The Clever Team
We are a friendly team of recruitment professionals passionate about the Financial Services market and the part we play in helping our clients and candidates grow and develop.
Our experience spans across various facets of the Financial Services industry. We are consistently looking to build relationships with IFA's, Wealth Managers, Investment Managers, and non-regulated personnel such as Paraplanners, IFA Administration and Sales Support.
With a team of consultants who understand the industry, we are well placed to support business and recruitment requirements to both candidates and clients.
To discuss drop us a line e: hello@clever-hr.uk or give us a call on t: 01173 790818
James Rendell
James has a wealth of experience working within Financial Services recruitment. He has worked on a number of projects for a variant of businesses, from small niche Financial Planning firms to large national organisations. James is still very much hands on, working on various recruitment assignments for his clients, as well as the day to day running of the business.
In his spare time, besides travel, James is a keen sports fan. His early days was spent on cricket grounds across the country, where he represented Gloucestershire CCC from an early age through to adulthood and he had the honour of representing England Schools in the mid ‘90s. He supports grass roots football and plays the occasional round of golf.
He can often be found grazing the nearby Cotswold countryside with his family and Donkey-like Chocolate Lab, Monster.
In 2016, James was a nominee for the South West 42 under 42, an initiative where business owners across the region are recognised under the age of 42. Further information can be found by following the link: https://www.insidermedia.com/42-under-42-members/southwest/2016 .
He is currently joint Chairman of business networking group, Sodbury & Yate Business Association, a community group designed to offer support and opportunities for business owners in the local area.
Likes: The sound of leather on willow, Everton, travelling and Jaffa Cakes
Dislikes: Arrogance and a fuzzy radio signal
Favourite Movie: A toss up between Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and Big Trouble in Little China
Sam Kotadia
Sam has over a decade of experience working with organisations in high-performance environments. Qualified with a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Psychology Sam’s work has been translated into half-a-dozen world-languages. His recent manuscript ‘Win the Day’ attracted the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo; who wrote the foreword for the book. His friends and colleagues are sick of hearing this by the way!
Sam has an unmoving passion to bring the best out of everyone he works with in a variety of professional spaces. His mother believes that watching too many Rocky films from a young age explains Sam’s love for the underdog rising to the challenge.
Despite being immersed in the world of Positive Psychology Sam is a terrible loser. Avoid him at all costs if you happen to find him on the golf course in a bunker. Sam loves film and on occasion is known to produce an oil painting. Music is another one of Sam’s keen passions; but he cannot sing to save his life!
Monte Moo
A good boy who comes in occasionally for a snooze, some treats and a lot of love.
Likes: Cheese, Cucumber and Ear Scratches
Dislikes: Being Ignored, Non-Food Sharers and Being dressed up in silly T-Shirts
Favourite Movie: Marley & Me, Turner & Hooch and Beethoven
Brenda Willmott
I’ve been in the Financial Services industry for over 30 years in a variety of roles – starting in DB pension administration, SSAS Administration, a broker consultant for a major pension provider and more recently as a Paraplanner (I also hold the G60 Pensions Qualification amongst a whole host of qualifications too). Due to my extensive financial services experience, I decided to join the Clever team so that I can use my knowledge in helping our clients attract new clients and candidates find their next career move.
I have visited lots of interesting places over the years, including Bora Bora, Tahiti, Tokyo, and The Gambia. For my 50th birthday, I also slept in an ice room at minus 28 at The Ice Hotel, Sweden. I spend much of my free time in campsites around the UK utilising my beloved camper van or on the back of Rich’s BMW motorbike participating in charity events, including Santa’s on a Bike and Hoggin the Bridge. I have also been known to combine motorbiking and traveling, spending 10 days in Norway touring, and in March I will be off to Phuket, Thailand. I have created so many memories, including running around and around Vienna airport trying to get to my connecting flight, flying a plane, and never-ending journeys to countries.
I currently help to walk an elderly couple’s beloved dog, Star, a Cavalier KC Spaniel as part of the Cinnamon Trust. This is a great way to combine my love of dogs and helping the community.
Likes: Dogs, Maltesers, and Champagne
Dislikes: Needles, Blood, and Spiders
Favourite Movie: The Jazz Singer - Neil Diamond version - Naff Acting, Fab Singing
Carly Walters
Carly joined Clever HR taking on the exciting new role as Relationship Manager.
Carly has 25 years' experience working in executive banking, retail and fashion, including 8 years’ of running her own small businesses successfully. This breadth of experience has given Carly a great insight into both behind the scenes and front house knowledge of business. Particulary, Carly’s 10 years working within the Executive team in Business Banking at Lloyds, teamed with her creativity and great rapport with people and enthusiasm for life has been invaluable at building loyal customer relationships and collaborating with like-minded driven individuals and businesses. In 2019 Carly was a nominee for Business Woman Award. Carly loves working with the dynamic Clever team who are passionate about their people and everyone they work with.
In her ‘spare’ time Carly has a busy life running her home and looking after her 3 children. Carly also runs a side hustle as a Stylist & Confidence Coach, and loves cooking and creating new recipes whilst listening to good ol’ tunes too (who doesn’t love a kitchen dance whilst cooking!) She’s also switched up her daily love for the gym to the outdoors with country walks, mountain climbs and loves an adventure.
Likes: The beach, the outdoors, adventures, helping others, positivity, creativity, reading & learning newness!
Dislikes: Not a lot – I try to see the good in everything (Although I don’t like cheese which I’m told is weird!)
Favourite Movie: Star is Born / Top Gun
Nigel Chambers
With over 20 years working in finance, Nigel works with Clever HR to provide that crucial role of helping us managing our finances.
Previously Nigel worked at Lloyds Bank which included a two-year stint at the Chipping Sodbury branch (now a hotel). Since 2004 he has owned two businesses providing bookkeeping services through SOBK Bookkeeping Services Ltd and payroll/pensions administration services through PPAE Ltd. Having a wide range of clients from restaurants to property developers and nearly everything in-between, he brings a wealth of knowledge that ensures that most situations can be dealt with calmly and professionally. On those occasions when further help may be needed, Nigel has a good network of HR professionals, accountants, IFAs that can be called upon for assistance. He can even find you a coffee bean roaster!
When not helping his clients with their bookkeeping and payroll needs, Nigel enjoys going to comedy and music gigs (he is a self-confessed pop addict) as well as being in the audience for tv recordings. He also enjoys foreign travel as well as spending time in the UK in his Mazda Bongo campervan called Friquet.
Likes: Spending time in the campervan, reading historical crime novels, continental travel, looking after his cat and (when the opportunity arises) helping other bookkeeping/payroll professionals by presenting either on Zoom or in person at conferences.
Dislikes: People who take themselves too seriously and a lack of wi-fi
Favourite film: A toss-up between North by North West and Get Carter (the original of course)
Nazama Tague
Nazama (Naz), has recently joined Clever HR taking the new role of Client Relationship Manager.
Naz has more than 20 years experience working in customer/client relationship roles, as well as having a 10-year professional fundraising background (trusts, legacies, community, and corporate) for regional and national charities. After a family career break, she started teaching yoga as a hobby that later developed as a business for over 9 years.
She is all about helping people, creating win-win partnerships, and loves helping others grow.
She is passionate about positive mental health and is trained as Mental Health First Aider, and continues to support people as a Yoga & Ayurveda Health Coach – speak to her if you’re living with back pain or want to lose weight!
Likes: Learning (especially how the human mind works), good quality chocolate, homemade cake, samosas and proper chai tea.
Dislikes: Cold salads
Favourite Movie: Anything that’s off the wall like Baz Luhrmann’s movies, slightly nutty Ozzie films like Ali’s Wedding, and anything based on true-life.
Vicky Acreman
Vicky has 20 years recruitment experience within financial services, she began her recruitment career as a temp consultant within the payroll industry. A year later she moved into financial services working with Investment banks and then moving across to wealth management.
Like many Vicky did not aspire to be a recruitment consultant, however, after falling into the industry it is something that she has grown to love and very much enjoy. Over the years she has built up a strong network of clients and candidates and prides herself on honesty, transparency, and a desire to help others.
When Vicky is not working, she will be spending time making memories with her two sons, Hayden 10 and Findley 13. As a family they enjoy being out in nature, bowling, cinema, and swimming.
Fun fact about Vicky – she loves a karaoke bar and thinks she’s Beyonce after a few drinks!
