Our Objective: Identifying & Addressing Financial Leadership Needs
Our objective was to assist a Devon-based charity with a turnover of approximately £20 million in securing an interim Chief Financial Officer (CFO) with significant experience in leading teams and driving change and transformation in challenging business conditions. The charity required immediate senior financial leadership to reduce costs, streamline processes, and strengthen financial controls due to a knowledge gap at this level within the organisation.
Our Approach: Coordinating & Sourcing to Achieve Objectives
Our strategy for identifying the ideal candidate and achieving our goal revolved around strategic cooperation and flexibility within the competitive recruitment landscape. We acknowledged the significance of thoroughly grasping our clients’ distinct demands and obstacles before initiating the recruitment process. This proactive stance enabled us to effectively strategize our approach to suit the organisation’s specific needs and criteria.
- Business Partnering: As an existing client that we have collaborated with on multiple occasions, we initiated a Teams meeting to thoroughly understand the specifics of the assignment. This meeting involved discussions with the client’s Human Resources Director (HRD) to gain insights into their expectations and requirements for the interim CFO role.
- Network Leverage and Market Mapping: We conducted a comprehensive search for suitable candidates, considering both local and national talent pools. This involved leveraging our extensive database, local and regional professional networks, and targeted LinkedIn searches to identify individuals with the necessary knowledge and skillset.
- Face-to-Face and Teams Meetings: All shortlisted candidates were personally met by our recruitment team, either in face-to-face meetings or via Teams where in-person meetings were not feasible due to logistical constraints. This step ensured that each candidate’s qualifications and experience were assessed thoroughly.
- Multi-Stage Interviews: Further engaging with our client, we submitted a shortlist of qualified candidates for their consideration. The client then conducted first-stage interviews with our guidance and input, led by their HRD. The final selection of shortlisted candidates proceeded to face-to-face meetings with the charity’s wider Board of Trustees. A final meeting was held with the Chair of the organisation to ensure alignment with their strategic objectives and culture.
Our Results: Highly Efficient & Expedited Procedure
The outcome of our collaborative effort to place an interim CFO with the Devon-based charity was highly successful and achieved within a short timeframe.
- Timely Placement: From the commencement of our engagement to the candidate’s start date, only six weeks passed. This rapid placement allowed the charity to quickly address its senior financial leadership needs.
- Candidate Feedback: The appointed interim CFO provided excellent feedback on their experience with our recruitment process, highlighting the professionalism and efficiency of our services.
- Client Feedback: The charity’s leadership team expressed their satisfaction with the quality of candidates presented and our seamless coordination throughout the recruitment process. Their feedback was also rated as excellent.
- LB Reflection: This recruitment project presented a unique challenge in that it attracted significant direct interest from potential candidates. The key challenge lay in identifying and selecting candidates with the specific skills and experience required for the role. Despite these challenges, it was an enjoyable and rewarding experience to work closely with a valued client with whom we have cultivated a strong partnership over the years.
In conclusion, this case study demonstrates our ability to deliver tailored and efficient recruitment solutions, even in situations where the search for specialised talent is competitive. Our commitment to understanding our client’s needs and our extensive network of candidates allowed us to successfully place an interim CFO, providing immediate financial leadership to the charity.
