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Lessons in Leadership: What It Takes to Be a Future CFO

Last Thursday we had the pleasure of hosting an insightful and inspirational Future CFO-focused event, where we explored their experiences and journeys. All attendees had the privilege of hearing from three fantastic senior finance leaders - Nick Shaw, Kayleigh Wright and James Wenninger, each bringing a unique perspective shaped by their own career journeys — with the consensus across all speakers and focus of: driving meaningful, strategic value across their organisations. Each leader shared personal experiences of navigating challenges, leading transformation, and elevating the role of finance from a back-office function to a true business partner and value creator. Each speaker offered valuable perspectives, and several key takeaways stood out: Build a team that compliments you : Great leadership means recognising and embracing the skills you don’t have. All three CFOs emphasised the strength of surrounding themselves with good people and team members whose strengths contrast their own — creating well-rounded, agile finance functions. Embrace the unknown with confidence: Whether navigating new industries, acquisitions, or rapid change, one message was clear: lean into the uncertainty and trust your ability to adapt. Growth doesn’t happen in comfort zones. Blend experience from big & small companies : The synergy of experience from both large-scale corporations and nimble, fast-paced environments is invaluable. The ability to scale thinking and apply structured processes in leaner settings was a recurring theme. Identify and align with key business needs : Strategic finance leaders go beyond numbers. They seek out synergies and align with business-specific needs — from systems integration to cultural alignment — to ensure long-term value add. Own your decisions…fully! : True ownership means standing by your decisions and being accountable for their outcomes. Openly discussed and demonstrated how conviction and responsibility can elevate leadership and trust across the organisation with a wider impact! A huge thank you again to Nick Shaw, Kayleigh Wright & James Wenninger who were incredible speakers and all who contributed to making this event a success. It was a timely reminder of the evolving, multi-dimensional role of today’s Finance leaders. Huge thanks as well to all attendees for bringing openness in their points / questions , and energy to the room. Looking forward already to next year!To hear about future events, contact Jack Curtis!

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The jobs market is widely accepted as being one of the most obvious economic indicators. Unsurprisingly, the many hundreds of people that we have spoken to since COVID19 and lockdown began all ask what the market is like.

Whilst we can offer a longer and more articulate answer, during the initial weeks of lockdown it would be fair to say that ‘rubbish’ would have covered it quite succinctly. There are now, however, glimmers of hope emerging. By any normal measure it would hardly be described as buoyant but there are initial signs it has most definitely improved.

As we start to emerge from full-scale lockdown measures, here are some insights which we have seen over recent weeks:

1) Some companies began to get themselves in gear to re-open or extend opening even before the very slight reduction in lockdown restrictions were announced. Presumably they were confident that lockdown was going to be eased but either way, there was a palpable eagerness to get started.

2) Some roles that were on hold or suspended were released. With the majority of qualified accountants on three months’ notice, anyone hired within September or October would most likely not
actually join their new employer until the end of 2020 or early 2021. This time delay appears to have given some companies the confidence to go ahead with their plans.

3) The flow of brand new vacancies has increased which we can assume is for the same reason as point 2) above.

4) Unusually there is optimism and ‘talking the recovery up’. Typically, recovery from recessions are characterised by an ‘I’ll believe it when I see it’ attitude. Not now though.

5) Putting aside some sectors which very obviously will suffer more and for longer than most, there is a belief that there will be some considerable mid to longer term market opportunities if you get ready to exploit them.

6) The term ‘New normal’ is now often quoted and while ‘new normal’ does not mean we will be better in every way than the ‘old normal’, it seems to indicate a fresh start. ‘New normal’
keeps getting mentioned, not in a fearful way, rather in a new opportunity kind of way. Whilst this can seem a little strange as forced change is usually very off-putting, for so many, any expected improvement – even if it is in a different form to the past – is something that we can start to get very excited by.

All in all, a noticeable improvement and, on the basis that the jobs market is an economic indicator, surely is good news for all of us.

Sharp Consultancy specialises in the recruitment of temporary, interim and permanent finance professionals. With offices in Leeds and Sheffield our highly experienced team of consultants recruit for positions throughout Yorkshire and beyond CONTACT UStoday to discuss your recruitment needs with a member of our team.