Privately Owned SME | Lancashire
The Brief
A well-established FMCG manufacturing business was facing a period of senior leadership transition following the planned retirement of their Finance Director. With limited time available and competing internal considerations, the business needed to move quickly while ensuring any external search was aligned with both the commercial needs of the business and its long-standing culture. The Owner had been introduced to a potential candidate but wanted a broader view of the market to ensure they were making a well-informed decision at Finance Director level. With limited time available, they seeked our support to access comparable talent, validate the brief, and understand the calibre of candidates available within a tight timeframe.
The Approach
Having built a strong working relationship with the retiring Finance Director over time, a meeting was arranged with the Owner and Managing Director to discuss the role and wider context. This meeting took place within days of the requirement being shared, allowing momentum to be maintained. Time was spent understanding not just the technical requirements of the Finance Director role, but also the dynamics of the leadership team, the values of the business, and the type of individual who would succeed in a closely held, owner-led environment.
A targeted search was conducted immediately, and a shortlist of four carefully selected Finance Directors was presented at the initial meeting. Each candidate was briefed in detail and assessed against both the commercial brief and cultural expectations.
The Result
From the four candidates presented, three were interviewed with two deemed fully appointable. The quality and relevance of the shortlist clearly demonstrated that the brief had been met, providing the business with genuine choice at Finance Director level within a very tight timeframe.
Summary
This assignment demonstrates our ability to deliver high-quality Finance Director shortlists at pace, even within complex, owner-led manufacturing environments. By acting quickly, engaging directly with decision-makers, and taking time to understand both the commercial brief and cultural dynamics of the business, a strong and credible shortlist was delivered within a compressed timeframe.
The process provided the leadership team with genuine options at Finance Director level, supported by clear communication, thoughtful candidate assessment, and a consultative approach throughout. It reflects a recruitment partnership built on a deep understanding of what senior financial leadership looks like in practice.
Feedback
I would highly recommend Hawthorn One for the recruitment of high-level financial leaders. Both Lucinda and Cassie took time to understand our business, our culture, and the type of individual we were looking for. I wouldn’t hesitate to refer to them again in the future.”
Owner & Executive Chair
“Our experience when recruiting a Finance Director with Hawthorn One was extremely positive. From the very beginning, Lucinda demonstrated professionalism, transparency, and a genuine commitment to understanding our business needs. Their communication was prompt and proactive, and they consistently provided well-considered candidate options along with insightful market feedback, within strict time constraints. It was clear that they invested time and care into the process.”
Finance Director