Director and Co-founder and along with Senior consultant Cheryl Aust dive into work-from-home (WFH) and office trends across London’s buy-side accounting and finance sectors – covering Asset Management, Private Markets, and Hedge Funds. By examining boutique, mid-sized, and large firms, we highlight how different company sizes are balancing remote and in-office work in today’s evolving landscape.
Asset Management
In asset management, company size greatly influences remote work policies, with flexibility a hallmark for smaller firms and structure more common in larger ones.
Boutique firms: These smaller firms often allow the most flexibility, typically with employees in-office 2–3 days per week. Their leaner structures and close-knit teams enable tailored, individual work arrangements.
Mid-sized firms: Mid-sized asset managers favour a hybrid approach, with employees generally present 2–3 days per week. This balance helps them remain competitive by blending boutique flexibility with the structure of larger firms.
Large firms: Large asset management firms tend to have more defined policies, often promoting consistent office attendance, at least 3 days per week. Their goal is usually to foster routine and maintain a steady in-office presence.
Private Markets
Private market firms, including private equity and venture capital, prioritise in-office time to support collaboration, particularly for deal execution and client interactions.
Boutique firms: Boutique private equity and venture capital firms mirror asset management’s flexibility, with staff in the office around 2–3 days per week.
Mid-sized firms: These firms adopt a more structured hybrid approach, typically requiring 3–4 days per week on-site. This model supports the collaboration needed for deal execution, brainstorming, and maintaining client relationships.
Large firms: Larger private equity firms generally require a higher office presence, leaning towards 4 days per week. By balancing productivity with some flexibility, these firms aim to retain top talent without sacrificing operational efficiency.
Hedge Funds
In hedge funds, the drive for performance and real-time decision-making often translates to a stronger in-office presence, especially as firm size increases.
Boutique funds: Smaller hedge funds offer varying levels of flexibility based on team size and strategy. Employees are typically in the office 3–4 days per week, with more flexibility for non-investment roles.
Mid-sized funds: Mid-sized funds generally require 4 days of in-office attendance per week. While policies vary, the trend is to prioritize regular in-person presence to support efficient, cohesive operations.
Large funds: Large hedge funds are typically the most office-focused, with employees in the office 4–5 days a week. Many are moving towards full-time, on-site requirements to enhance in-person collaboration and maintain a strategic advantage.
Advice to Clients
Flexibility is a strong hiring draw, especially for boutique and mid-sized firms aiming to attract top talent. To remain competitive, firms should align their work policies with industry norms while ensuring they don’t compromise on productivity.
- Hybrid norm: A three-day minimum in-office attendance has become standard across buy-side firms, though boutique firms may still maintain a two-day minimum.
- Sector trends: While asset management and private markets firms typically favour hybrid setups, hedge funds tend towards higher in-office attendance, especially in larger organizations.
- Tailored approach: Firms should consider their specific size and strategic needs when establishing policies to balance flexibility with productivity and employee satisfaction.
For further discussion on how we can assist with your hiring strategies, please contact Andrew Murphy at andrew.murphy@coopman.uk, +44 74793 21030 or Cheryl Aust at Cheryl.aust@coopman.uk, +44 07380 906836.
