Large International Manufacturing Group | Lancashire
The Brief
An international manufacturing business was undergoing a period of significant change and investment. The UK operation was receiving substantial group investment to increase manufacturing capacity by more than 50%, alongside a planned production transfer and an upcoming ERP implementation.
Following the retirement of the existing Finance Director, the business required a new FD who could not only lead the UK finance function, but also partner closely with operations, manage change, and support complex transformation projects across manufacturing and systems.
The brief demanded a blend of technical finance leadership, manufacturing experience, cultural fit, and the ability to operate confidently within a group structure.
The Approach
It was crucial to fully understand both the business and the role requirements. This included on-site meetings with the Managing Director, Group CEO and Group CFO, a full company tour, and detailed discussions with senior stakeholders to ensure a deep understanding of the operational environment, growth plans, and expectations of the incoming Finance Director.
The recruitment process was structured, transparent, and aligned to agreed timelines. A detailed briefing pack was prepared for candidates to ensure they had a clear and accurate understanding of the business, the challenges ahead, and the strategic importance of the role.
A carefully selected shortlist was delivered to the Group CFO on the agreed date, with candidates progressing through a staged interview process to ensure both technical capability and cultural alignment.
The Result
Four candidates were shortlisted for first-stage interviews, three progressed to second stage, and two reached final stage. The strength of the shortlist meant that multiple candidates could have successfully fulfilled the role, reflecting the quality and depth of the search. The successful candidate was appointed smoothly, with the business gaining a Finance Director well-equipped to lead through manufacturing expansion, production transfer, and ERP implementation.
Both the Managing Director and Group CFO commented on the quality of candidates, the clarity of communication, and the efficiency of the process throughout.
This initial Finance Director appointment marked the beginning of a long-term recruitment partnership. As trust and understanding developed, subsequent hires became increasingly straightforward at transactional level, with clear alignment on both technical capability and cultural fit.
Subsequent roles include multiple transactional support appointments and a Contract Finance Manager.
Summary
This assignment demonstrates Lucinda’s strength in delivering senior finance leadership into complex manufacturing environments, particularly where businesses are navigating growth, operational change, and system transformation. The Finance Director search required depth, discretion, and a highly consultative approach – all of which resulted in a successful, long-term appointment.
Crucially, that senior search became the foundation for an ongoing partnership. With a deep understanding of the business now in place, the recruitment model naturally shifted. Subsequent hires moved from executive search to faster, more agile delivery at Finance Manager and transactional level, reflecting very different hiring needs but the same focus on quality and cultural fit.
Feedback
I approached Lucinda to discuss a requirement for a Finance Director appointment due to her specialisation in Manufacturing and pre-existing network. Lucinda spent time to get to know our business and the position through on-site meetings including a company tour and detailed / effective questioning to ascertain the exact requirements of what we were looking for in an ideal candidate.
The recruitment was led by our Group CFO who was presented with a shortlist on a pre agreed date. 4 candidates were selected for 1st stage interview, 3 moved to second stage and 2 at final with a subsequent offer accepted. The process was smooth, prompt, and problem free. Lucinda was reliable and effective at identifying a very relevant shortlist, several of whom could have been offered the position given the depth of their knowledge and expertise within manufacturing. It was clear through the process that all candidates had been provided with extensive information and that time and attention had been given to the screening processes prior to submission. Lucinda was always available throughout the process, evidently knows her market, provided helpful guidance along the way and went above and beyond to make the process as easy as possible for us. I would not hesitate to recommend Lucinda to any Manufacturing business that is looking to hire a Finance Director.
Managing Director
“I had the pleasure of working with Lucinda O’Neill on our search for a Finance Director in Lancashire, and I was thoroughly impressed with the quality of her service. From the outset, Lucinda demonstrated excellent communication and ensured the process was well-organized and efficient. The candidates she presented were of outstanding calibre, with strong alignment to the brief in terms of experience and cultural fit. Her attention to detail and ability to identify individuals who matched our needs were invaluable. Lucinda’s professionalism and approachability made her a pleasure to work with throughout.
She was always on hand to provide guidance and kept the project moving at an impressive pace. Her support during the interview stages was particularly effective, ensuring everything ran smoothly. I wholeheartedly recommend Lucinda to any organization seeking high-quality recruitment support. She is a skilled professional who clearly cares about delivering great outcomes for her clients.
Group CFO
“I have worked with a lot of finance recruiters as both a recruiter and also as a candidate and I have been really impressed with you and your approach to the recruitment process. You have restored my faith in the recruitment industry! The information that I received about the role was very detailed, accurate and allowed me to gain an insight into the role and the business before starting the interview process. It was clear that you had spent time with the team to understand the business and also what they were looking for from the new FD. I liked working with an experienced recruiter (especially with your focus on manufacturing and engineering businesses) I really appreciated that you kept me updated throughout the process even if it was to say that there was nothing to update! As a candidate it is hard not knowing when you are going to get feedback on a role and you always ensured that you provided open, honest feedback in a timely manner. I appreciated your support through the interview process and providing tips on areas to focus on based on feedback from the business and expectations for the different interview stages. I hope that we get the opportunity to work together in the future (with myself as a recruiter and not a candidate!) and you will be my first choice if I was recruiting for finance personnel in the future.
Finance Director