How to Make a Successful Move from a Large Corporate to an SME

Making the change from a large corporate company environment to an SME can be an exciting challenge that offers great opportunities for your career. 

In a large corporation, processes are often highly structured, roles are specialised, and resources are abundant. 

By comparison, SMEs offer a more dynamic, hands-on environment where being flexible and innovative are more valuable skills. As more finance professionals are seeking new opportunities and fresh challenges, switching from a large corporate to an SME is becoming increasingly popular. To be successful, this switch requires not only a change in mindset but also an adaptation of skills and expectations, as well as adjusting to differences in the hiring process. 

What is Driving the Shift from Corporate to SME

Your first thought might be that the shift is being driven solely by the increasing number of SMEs. However, there is more to changing career path than just the number of roles that are available.

• More responsibility – in large corporates, finance professionals are encouraged to specialise in a single discipline and have little say in the overall direction of the company until they have climbed several rungs on the career ladder. Whereas, in SMEs, professionals can make a tangible contribution to the company’s success whilst diversifying the work they take on. 
• Work-life balance – SMEs tend to offer more flexibility in their working hours, remote policies, and a more relaxed work culture, as opposed to the more rigid structure of larger firms. 
• Market dynamics – in periods of downturns, corporations are more likely to place hiring freezes or downsize. SMEs are likely to be more agile and be more able to adapt quickly to changes. 

What You Should Consider Before Moving to an SME

One of the common questions we get asked by candidates is how they can best manage the transition to an SME. There are a few things to keep in mind. 

Professionals must be adaptable and ready to engage in a wider range of tasks, often beyond their traditional roles giving you more exposure and experience across the whole business. This adaptability is a crucial part of succeeding in an SME where the more informal and flexible culture will be vastly different from a corporate environment.

“Corporates offer standardised processes that have stood the test of time, they also have a hierarchical structure and formal communication channels. SMEs on the other hand can have less defined processes and encourage you to come up with creative solutions and achieve results with fewer resources and enjoy taking on responsibilities that are less defined to make the most of the trust that the SME is placing in you,” says John Marx, Director of Halliday Marx.  

Working for a large, well-known corporation, comes with a certain level of prestige, as well as an extensive list of perks such as benefits packages, corporate events, and well-resourced facilities. SMEs on the other hand are unlikely to be able to offer the same level of external recognition or fringe benefits, but the gap is narrowing. 

Working in an SME is not for everyone. We would advise you to carry out some self-reflection to understand if this career move would be the right fit for you. 

Ask yourself these questions:

• Do you enjoy innovation? 
• Do you like varied responsibilities?
• Do you prefer working with a wider set of resources? 
• What kind of culture are you looking for? 
• What do you enjoy in a work environment? 

SME vs Corporate during the hiring process

“At Halliday Marx, we are seeing some candidates receiving offers in as little as 24 to 48 hours after first being briefed about a job. Just a few years ago this would have been unheard of. SMEs naturally lean towards a faster, more proactive and decisive hiring process to secure the best candidates, and while large corporates are scrambling to catch up, some still maintain a more structured and formal approach, with multiple interview rounds and longer decision-making times.” says Andy Halliday, Director of Halliday Marx.

Additionally, SMEs offer more negotiation flexibility and personalised onboarding, while corporates provide extensive training programs, well-trodden career paths, and comprehensive benefits packages. 

At Halliday Marx, we know that making the successful switch to an SME from a large corporate, needs you to be adaptable and comfortable in a dynamic and hands-on environment where being flexible and innovative are more valuable skills. By keeping the above tips in mind, you will be well set for the career change ahead. 

If you would like any more advice on this topic, please contact us on 020 7096 8200 or email us at [email protected]

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