<\/p>\n
Declan Burton Clark
Image courtesy of Plutus Business Finance<\/p>\n
Tell us about yourself<\/p>\n
I\u2019m Declan Burton-Clark, Founder at Plutus Business Finance. I\u2019m originally from Australia, where I studied International Business at Macquarie University in Sydney.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My career started at a brokerage in Sydney. When I joined, there were about 10 people in the business, when I left, it had grown to several hundred. At the time, I was running their sales operations and doing what I do now: matching businesses to finance.<\/p>\n
After that, I moved to the UK, where I spent time as Head of Sales at a specialist trade finance lender, which gave me experience on the other side of the desk. I saw how credit decisions get made, what a lender actually needs to see, and why deals get declined. That lender was subsequently acquired by Shawbrook Bank.\u00a0<\/p>\n
At that point, I saw a genuine gap for a company that specialised in trade and supplier finance, which is why I decided to start Plutus.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Why did you start Plutus?<\/p>\n
Being in business is hard enough. There are a lot of people in this industry who look to exploit SMEs \u2013\u00a0 upfront fees, high margins, products that don\u2019t quite fit \u2013 and I don\u2019t think that\u2019s right.\u00a0<\/p>\n
SMEs are the backbone of the economy and too many of them are getting a raw deal from the people who are supposed to be helping them. I started Plutus because I wanted to build something where the client\u2019s outcome was genuinely the priority and where I could give people a straight answer about what their options are and what it\u2019ll cost.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ultimately, at Plutus, I strongly believe that long-term relationships matter more than any single transaction.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
What do you think makes Plutus Finance stand out?<\/p>\n
At Plutus, our clients know that with us, they are getting experience and specialism, combined with a structure that keeps costs low.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve been in this industry long enough to have seen a time when very few alternatives existed to high street banks. But now, with the rise of non-bank fintech and specialist lenders, businesses have a lot more choice. The problem is that choice brings options, and it can be hard for businesses to know what the best option for them actually is.\u00a0<\/p>\n
At Plutus, I understand what each of these lenders are actually designed for, which makes it easier for me to broker deals for my clients. Combine that with the fact that I\u2019ve worked as a lender and it means that I know how to structure and present deals in a specific way.<\/p>\n
And because I run a lean operation, I can operate at the scale of a much larger business while keeping costs low, which ultimately benefits the borrower.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
How has the company evolved over recent years?<\/p>\n
The company has evolved alongside the industry as a whole. As more lenders come to market, businesses have more choice, but they also need more guidance.<\/p>\n
We\u2019re also seeing deals that are multi-layered. Trade finance might not be the right product for every part of the journey, so we help clients structure their loans in a way that genuinely supports how the business trades and scales.<\/p>\n
What do you help businesses with primarily?<\/p>\n
The core of our business is trade and supplier finance. We focus on structuring working capital around how a business actually trades; matching the financing to the stock cycle, the supplier payment window, the debtor terms. That\u2019s the specialism we bring to the table.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Beyond that we also help clients with term loans, invoice finance, asset finance (the full range) but trade finance is the main differentiator.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
How do you stand out against competitors?<\/p>\n
Most finance brokers are generalists.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They\u2019ll recommend a term loan or an invoice finance facility to a company because that\u2019s the product they know.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Very few have genuine depth of knowledge in trade and supplier finance. Understanding import cycles, supplier payment terms and how to present a complex multi-part deal to a bank is all part of what makes a great broker.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When a deal like that lands on a generalist\u2019s desk, they either decline it or force it into the wrong product. Businesses that come to us know they are being matched with the best product for them, not just a best guest fit.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s the gap Plutus exists to fill.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Why is your offering a good one for businesses?<\/p>\n
Because it\u2019s built around how businesses actually trade.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Trade finance, when structured properly, allows businesses to grow without worrying about cash flow all the time. It means being able to take on bigger orders, negotiate better supplier terms and scale without worrying about financial security.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But it only works if it\u2019s done properly with a broker that genuinely understands how businesses work.\u00a0<\/p>\n
At Plutus, I believe our offering is a good one because our clients get straight answers about the best option for them, at the best costs.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And in a market that\u2019s growing all the time, it\u2019s this level of clarity and expertise that businesses actually need.\u00a0<\/p>\n
PERSONAL CHECKLIST\u00a0<\/p>\n
Age: 32
\nEducation: BCommerce International Business, Macquarie University, Sydney
\nCareer highlights: \u00a314.5m trade finance deal with HSBC; instrumental in scaling Valiant Finance (Sydney) from startup to 200+ people; head of sales at a UK trade finance lender subsequently acquired by Shawbrook Bank
\nKey quality of a leader: Integrity when no one is watching. Most leadership decisions are easy when people are looking. The ones that define you are the ones made when there\u2019s no audience.
\nWhat makes you angry: Businesses being sold the wrong product because the person advising them didn\u2019t understand their situation well enough to recommend the right one. It\u2019s more common than it should be and it\u2019s expensive for the people who can least afford it.<\/p>\n
Interests outside work: Tennis, surfing, travel<\/p>\n
\t #Declan #BurtonClark #Founder #Plutus #Business #Finance #Daily #Business<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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