Mafia-style leadership, poorly executed concept - Anonymous employee Moneyfarm Employee Review

1.0
17 Apr 2019
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

As with many start-ups in London, great idea but sadly, this is not enough when implemented and led by the wrong people. You start off believing you are part of a family, have autonomy and can change things and soon realise the CEO and his cronies rule the roost.

Cons

- CEO is much more comfortable speaking, listening and interacting with employees of the same background as himself. If you do not fall into this category and dare to have an opinion or challenge, things start to go downhill. - CEO sees himself as a specialist in all areas. - CEO keeps incompetent yes-men around him to maintain his ego and strength. - I have seen many good people leave out of frustration, being sidelined, overriden or pushed out. - Promotions are centred around kinship, loyalty and obedience.

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Moneyfarm Response
6y
Thanks a lot for sharing your opinion with us, I am really sorry you had a bad experience at Moneyfarm and we had to take some decisions differently from what you believe was right. One of our core values is transparency and openness and this is what you have done so here and I really appreciate it. Even if I understand where your perception of the management style might be coming from, our intention has always been to create a diverse environment where everyone can thrive and I think we are achieving more and more in this area. It is true that we, as a company, value loyalty and what comes with that all employees who have helped us building Moneyfarm from scratch and proved themselves in better but also in worse times. But I also think that we are always open to different views and fresh ideas and as a company we often get feedback from others that we are quite good at that. Debate is a big part of our culture and the way we run things and where I personally believe a candour truly matters. As the process of scaling continues, sometimes we have to adjust and everyone, including myself, is taking every possibility for self learning and improvements. So hopefully, if you come back, you'll find that we've grown as a company and as a team. - Giovanni, CEO

Explore other reviews about Moneyfarm

1.0
12 Jan 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

There are some good teams and you are exposed to lots of different stuff. Flexible time is great and people are generally nice.

Cons

Senior management is poor and most of them are waiting to cash out on their options. The CEO doesn’t really listen and most senior people don’t challenge him. Salaries and bonuses are extremely low and calibrated on the Italian market.

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Moneyfarm Response
4w
Thank you for sharing this feedback, and for the time you gave to Moneyfarm. It's good to hear that the flexibility, the breadth of work, and the people you worked with were bright spots in your experience. Those are things we care about deeply and will continue to invest in. Regarding senior leadership, we hear this feedback and we take it seriously. Growing the right leadership team in a scaling business is a genuine challenge, and we don't always get everything right. We would respectfully offer a different perspective on the motivations of our senior people — those leading this business are deeply committed to building something meaningful and enduring. That means staying close to the product, the decisions, and the people driving them forward, and we see that as a strength. Re compensation: we are committed to paying fairly and competitively for the markets we operate in. We recognise that salary and bonus expectations are deeply personal, and we'd always encourage open conversations with your manager or the People team where there's a gap between expectation and reality. Your advice to invest boldly in strong performers resonates. Recognising and rewarding the people who make this business what it is remains a priority, and it's something we're continuing to develop through our performance and progression ladders. We thank you again for your honesty and wish you all the best going forward.
2.0
29 Oct 2024
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Moneyfarm has a few positives that make it an interesting place to work. The work environment is flexible, with options for working from home and a relaxed approach to hours. There’s also a sense of learning and exposure to the finance industry, which can be beneficial for those wanting to build relevant experience. Some employees are genuinely passionate, and there are pockets of great talent within the team, particularly in investment. Additionally, the company provides some perks, like fresh fruit, coffee, and a generally low-stress atmosphere outside of certain deadlines.

Cons

Despite these positives, the company is hampered by longstanding management issues and a heavy Italian cultural bias that can leave non-Italian staff feeling isolated. Leadership, particularly the CEO, tends to micromanage, which impacts decision-making and limits team autonomy. Communication between teams is poor, resulting in confusion and siloed working environments. Career growth is difficult to achieve, with promotions often feeling arbitrary or tied to loyalty rather than skill. Additionally, there’s a lack of transparency in internal processes and hiring practices, which contributes to high turnover and low morale. Technical debt and a lack of innovation in tech stack management further hinder productivity and collaboration across teams.

2
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Moneyfarm Response
1y
Thank you for your feedback, and for recognizing the positives at Moneyfarm, including our flexible work environment and the opportunities we provide for learning within the finance industry. We’re committed to ongoing improvements in management practices and fostering an inclusive culture for all team members, regardless of background. Your insights regarding career growth, team autonomy, and communication between departments are valuable, and we’re actively working to address these areas. Investing in transparent and structured career development, enhancing cross-team communication, and modernizing our tech infrastructure are all part of our continuous efforts to improve. Thank you again for sharing your experience, and we wish you the best in your career journey.
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