Headpoint Advisors at the Heart Of The Country

Delivering market-leading international M&A advice to mid-market companies across the UK is Oliver Stephens, associate director at Headpoint Advisors.

Oliver’s career in corporate finance is a testament to strategic decision-making and a focus on long-term value creation. Now an Associate Director here at Headpoint, he has played a pivotal role in delivering market-leading outcomes for clients while contributing to the firm’s growth and success. In his interview for Corporate Financier, Oliver shares insights into his career progression, the skills gained along the way, and how Headpoint’s client-first approach underpins its position as a trusted advisor in the UK mid-market.

When were you first interested in corporate finance?

The 2008 financial crisis brought the world of finance onto my radar. Investment bankers, and hedge fund managers were in the news daily. Despite the nature of some of the news, it sounded fascinating with a variety of interesting career paths. This led to me pursuing a finance degree, during which I interned with a proprietary commodity trader but ultimately decided to pursue a career in corporate finance. The summer following graduation, I started an extended internship with Clairfield UK (formerly Orbis Partners). This gave me great exposure to the corporate finance world. I was mainly involved with research, deal origination, and writing monthly market reports. It confirmed that corporate finance was the career for me. 

Why did you choose to do ACA in audit?

I wanted to develop the skill set ACA training would give me, the qualification, and experience working for a larger organisation early in my career. I joined PwC in September 2016, taking up an associate role in audit. It was a slight risk moving away from a corporate finance role to do something I enjoyed less but gave me exposure to the ‘Big 4’ way of working. Providing skills that would benefit me in the long run when working through deals.

How did your move back to corporate finance and Headpoint happen?

I spent most of my time at PwC in the banking and capital markets (BC&M) team. I had the chance to work on some of the largest financial service audits globally and in the UK. Despite enjoying BC&M, after three-and-a-half years of audit, it was time for me to get back into corporate finance. I had the opportunity to join Headpoint in February 2021.  I was aware of Mark Wilson, founder of Headpoint, and the opportunity available was an apprenticeship-like role. Working closely with the partners Mark, and Emmet Keating, to develop my skillset to deliver the best result for our clients. Learning the ins and outs of dealmaking from their 50+ years of experience. Over the last three and half years I have had the opportunity to learn how to deliver market-leading results by adding value for clients. But also what makes a corporate finance house tick, how it develops, and how we build a client-focused business. In my time at Headpoint, I’ve seen this put into practice, with the team growing year on year, with plenty of opportunity for us to grow further.

What is your role now?

The Headpoint mantra is to prioritise clients’ critical actions ahead of anything else. As an Associate Director, my role is to deliver transactions for our clients and push these forward. So my day’s work is focussed on the most important element of any of the transactions I’m working on. That can range from research on a particular market, drafting an IM or building model, negotiating value points with an interested party, or providing reassurance to a client who is selling the business they founded 30 years ago. The role continues to develop and I am encouraged by the partners to take on more and more responsibility for the delivery of projects. In turn, this frees up time for them. I also manage and coach our associates; Henry Baker who joined from KPMG in 2023, Joe Lowe, from EY, and Ben Skym, from Deloitte in 2024. 

What has been a notable deal for you?

I have managed project selling both to trade buyers, such as Besblock’s sale to Aggregate Industries and to private equity; recently Oxford Online Pharmacy growth finance from Rockpool. My most notable transaction thus far was the sale of Brandenburg, a Birmingham-based manufacturer of insect light traps, to pest control technology company Pelsis, backed by Pamplona Capital. It was completed in December 2021. We were mandated to sell a sole manufacturing entity, but this expanded to include a manufacturing and R&D facility in India and a distribution hub in the US. I led the diligence trip to India with the Pelsis team. Requiring a three-day whistle-stop tour of the facilities at the height of India’s COVID-19 pandemic. We completed the expanded deal on time and at enhanced value. 

What are your future ambitions?

We work with leading private companies across the UK and we are keen to build on this to make Headpoint a significant advisory firm in the UK’s mid-market. Anchored in the Midlands but delivering national and international deals. I plan to continue my professional and network development to contribute to this.

To find out more about Oliver and the rest of the Headpoint Team, click here.

Read the ICAEW interview here.