Sophie James
Tunbridge Wells, ,Kent
Summary
Highly skilled professional with expertise in diplomatic communication, resilience under pressure, and priority setting. Demonstrates exceptional time efficiency, discretionary judgement, and proficiency in meeting coordination, event planning, and execution. Adept at managing expenses, travel bookings, and liaising with stakeholders to ensure seamless operations. Committed to delivering excellence through meticulous attention to detail and strategic planning.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work history
PA
Deutsche Bank
10.2024 - 02.2025
- PA to 4 MDS & 2 very busy teams.
- Expense reconciliation for MDs & Directors.
- Optimised time management by creating effective work schedules.
- Assisted in event planning, leading to successful corporate gatherings.
- Coordinated travel arrangements, resulting in smooth business trips.
- Managed complex diaries, ensuring seamless executive schedules.
INTERIM EA
Impax AM
08.2024 - 09.2024
- Very heavy Diary management & travel arrangements.
- Carried out day-to-day duties accurately and efficiently.
- Successfully delivered on tasks within tight deadlines.
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
Hampshire Trust Bank
06.2022 - 06.2024
- Managed six EXCO diaries. EA to CFO (Board Member), CRO & CSO predominantly.
- Worked closely with CO-Sec & NEDS. Organised corporate governance meetings, Board Meetings.
- Worked with all external stakeholders, Bank of England and investors.
- Worked closely with the Chairman's team at Metro Bank and the Private Equity owner’s PA & Team.
- Understood each partner’s work style, expectations, and boundaries to ensure they received exceptional support/representation when acting on their behalf.
- Demonstrated the ability to remain calm and positive in difficult work environments, whilst acting professionally and handling sensitive information discreetly.
- Built and developed relationships internally and externally with colleagues and clients of all levels and use these networks to help solve problems and provide solutions.
- Was flexible with work hours during busy periods and sometimes over weekends.
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
Permira
02.2022 - 06.2022
- EA to 4 Investment professionals.
- Managed complex travel arrangements to ensure seamless business trips for executives.
- Created expense reports with matching receipts.
- Scheduled meetings, conferences and appointments.
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
Egerton Capital
03.2021 - 02.2022
- EA to 3 Analysts covering Technology & Asia Markets.
- Managed complex diaries, ensuring seamless executive schedules.
- Managed very travel arrangements to ensure seamless business trips for executives.
- Liaised with other departments to maintain smooth flow of information across the organisation.
- Handled confidential documents securely maintaining privacy and trustworthiness within the firm.
- EA support to Chairman
SCHOOL SECRETARY
Claremont Prep School
09.2020 - 03.2021
- Bain was unable to make me permanent owing to a pandemic-led global hiring freeze – I worked in a small prep school near my Parents Homes to support them during the Covid-19 Pandemic.
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
Bain & Company
08.2019 - 09.2020
- Managed two partners complex diaries.
- Float EA for first 6 months of role.
- Coordinated complex travel and managed expenses and timesheets in a timely manner.
- Was flexible with work hours during busy periods especially when working across different time zones.
- Understood the partner’s work styles, expectations, and boundaries to ensure they receive exceptional support/representation when acting on their behalf.
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
Hootsuite
02.2019 - 06.2019
- EA to GM EMEA (primary stakeholder) & Global VP Marketing.
- Gatekeeper and main point of contact, exclusive diary & travel management, all expense reconciliation.
- Organised travel arrangements for EMEA leadership team.
- Organised company events, providing in house lunch events for London office, end of Quarter drinks.
SENIOR EA
Bloomberg Media Group
02.2018 - 11.2018
- EA to Head of Sales and Marketing, EMEA for Bloomberg Media Group.
- Gatekeeper and main point of contact, extensive heavy diary & travel management, all expense reconciliation.
- Arranged family holidays, sourcing apartments in Paris, villas in South of France and Italy.
- Undertook Private PA work, medical appointments, school trip commitments, visa requirements, arranging outings in UK.
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
Cerberus Capital Management
03.2017 - 02.2018
- EA to Senior Director, complex visa requirements, travel for their parents and extended family.
- EA to Team of Nine. Provided support and organised complex diary & travel arrangements.
- Organised flight schedules, secure transfers, hotel arrangements across Europe / US.
- 20% role: expense reconciliation across AMEX / local and historical exchange rates.
INTERIM EA TO GROUP FD & IR DR
Informa Group PLC
12.2016 - 03.2017
- Board Level EA Cover.
- Informa is a FTSE 100 company engaged in business intelligence, academic publishing and knowledge & events businesses.
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
Tullett Prebon
06.2016 - 10.2016
- EA to Group Head of HR, Group Head of Communication and Group Head of Finance.
RELATIONSHIP & EVENTS MANAGER / EA
Tulchan Communications
06.2015 - 03.2016
- Private EA to Founder. Family travel and holiday arrangements, school holiday logistics for 5 children. Organising shoot parties, catering, transport and all accompanying arrangements.
- (Joint role: 1 day per week/holiday cover)
- Relationship Manager – responsible for organising Business Development Meetings and making sure the strategic plan for winning new business was in place
- Event Management - organised a 15th year anniversary party at National Portrait Gallery, Vogue Exhibition: 500 Guests. Christmas Carol Service: 900 invitees.
- Private dinners at the National Portrait Gallery as Sponsors.
SENIOR EA TO CO-FOUNDER
Europa Capital
01.2014 - 02.2015
- Extensive Private PA work for the Founder - organising shoot parties and extensive arrangements.
- Extensive diary management.
- Extensive Global, European and UK travel arrangements, organising Roadshows.
- Creating Investment Committee Submissions – Adhering to corporate style and impeccable attention to detail.
PROJECT MANAGER TO JULIAN METCALFE
06.2013 - 08.2013
- Undertook a 6 week contract to plan and execute an office move, from one premises to a much bigger new office.
- Worked with different contractors & internal stakeholders, solving problems as they arose.
Education
BA (Hons) - History
OPEN UNIVERSITY
A-Levels - English Literature, Government & Politics, Later Modern History
CRANBROOK SCHOOL
CRANBROOK, KENTGCSEs - undefined
CRANBROOK SCHOOL
CRANBROOK, KENTSkills
- High-Level confidentiality
- Prioritisation expertise
- Board meeting preparation
- Financial reporting
- Travel arrangements
- Diary management
- Resilience under pressure
- Time efficiency
Timeline
PA
Deutsche Bank
10.2024 - 02.2025
INTERIM EA
Impax AM
08.2024 - 09.2024
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
Hampshire Trust Bank
06.2022 - 06.2024
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
Permira
02.2022 - 06.2022
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
Egerton Capital
03.2021 - 02.2022
SCHOOL SECRETARY
Claremont Prep School
09.2020 - 03.2021
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
Bain & Company
08.2019 - 09.2020
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
Hootsuite
02.2019 - 06.2019
SENIOR EA
Bloomberg Media Group
02.2018 - 11.2018
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
Cerberus Capital Management
03.2017 - 02.2018
INTERIM EA TO GROUP FD & IR DR
Informa Group PLC
12.2016 - 03.2017
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
Tullett Prebon
06.2016 - 10.2016
RELATIONSHIP & EVENTS MANAGER / EA
Tulchan Communications
06.2015 - 03.2016
SENIOR EA TO CO-FOUNDER
Europa Capital
01.2014 - 02.2015
PROJECT MANAGER TO JULIAN METCALFE
06.2013 - 08.2013
A-Levels - English Literature, Government & Politics, Later Modern History
CRANBROOK SCHOOL
GCSEs - undefined
CRANBROOK SCHOOL
BA (Hons) - History
OPEN UNIVERSITY