliver James Associates are in a position to truly consult with you. We will be able to
provide you with an understanding of the current market place, market remuneration
packages, availability of individuals in the industry, your positioning within the market
place and how best to position yourself to attract the best quality of talent available.

9. Search
Our thorough search methodology is comprised of the following:
Headhunting
This is our key activity and is what sets us apart from our competitors. We invest a lot of
time in networking and headhunting high-calibre candidates that have the necessary
skills for the job. The gure for our headhunting skills speak for themselves: so far 74%
of all our successful mandates have been made through proactive resourcing.
Referrals
We nurture our business and our relationships to yield the best possible results for our
clients and our candidates. Our reputation for success, professional approach and
consultative ability has gifted Oliver James Associates with an exemplary referral
network, providing easy access to usually unobtainable talent within the nancial
services market.
Advertising
We advertise across all forms of recruitment medium to attract proactive seekers of
new appointments within the nancial services market.
Active and passive candidates
The results of our headhunting and other candidate-sourcing activities are stored in
our extensive database, which is speci cally tailored to the nancial services market
and allows us to make advanced searches based on criteria speci c to the needs of the
client.
Our careful searching allows us to fully penetrate the market and source the best
candidates to suit our clients’ roles.

10. Selection
All candidates generated through head-hunting, referrals and responses to
advertisements are amalgamated with our extensive database. Our current database
consists of a signi cant volume of high calibre active and passive nancial services
professionals. It is our ability to intricately map the nancial services market that provides
Oliver James Associates with leverage that separates us from our competition.
A selection process then occurs between the relevant vertical market consultants to
discuss their most suitable candidates. We then complete the following steps:
We contact the relevant candidates to discuss the client, the team and the role,
supplying them with the formal job speci cation.
We assess their suitability to the role, re-con rm their current situation and ensure that
we have their most up-to-date CV.
Once we have quali ed their suitability and interest, we obtain written con rmation
that Oliver James Associates is representing them for the role.
We will then create a shortlist which we will subsequently present to our client. We also
save our clients a lot of the legwork: we carry out referencing checks and screening
services on their behalf.

11. Presentation & Interview
Candidates will be presented to the client via a curriculum vitae and candidate synopsis.
It is this additional synopsis which provides the client with a summary of;
Current remuneration
Financial expectations
Notice period
Career aspirations
Character assessment
Reasons for interest in the opportunity and business
Motivations for leaving current employer
Summary of relevant experience
Current activity of the candidate in the recruitment market place
Once we have reached an agreement with the client over the suitable candidates that
they wish to interview, we coordinate the interviews at all stages, preparing our
candidates accordingly, recon rming their interest at all stages, understanding any
concerns that need addressing and ensuring that the risk of any unexpected decision
changes are minimised.
In a competitive market place, it is imperative that after each successful interview we
provide our client with comprehensive feedback. Quality feedback provides our clients
with a deeper understanding of a candidate’s feelings and expectations. Greater
knowledge produces a greater success ratio.

12. O er Management
Our consultants will o er you guidance about how to achieve the best possible o er
to secure the selected candidate without unnecessary negotiations. We will provide
the chosen candidates with the o er and provide guidance and manage the process
of accepting the o er, possible counter o ers and negotiation of notice periods.

13. Post Acceptance
From acceptance of an o er to the start date, a void of communication can occur
and momentum can break down. It is at this time that a good consultancy has the
foresight and professionalism to keep the process moving towards its ultimate and
successful conclusion. We will liaise with both parties, providing any advice that
may be required, meeting the candidate again, and assisting the candidate with
anything we can, for example relocation issues.

14. Key Contact Details
Trevor Symons Trevor specialises in all aspects of Quantitative nance in the front and middle o ce and has a number
Senior Consultant of years experience working in the sector. Formerly the Manager of the Quantitative Practice at a large
Quantitative Finance recruitment rm, Trevor joined the Banking team at Oliver James Associates in 2011, with the goal of
trevor.symons@ojassociates.com o ering a true consultative approach to a very niche market. Having placed candidates of all levels
+44 (0) 207 310 8650 across Europe, the US and Asia, Trevor has an excellent global view of the quant market and is one of
the few vertical specialists in the industry.
Bradley Sharp Bradley was brought on board by Oliver James Associates in 2011 to build out the Front O ce
Senior Consultant Development and Quantitative Technology market. Having previously worked for a large contingency
Quant Analytics & Technology rm as well as a start-up search consultancy, Bradley brings a wealth of recruitment experience placing
bradley.sharp@ojassociates.com candidates into the major nancial organisations. Due to his ability to build great rapport, coupled
+44 (0) 207 310 8653 with a true passion and understanding of his eld, he has established a comprehensive network of
contacts and relationships within the Banking and Finance sector.
Copyright Oliver James Associates 2011