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Explore our vision: Incredible, effortless recruitment
£75k-£120k
Typical base salary
12 wks
Replacement guarantee
Commercial, not just technical
Ask how their input changed a business decision, not just how they closed the books.
SME fit
An SME FD works without corporate support. Screen for someone who thrives in a leaner setup.
Qualified and experienced
Look for a qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA) with real FD-level experience.
How to run the hire
1. Define the remit
Decide what the FD must deliver - controls, cash, growth, funding - and the measures.
2. Match the profile
A corporate FD and an SME FD are different animals. Target the one that fits your business.
3. Include a business exercise
A short strategy or scenario reveals commercial thinking better than a CV.
4. Run structured interviews
Compare candidates on the same competencies, technical and commercial.
5. Reference the impact
Confirm they added commercial value and managed risk, not just reported it.
Fees typically run 20-25% of first-year salary, capped and agreed upfront.
Nothing is due until your hire starts, and for senior or confidential briefs we can discuss a retained approach.
Around 8-14 weeks.
Notice periods are often three months at this level, and scope clarity is the biggest driver of a fast, accurate search.
A Finance Director owns the finance function - reporting, controls, cash, budgeting and often funding - and contributes to business strategy at board level.
In an SME they're hands-on across all of it; in larger firms they lead a finance team.
The titles overlap. A CFO is usually the most senior finance role, often in larger or investor-backed businesses, with a stronger strategic and funding focus. An FD may be more operational.
We scope the real remit before searching.
Try: Tell me about a decision your input changed.
How do you manage cash in a tight month?
What controls would you check first in a new business? and What would you focus on in your first 90 days here?
Yes - SME and mid-market FD roles are a core focus for us.
We look for people who thrive hands-on without a large team, which is a different job to a corporate FD role.
Tell us about your role and a specialist finance recruiter will call you. No fee until your hire starts.
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