How would you describe the position of “Account Manager”?
In specific terms, our job is to coordinate, analyse and complete mergers, acquisitions and disposals, mainly in the banking and financial sector, to support the Group’s business lines (Retail Banking, CIB, Insurance, Asset Management, etc.) or on behalf of Crédit Agricole S.A. directly. Our mission is to defend the Group’s interests and to inform the General Management of the financial, regulatory and legal aspects of the cases handled.
Working closely with all central functions and with the support of senior bankers for complex operations, you are both the leader and facilitator for the operations for which you are responsible, as well as guaranteeing compliance with Group procedures. Our business line could be called “own account Mergers & Acquisitions” as opposed to “M&A for external clients”.

What are the peak periods of your job during the year?
The peak periods of our business are linked not so much to the size of the operations as to their complexity. Except for the annual goodwill impairment tests, there are no really seasonal operations. Operations can occur at any time for a period that may vary from a few weeks to several years. The most exciting periods are, by their very nature, the negotiation and finalisation stages of the transactions in which you will be involved.

Can you describe your typical day?
What is so special about our job is that there is no typical day. We can simultaneously take part in negotiations with the counterparty, in a contract review session, delve into a complex valuation exercise, take stock with specialist colleagues on a specific issue (tax, legal, solvency, etc.), organise and take part in the steering committee of a project or simply celebrate the success of a transaction over a drink. You therefore have to be flexible because the evenings can be long and some week-ends spent working. But we are never bored!

What career path is required to reach your position and what are the possibilities for development?
The profiles we are looking for are naturally fairly financial profiles with a good knowledge of the Group and its businesses and a grasp of legal, tax and accounting issues. It requires excellent interpersonal skills and a good measure of adaptability. An initial experience in corporate finance would of course be useful. There is, however, no standard career path: some of us have worked in essentially financial functions (Financial Steering, Banking Consolidation, Financial Communications, etc.) while others have worked in more commercial functions or in Strategy. Thanks to this job, you will be able to deal with a wide range of issues and to develop within the Group with a wide range of possibilities.

What advice would you give to someone thinking of taking up a similar position?
It’s an exciting job, very well-rounded but demanding. You’ll be working at the heart of the Group’s transformations and your past experience, whatever it may be, will be a real asset. It is an expert job with a strong interpersonal aspect and frequent exposure to the Group’s Management.