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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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Holidays are a great time to relax and unwind and leave all thoughts of work behind. But having some time away from the normal routine and the day to day pressures of your job can also provide an excellent opportunity to assess your next career move.

Make some notes. Be clear about what it is you want to achieve. Consider what you do and don’t like about your current role, analyse your own strengths and weaknesses and give some thought to your longer term career ambitions. Is there scope to develop within your existing position, opportunities for progression or is it time start thinking about moving on?

Audit your skills set. Review job descriptions for positions that would be of interest and see which particular skills are in demand. Use this information to refresh your CV and also identify any areas where you may be lacking and come up with a strategy to address these.

Overhaul your CV. It’s no good waiting until an opportunity comes along before dusting off your CV. Take some time now to bring it bang up-to-date; you are less likely to forget something important and will be able to act fast when an interesting role grabs your attention.

Do your research. Find out what is happening within organisations that you would be interested in working at; company websites, social media, industry magazines and news sites are a great source of information on a range of topics such as expansion plans, new business wins and client case studies.

Take a step back. Look at your current job with fresh eyes – you may find there are opportunities to explore within your existing company that would give your additional responsibilities, a new challenge or the chance to expand your skills set.

Brush up on social media. As well as updating your Linkedin profile – it’s often the first port of call for any would-be employer - see if there are any relevant discussion groups relating to your industry that you could join which could help you make new contacts as well as keeping on top of the latest hot topics affecting your sector.

Catch up with contacts. Find out what opportunities you would be suitable for by having a chat with a recruitment expert – you won’t have to worry about your conversation being overheard by a nosy colleague!

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 US today to discuss your recruitment needs with a member of our team.

PUT YOUR TIME TO GOOD USE DURING THE FESTIVE PERIOD

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