Mercer & Hole would like to introduce you to Tania Phillips, our Corporate Finance Associate Director. Tania joins us with a wealth of experience and enthusiasm, her understanding of the intricacies of each client’s business allows her to offer personalised approach when supporting our clients.

In her role, Tania will be primarily focused on working with SMEs and owner-managed businesses. One of Tania’s strengths lies in her genuine passion for understanding her clients, their businesses, and providing tailored approach to help them achieve their objectives.

Take 5 with Tania Phillips

Tania joined us in October last year from BDO UK, having previously gained valuable experience at Shaw Gibbs and RSM. Tania deals with business owners across an exciting range of industry sectors including software, media, leisure, manufacturing, and the automotive industry. She has a vast amount of experience which includes working in Chicago on a three-month secondment, and an interest in financial due diligence projects which has benefited us greatly as a firm. Six months in, we caught up with her over coffee to find out more…

What is your approach to Corporate Finance?
Every project is different, so, at the start of each project I take the time to gain a detailed understanding of the client’s objectives, their requirements and the risks and issues they face. This helps me tailor my approach, support them through their transaction and be best placed to help them achieve their goals.

What do you enjoy most about your work?
Working mainly with SMEs and owner managed businesses, I love learning about my clients, their businesses and being able to support them in achieving their objectives. I also enjoy the fact that my role is so varied as I am involved in many different areas of corporate finance including financial due diligence, pre lending reviews, M&A advisory, company valuations and financial modelling. In addition, the clients I have worked for since joining have been at different stages of their lifecycle across a range of industries including entertainment and media, distribution, and insurance.

What inspired you to pursue a career in corporate finance, and how has your journey led you to your current role?
My journey into corporate finance is a testament to my desire for a varied, client-facing role. I trained in audit at Crowe, qualified in 2010 and continued in audit for an additional year. Despite enjoying the client interactions, I found audit to be somewhat rigid, heavily influenced by regulations and compliance.

My pivotal moment came during a secondment in Chicago, where an audit partner suggested exploring corporate finance. Intrigued, I delved into understanding the intricacies of this field when I returned to London. The appeal lay in its advisory nature, offering a dynamic, project-based environment with the opportunity to engage in diverse deals and aspects of corporate finance.

The move was not without its challenges, but my journey was marked by the support and guidance of an exceptional team. Despite the steep learning curve, the mentorship I received played a crucial role in shaping my career.

Favourite holiday destination?
I love travelling and have been fortunate to visit many places for both pleasure and business. My top destination is Cuba; we drove around the island experiencing the culture, local food and drink, picked up hitch hikers, and even saw the Rolling Stones play live at a free outdoor concert!

A random fact about you?
I used to own a Vespa – it’s a great way to quickly nip around London.

Please join us in welcoming Tania to Mercer & Hole, we are excited about the expertise and fresh insights she brings to our Corporate Finance service. If you have any questions or would like to connect with Tania please get in touch.