TOP TIPS FOR FACING A PANEL INTERVIEW

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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No matter what stage you are at in your career, attending an interview for your dream job can be a nerve-wracking experience. Wondering if you are making the right impression or considering what questions you may be asked can be a daunting prospect when you come face to face – either in person or remotely - with your interviewer. But imagine you are being quizzed by not one person, but two, three or even more.

Going for a new role which involves being interviewed by a panel can seem a huge challenge. With an increased number of people to impress you may be more worried about making a mistake. However, with some thorough preparation and our top tips, you can be confident in delivering the best interview that you can.

Find out who you will be interviewing with. Find out who will be making up the interview panel and research their particular role within the organisation – this will help you understand what they might be looking for during the interview. Consider the type of questions that they may ask you and which areas of your CV will be of most interest and relevance to them.

Be prepared.

Strike the right balance between having some well-thought through answers to likely questions prepared but don’t over rehearse your responses as they could sound forced and unnatural. Instead, review your CV and draw out points that you would like to convey during the interview which best demonstrate your skills and experience.

Be positive.

You have been invited to the interview, so they are obviously keen to find out more and have been impressed by the information you presented on your CV. Answer each question positively and remain enthusiastic throughout; you may find one person is asking some particularly difficult questions, but they are not looking to catch you out – most interviewers want the people they are interviewing to do well - so use every opportunity to demonstrate why you are the best person for the job.

Build a rapport with each person.

This can be particularly tricky as the more people that there are, then the more difficult it is to engage with each person. Each interviewer will have a different style and approach and there will be a tendency to focus upon those that are making you feel most comfortable – however, you could end up giving all your attention to one or two people. Address the person that has asked you each question but try to draw others in when giving your response through eye contact, body language or referring to a previous point or question raised by another member or the panel.

Appear natural and confident.

All eyes will be on you and the messages that you convey through your body language are as important and what you are saying during the interview. Stay relaxed throughout with good eye contact and posture. Convey you are interested in what is being said with positive gestures and facial expressions – and don’t forget to smile!

Sharp Consultancy specialises in the recruitment of temporary, interim and permanent finance and accountancy professionals. With offices in Leeds and Sheffield our highly experienced team of consultants recruit for positions throughout Yorkshire and beyond. CONTACT US today to find out more.

Be prepared.

Be positive.

Build a rapport with each person.

Appear natural and confident.

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