Andrew McNeil

Managing Director - Yarmouth Group

Graduated in:

2000

Course completed:

Bachelor of Arts (Communication Management)

Currently working for:

Yarmouth Group

How long have you been working for this organisation?

3 years

Position title and short job description:

Managing Director, Yarmouth Group. I am responsible for the leadership, strategy, profitability and overall management of the Yarmouth Group.

The Yarmouth Group is a diversified financial services company that provides strategic advice and services across five core disciplines:

• corporate advisory
• real estate investment advisory
• private equity
• corporate governance
• management consulting

The company targets small to medium sized enterprises seeking professional and independent corporate advice. The Yarmouth Group is based in Sydney.

Working highlight so far:

• Starting a successful financial services business in the depths of the Global Financial Crisis.
• Being transferred to the United States by Lend Lease for work in my early 20's and having the chance to work in finance in New York.
• Working in Sydney for a leading financial services company while the GFC was unfolding and being able to add real value to the company so that it could do its best to protect investors' interests.
• Working full time in my late teens and early 20's while studying at Deakin part time and gaining invaluable work experience. This work experience gave me a great foundation for my career while Deakin was able to deliver an excellent experience remotely and after business hours.

What are the things you enjoy most about your job?

Being able to help clients achieve excellent results.

Having the freedom to create a company, its culture and to develop the 'DNA' of what the company stands for as a sustainable and socially responsible corporate entity.

An area in which you have needed assistance:

• Patience
• I have needed most assistance with the setting of realistic goals/achievable timeframes and thereby reducing potential mistakes by taking a more considered and prudent approach as I developed my career.

Thankfully, the mentors I have gained over my career have helped steer me in the right direction and have been a source of priceless advice over the years.

What do you intend to do in the future?

• Ensure that the Yarmouth Group continues to grow sustainably and provide excellent reurns to our shareholders.
• Develop our international capabilities, particularly in Asia.
• Grow our communities work with Yarmouth Foundation and Yarmouth Community Day.

#1 tip for current students studying your course:

My number one tip would be for students to do subjects that they really enjoy, learn how to learn at university level, how to research and how to write more effectively. Once students complete the BA, keep your eyes open to the opportunities that graduate study can present once you have more of an idea of what you want to get out of your career.

I recommend that students should try to develop relationships with people they trust in the industry in which they wish to work.

Use the Deakin BA to learn as much as you can about social media in business; this is a huge growth area for business communication.