27 February 2025
In our latest ‘Meet the Team’ blog series, we spoke to Aaron Lowery, Assistant Director at Translink Corporate Finance UK.
Aaron shares insights into his day-to-day role, what he enjoys most about working at the firm, and offers valuable tips for those interested in starting a career in corporate finance.
He also discusses Translink’s commitment to building trusted relationships with clients and highlights the firm’s strong team culture.
Can you describe your role and the key responsibilities that come with it?
I lead on the execution of our client engagements, leading the team to deliver in the best outcome for our client. I’m the key day-to-day contact for our clients and potential buyers of the businesses we are advising.
I also provide support to the junior members of our team and help with their development.
What does a typical working day look like for you?
You don’t really get a typical day in corporate finance; the job can vary depending on the mandates I’m working on and at which stage they are in the process.
My day can range from going out to meet new and prospective clients, pitching for mandates, reviewing Information Memorandums and liaising with potential buyers and our clients.
One of the great things about the role is the variety and the number of different owners/managers of businesses I’m lucky enough to meet.
What’s the one must-do activity that you do every day?
It sounds obvious, but I like to write a to-do list every morning. This helps me prioritise what I need to get done and plan for the day ahead.
What are some of the most challenging aspects of your job, and how do you overcome them?
Each deal presents a unique set of challenges and circumstances, which is what makes the work interesting.
When we do get a setback or an answer that isn’t what the client wants, it’s about being creative and thinking of an alternative approach that will help us reach a suitable outcome for our clients.
Are you seeing any trends emerging within the corporate finance landscape?
I think the short and medium-term outlook will be dominated by Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, as they are at the forefront of a wide range of sectors and will become a key part of most transactions.
This will give us access to more and more data and a deeper understanding of companies.
What motivates you most in your work, and how do you ensure you continue to deliver value to your clients?
I’m motivated by working as part of a great team and knowing that we’re all working together to achieve a joint outcome.
Translink has a great team culture, which helps to create an environment where everyone can thrive.
Many businesses we advise are family-owned, so we deal directly with the people who will benefit from our work. It’s also great to get to know them on a personal level and help get them the results they want.
What skills or qualities do you think are essential for someone to excel in corporate finance advisory?
You need to be a strong communicator and have good interpersonal skills.
We have competitors with similar strengths to us, but I believe our clients buy into the quality of the relationships we create with them, which in turn means they can trust us to provide them with the best service.
What advice would you give to trainees starting out?
Don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions, get stuck in and give everything a try.
The only way to learn and improve is to give things a go and get feedback on your work.
What’s one thing you learned in school that has stuck with you?
Find something you enjoy doing and work hard at it, and that should give you the motivation to keep on doing it every day.
Outside of work, how do you like to spend your time? Do you have any hobbies or interests?
I have two young daughters, aged four and five, so free time isn’t abundant! To keep some semblance of balance I enjoy running and watching sports including football (Middlesbrough) and cricket.
What’s the biggest thing on your bucket list?
I’d like to do a lot more travelling. We’re very lucky to live on an island that has so much variety.
I’m hoping to do the North Coast 500 in the next year or so, and further afield I would like to visit Peru and Jordan (to name a few).
I’d also like to run the Boston Marathon – the world’s oldest marathon!
