Newborns may be small, but they can have a big impact on careers in finance. That’s why Elston has changed its parental leave policy to provide a paid entitlement of 18 weeks for primary caregivers and 4 weeks for secondary caregivers, at their current salary. Head of HR, Legal and Governance, Nathalie Bunge-Krueger is thrilled that the directors are once again investing in their people.

“When the board says that they believe in a better future for their teams, you know that’s a genuine promise, and it’s one they’re going to keep. The benefit of that is that our teams feel supported and appreciated. We’ve been incredibly lucky to have that type of culture here. I think that’s why we’ve been able to enjoy loyalty and stability amongst our teams.”

The initiative has been warmly welcomed by staff. New mum Jessie Hinds, who has built a strong career as an adviser with Elston over a number of years, is glad that Elston have made this new commitment. “There’s enough going on with a first baby. You really don’t need any financial stress on top of all that. The great thing about Elston’s new policy is it lets me enjoy this time with Oscar and choose when I return to work based on what’s right for my family.”

With the arrival of five Elston babies in the last 12 months (Oscar, Teddy, Ashwin, Albie and Tommy) the new parental leave policy couldn’t have come at a better time. Nathalie Bunge-Krueger is proud of the policy. “I’ve seen firsthand the positive impact providing flexibility and financial stability has had on new parents here at Elston and I’d love to see more of this in the industry.

Can Elston attract quality people by thinking small? Nathalie thinks so. “Elston is that perfect balance. We’re small enough for people to connect with their teams and with the owners and take advantage of opportunities. And we’re just big enough to be able to fund things like a more generous parental leave program. I think that will appeal to a lot of people who are looking to make a smart move for the long term.”