"Robert Walters helped me turn uncertainty into opportunity."

After completing his articles with EY at the end of 2023, Matt found himself at a crossroads. He joined BDO's International Offshore Centre (IOC) team for a year, gaining additional audit experience. During this period, he faced the daunting task of planning his career for 2025. Having lived in the UK as a child, Matt and his wife always intended to relocate there after qualifying, but the logistics felt overwhelming. One thing was certain, though – audit was no longer the path for him.

In mid-2024, Matt first engaged with Robert Walters. Their webinars and presence at various events during his articles had piqued his interest, and he often heard Helen Swithenbank's name come up in discussions about post-article plans. After connecting with Helen on LinkedIn, they scheduled a call to explore his situation and options for the coming year. Initially skeptical about what "yet another recruiter" could offer, Matt left the conversation feeling reassured and confident.

"Helen took the time to understand our personal circumstances," Matt recalls, "including our plans to move to the UK and my desire to transition out of audit while my wife wanted to remain within it. What impressed me most was Helen's commitment to finding the right position for me, even if it wasn't through Robert Walters, and her genuine interest in my goals."

Despite knowing that audit wasn't for him, Matt was uncertain about his ideal role. To enhance his prospects, he began the CFA journey, completing Level 1 in 2024, with hopes of transitioning into finance, which aligned more closely with his interests. He had been involved in crypto since 2017, another passion of his, but with nearly four years of retail audit experience, he doubted he'd find a job matching his interests right away. Whenever he mentioned to Helen that he might take the first auditing job offered just to secure peace of mind for their planned UK move in January 2025, she strongly advised against it.

Helen encouraged me to hold out for a role that truly aligned with my passions.

In late November, just after completing CFA Level 1, Helen contacted Matt about a position that immediately excited him. It was a finance role with a private real estate company that also had a crypto focus, and the majority of the team were South African. Initially, Matt couldn't believe such a niche opportunity existed, but he quickly remembered Helen's extensive network and connections, and it made perfect sense. They scheduled a call to meet the team, and a week later, Matt received a call from Helen that left him speechless. "I had finally found a role I was genuinely excited about," Matt shares.

Matt is incredibly grateful to Helen and the team at Robert Walters for making this experience smooth and stress-free. "They truly made me feel supported throughout the entire process, and their care didn’t end once I was placed. Helen regularly checks in to see how things are going, ensuring my wife and I are settling in well, and reassures me that she's always there to help," he explains. Matt highly recommends Robert Walters to anyone looking to relocate and pursue a career in the UK. "I honestly cannot thank Helen and her team enough for turning my uncertainty into opportunity and helping me find my dream role," he concludes.