Publish Date: Posted almost 5 years ago
Author:by Laura Paterson

Meet Cedar: Graham Thornton

At Cedar, we pride ourselves on treating everyone as an individual, which is why we’d like to introduce the individuals who make that happen. This week, we catch up with Graham Thornton, Director in the permanent division of our Qualified Finance Practice.How long have you been with Cedar? Since April 2005. And what convinced you to join? It was all down to Howard Bentwood – Cedar’s CEO. I’d spent my entire career in recruitment and was managing Qualified Finance (London) at Hudson at the time he tapped me up.What convinced me was how much energy, drive and ambition he exuded. Here was someone I could learn an enormous amount from and have fun along the way! What do you most enjoy about your work? In a people-based business, you quickly learn that everyone’s different, which means each day brings its own unique challenges. The upside is that no two days are the same and that keeps me on my toes. And what do you think you bring to it? In-depth experience and good counsel. And what motivates you? My family – first and foremost. But having a genuine input into Cedar’s ongoing growth plan and success comes a close second.If you could give just one tip to candidates, what would it be?Blow your own trumpet. Arrogance won’t get you anywhere, however, it’s critical to ensure that when you leave the room the interviewers are in no doubt as to your abilities and what you bring to the table.And to clients? Don’t forget to sell yourself, your company and the role. Outside work, what are you proudest of? My amazing twin daughters – who are thoroughly talented despite my influence! How would you convince anyone thinking of calling Cedar to do so? We offer a bespoke service that isn’t just marketing spiel. We really do recognise that you’re an individual rather than treat you as a commodity, whether you’re a client or a candidate.Which app couldn’t you survive without?MetOffice. I cycle to work every day and – as I’ve learned – when you’re about to set off on a 26-mile round trip it’s no good just looking out of the window to check the weather!Favourite box-set? House of Cards.And your ideal Sunday? An early morning bike ride through the Surrey countryside, followed by a day with the family including a long walk with our two-year-old Cockapoo, a leisurely home-cooked Sunday roast and plenty of fresh air for all of us. Unless, of course, Liverpool are on TV – then it’s a different story!

Share this Article

Back to Blogs

How long have you been with Cedar? Since April 2005. And what convinced you to join? It was all down to Howard Bentwood – Cedar’s CEO. I’d spent my entire career in recruitment and was managing Qualified Finance (London) at Hudson at the time he tapped me up.

What convinced me was how much energy, drive and ambition he exuded. Here was someone I could learn an enormous amount from and have fun along the way!

What do you most enjoy about your work? In a people-based business, you quickly learn that everyone’s different, which means each day brings its own unique challenges. The upside is that no two days are the same and that keeps me on my toes.

And what do you think you bring to it? In-depth experience and good counsel.

And what motivates you? My family – first and foremost. But having a genuine input into Cedar’s ongoing growth plan and success comes a close second.

If you could give just one tip to candidates, what would it be?

Blow your own trumpet. Arrogance won’t get you anywhere, however, it’s critical to ensure that when you leave the room the interviewers are in no doubt as to your abilities and what you bring to the table.

And to clients? Don’t forget to sell yourself, your company and the role. Outside work, what are you proudest of? My amazing twin daughters – who are thoroughly talented despite my influence!

How would you convince anyone thinking of calling Cedar to do so? We offer a bespoke service that isn’t just marketing spiel. We really do recognise that you’re an individual rather than treat you as a commodity, whether you’re a client or a candidate.

Which app couldn’t you survive without?MetOffice. I cycle to work every day and – as I’ve learned – when you’re about to set off on a 26-mile round trip it’s no good just looking out of the window to check the weather!

Favourite box-set? House of Cards.And your ideal Sunday? An early morning bike ride through the Surrey countryside, followed by a day with the family including a long walk with our two-year-old Cockapoo, a leisurely home-cooked Sunday roast and plenty of fresh air for all of us. Unless, of course, Liverpool are on TV – then it’s a different story!

Latest Blogs

View All Blogs

International Women's Day at Cedar

On International Women’s Day, it’s time to #Embraceequity Wednesday, 8th March, is International Women’s Day. This year, its emphasis is on equity, and specifically the need to understand the fund...

From goal-nets to goal-line technology… tackling the UK’s productivity puzzle

As we tiptoe into 2023, there is not a scintilla of doubt that the UK economy (and indeed that of much of the rest of the world) is not in a great place. The global pandemic, with its disastrous i...

Black History Month and the Art of Black Hair

“I joined Cedar in 2012, having previously worked for a much smaller company. At the time I joined, I was the only Afro-Caribbean person in the business, although in the decade I’ve been here ther...

1 A Pa0pj9p Kg Lop Vf Iu M Nlo Q E1579474393478

“Show me the Money!!!”

As the UK teeters on the brink of the recession precipice, the most commonly used phrase Cedar’s recruitment consultants hear these days is, “What with everything that’s going on…”.A year ago, we w...

Britain's surprisingly diverse leadership battle

At Cedar, we're a diverse bunch, with diverse views, including our politics. But looking at the current Government, it seems we're at an inflection point for all parties.With the resignation of Bo...

London Pride

In June 1970, up to 20,000 people gathered for what was then called a Gay Liberation march in New York. Although the battle for gay rights in the USA can be traced back to the 1920s, this march was...

DE&I at Cedar – a work in progress

If you read our previous blog, ‘The Long March to Equality’, examining the rise of DE&I within recruitment, you may have been surprised, as we were, at how far the industry has come since the first...

The long march to equality

The oldest person who works at Cedar can remember when airlines advertised for male pilots and female air-hostesses. In Northern Ireland at that time, recruitment consultants used to draw up list...

Employers are getting very choosy… A review of the recently-qualified accountancy & finance jobs market

The recruitment market and the economy more generally have had a lot of exogenous shocks over the last few years is, I can say without fear of contradiction, an understatement. Yet, despite all th...

Square pegs, round holes…and the need for genuine tax expertise in your business

As you know, the government has an Office for Tax Simplification, set up by George Osborne after he became Chancellor of the Exchequer in 2010. Unfortunately, as a former tax director from Grant...

Recruitment as we move into Q4 – it’s a battlefield and a buyer’s market

Last year, as the full extent of the pandemic, became apparent, many economists said it would take a long time for the economy to recover. In April 2020, The Guardian reported that the EY Item Club...

What it takes to be a successful PE portfolio company CEO

Whilst there is not a one size fits all solution for what we see in successful PE portfolio company CEO’s we are able to see some clear trends when it comes this. Below we have attempted to answer...

How to Make Your CV Stand Out

Looking for your next finance role? The first step is getting your CV right. With such a small window in which to impress recruiters, it’s vital that you’re able to make your CV stand out from the ...