Sam
Harrison

Corporate Finance Assistant Manager

LinkedIn

WHO I HELP

Owner-managed businesses. Private Equity & Corporate Banks.

HOW I HELP

Mergers & Acquisitions Lead Advisory. Financial Due Diligence. Financial Modelling. Valuation.

SECTORS/SUPPORT

All sectors, including Technology, Energy and Food & Drink.

“I’M ALWAYS FLEXIBLE DEPENDING ON WHAT MY CLIENTS’ PREFERENCES ARE.”

Based in our Edinburgh office, Sam Harrison is a Corporate Finance Assistant Manager. Working with a diverse range of clients primarily across the Technology, Food & Drink and Energy sectors, his role includes providing clients with financial due diligence, financial modelling, and valuations. Sam is the main point of contact for a number of his clients and he prides himself on being available to answer any questions they may have.

RELATIONSHIP BUILT ON TRUST & RAPPORT

“Personally, I think a good client relationship is one that is built on trust and rapport. My clients expect me to have the knowledge to advise them on all matters and be able to either answer their questions myself, or to find the answers from my team members. I think it’s important that there is one point of contact for all questions, so my clients always know who to go to.

If the job is done well and the client feels they have built a good relationship with you, they will either come back to you or refer you on to someone else. A good recommendation can be extremely valuable.”

OPPORTUNITIES TO DEVELOP & BE SUCCESSFUL

“The Corporate Finance team at AAB has a culture of developing – and giving as much responsibility to – all team members. The responsibility and exposure you get in the team are second to none. If you have the right attitude and are willing to learn then AAB will give you the opportunities to develop and be successful.

With considerable investment in technology and numerous acquisitions over the last few years, AAB is on a fast-track ambitious growth journey. Expanding into new geographical locations allows us to work with a range of new clients and presents exciting opportunities. It also gives us the opportunity to learn from our new colleagues across a broad range of expertise.”

GOING ABOVE & BEYOND

“The way we communicate with our clients is obviously very important, whether it be virtually, in-person, or a mixture of both. However, I think it’s also about how personable you are and how much of an effort you make to connect with them, regardless of the method of communication. Personally, I find it easier to make that connection in person, but I’m always flexible depending on what my clients’ preferences are.

For me, encouraging effective client communication involves going above and beyond what you’re required to do. If my clients need help in areas outside of my specialist area, I’ll go out of my way to find someone else who can help. In the future, they’ll remember that we were able to assist them, and they’ll be comfortable asking again.”

CONSTANT COMMUNICATION IS KEY

“In Corporate Finance we are constantly managing differing deadlines and client expectations. It’s vital to be upfront to ensure we are on the same page in terms of timings and the end goal. Constant communication is key, and being available to deal with any queries or concerns our clients might have. I also think it’s important that we remain commercial in situations where others may be caught up in the stresses that a transaction may bring.

Being both flexible and a people person helps me to manage my client transactions smoothly. As I mentioned before, a big part of our job as advisors is building a relationship with the client. Our clients must be able to trust us and feel comfortable and confident that we will get the job done for them.”

NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN OUR PEOPLE

“Nothing is more important than our people at AAB and I think that is true across the whole group. In terms of the Corporate Finance team, I’ve found that opportunities are there regardless of how old you are, how much experience you’ve got etc.; if you can do the work, progression is encouraged.

Even though we’ve got 1000+ employees, it feels like you’re treated as a person rather than just a number.”