№ 01 / Introduction
Senior commercial search for UK financial services.
20 years in one market. You learn who fits where, and why.
PlatformsDFMsAsset managersFintechsRetirement providersBanksNeobanks
№ 02 / Practice
How I work.
Five core principles.
Exclusive only.
For clients
A small number of briefs at a time. Yours gets full attention.
For candidates
Every candidate gets treated the same. That's the standard.
Specialist, not opportunist.
For clients
If it's commercial or revenue-led, you're in the right place. If it isn't, I'll point you somewhere better.
For candidates
I won't push a role I wouldn't take myself.
Four candidates, not forty.
For clients
A real shortlist. Vetted, assessed, right level, right fit.
For candidates
You'll only see briefs that actually fit.
Long view, not quick win.
For clients
Twenty years in one market. The shortlist often exists before the brief lands.
For candidates
I'm here for the next move and the one after.
Discreet by default.
For clients
Named, or anonymous. Guided by you.
For candidates
Your conversations stay private. Your CV doesn't move without your sign-off.
№ 03 / Services
Three ways to work together.
All work is taken on an exclusive basis. One brief at a time, properly worked, end to end.
■01 · Standard
Default
Exclusive Search.
The default engagement. Exclusive, end-to-end search on a single brief at a time. No retainer. Fees tied entirely to results.
50% on verbal acceptance
50% on day one
No upfront retainer.
50% on day one
No upfront retainer.
■02 · Retained
Retained Search.
For complex or senior briefs that need more. A wider market assessment, staged introductions, and closer collaboration at every step. Sometimes that means running the search quietly. Often it just means the brief deserves more time and structure than exclusive allows.
1/3 on instruction
1/3 on shortlist
1/3 on the start date.
1/3 on shortlist
1/3 on the start date.
■03 · Project
Remuneration Benchmarking.
Useful before a hire, during a restructure, or when you need to understand where your packages sit in the market. Covers team structure, reporting lines, base salary, bonus mechanics, and full package detail.
Scoped and priced
per project.
per project.
№ 04 / Sectors
Mid-to-senior director-level roles, across eight sectors.
Clearcut places senior commercial talent into financial services firms that sit within these eight sub-sectors.
01
Investment platforms
02
DFMs & MPS
03
Asset managers
04
Life & retirement providers
05
Fintechs
06
Banks & neobanks
07
National advisory / Consolidators
08
Private asset firms
Particular areas of interest
Digital investingTargeted supportSimplified adviceProduct & proposition
№ 05 / Writing
In print, and in conversation.
Published.
Selected pieces written for Money Marketing, the leading UK trade title for financial advisers and wealth managers.
From the desk.
Most of the writing happens on LinkedIn. Notes on the market. Observations from the desk. The occasional opinion worth committing to print. Posted regularly through the week. Written from real conversations, not for an algorithm.
My top ten tips for interview
Read on LinkedIn ↗He'd seen the job advert but he didn't apply
Read on LinkedIn ↗The channel was built before the rules arrived
Read on LinkedIn ↗Posted through the week. Sometimes daily.
Simon Evans
Founder, Clearcut Consulting
Bristol, UK
Founder, Clearcut Consulting
Bristol, UK
№ 06 / About
I've spent the last 20 years in one market, working across UK financial services and learning how the sector moves, who fits where, and why.
Recruitment found me by accident, but it felt like home quickly. I've always been drawn to people, what drives them, what they're looking for, and what sits underneath the answer they first give you.
Those instincts naturally translated into a world built around understanding people and guiding key career moves.
I work best in complex, relationship-led environments where judgement, trust and discretion matter, a natural fit for the technical depth and positioning demands of financial services.
I work solo by design. It keeps me close to the market, close to the conversation, and close to the people I'm working with.
I'm based near Bristol now, after twelve years in London. I'm a country boy at heart, so I gravitate toward the quieter things: countryside, dog walks, squash, coaching my sons' U11 rugby team, and a bit of voluntary work. I also speak reasonably good Italian and still carry a long-running ambition to move the family to the Italian hills one day.
Twenty years in one market gives you perspective. Working solo lets you put it into practice.
№ 07 / Verdicts
What they say.
A few words from clients.
Working with Simon has never felt transactional. The conversations are always thoughtful, commercially focused and centred on the bigger picture, rather than simply filling a role.
What stands out most is his ability to understand people, team dynamics and culture alongside the technical requirements of a position. He brings genuine market insight, honest challenge and strong judgement, which makes him as much a trusted sounding board as a recruiter.
Over the past year, the hires and conversations we've had have played an important role in strengthening the team and positioning us well for the future. Simon's approach is calm, credible and highly professional, which gives real confidence when making important hiring decisions.
He takes the time to properly understand the business, the people and the long-term objective, and that comes through consistently in the quality of both the conversations and the outcomes.
Ryan Bagnall·Head of Intermediary Distribution, Parmenion
Parmenion have been working closely with Simon and Clearcut Consulting Ltd for some time now. We consider him a valued partner and always know that candidates will be capable, competent, well-screened and, most importantly, well briefed.
His input and judgement on people matter more widely and is always thoughtful and well considered. I highly recommend him.
Mike Morrow·Chief Commercial Officer, Parmenion
As much a trusted sounding board as a recruiter.
From Ryan Bagnall
№ 08 / Contact
Solo operator. You get me.
No account manager. No hand-offs. Phone calls still win, the underrated tool in a world obsessed with automation. If I can answer, I will.
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