How We Successfully Filled a £100,000 Finance Director Vacancy for a Leading £54m T/O Gloucestershire Business

Recruiting a Finance Director is one of the most important hiring decisions a business can make. The right appointment shapes financial strategy, supports growth, and provides leadership across the wider business. Yet finding exceptional Finance Directors has become increasingly challenging in today's competitive market.

Recently, we partnered with a leading Gloucestershire business to recruit a Finance Director. The search presented several challenges, but by combining our local market knowledge, proactive headhunting and a tailored recruitment strategy, we successfully delivered an outstanding appointment. This case study explains how we approached the assignment and the results we achieved.

"Clare and the team delivered an outstanding recruitment process from start to finish"

At a Glance:

Client	Leading Food Manufacturing business
Role	Finance Director
Salary	£100,000+
Search Type	Senior Executive Recruitment
Location	Tewkesbury
Outcome	Successfully Appointed

The Challenge:

All recruitment comes with its own challenges, but recruiting a Finance Director at this level brings a unique set of demands. With the longstanding Finance Director leaving the business, it was essential that the incoming FD had enough time to complete a thorough handover, leaving us with a much tighter timeframe to deliver the right appointment.

The market didn't make things any easier. Experienced Finance Directors are in short supply, and the best candidates are rarely actively looking for a new role. We needed someone with the right technical background, strong commercial experience, proven leadership skills and, just as importantly, someone who would fit the culture of the business.

That's why searches like this need more than a job advert. With more than 25 years of combined experience recruiting senior finance professionals across the local market, we were able to draw on our network, market knowledge and proven recruitment process to identify and secure the right person for the role.

How we did it:

Market mapping + Headhunting.

With the specific requirements of this role, it quickly became clear that we needed to lean on our local expertise and proactively reach out to senior finance leaders in transferable sectors. The aim was to identify candidates with the right technical background, commercial experience and leadership skills to operate successfully at this level.

Once we'd identified potential candidates, we reached out with tailored messages explaining why we felt they were a good fit, what made this such a rare opportunity and why we thought it was worth a conversation. The combination of a strong package and a recognisable local brand meant we were able to engage several high-quality candidates.

From there, we carried out a thorough screening process to make sure each candidate had the experience our client was looking for. Just as importantly, this is where we really get to know people. It's the part of the job we enjoy most, building genuine

relationships, understanding what motivates each candidate and making sure the opportunity is the right fit for both sides.

Once we felt we had identified the strongest candidates, we produced a detailed profile for each one. Rather than simply forwarding a CV, we provided our client with an overview of their professional background, leadership style, strengths and how they matched the key requirements of the role.

The work doesn't stop there. From interview preparation and feedback through to offer negotiation and managing the notice period, we stayed closely involved to make sure both the client and candidate felt supported throughout the entire process.

The Outcome:

Metric	Result
Candidates Approached	20
Shortlisted	4
First Interview	6 candidates interviewed, 3 introduced by Shearer Associates
Second interview -	3 candidates progressed, 2 introduced by Shearer Associates
Offer stage	Following a difficult final decision between our two candidates, one was offered and accepted the role
Time to Hire	6.5 weeks from initial client meeting to accepted offer.

What the client has to say:

"Having worked with Shearer Associates on the appointment of our Finance Director, I can confidently say that Clare and the team delivered an outstanding recruitment process from start to finish.

This was a critical senior appointment for Cotteswold Dairy, and the challenge was to identify a finance leader who not only had the technical capability but also the commercial mindset and cultural fit to support our continued growth.

The role was handled through a multi-agency process alongside direct recruitment and attracted significant interest. Clare stood out by taking the time to truly understand our business, our requirements and the type of individual who would succeed within our organisation.

From the extensive candidate pool, Clare presented a highly credible shortlist, with two of the three candidates reaching the final interview stage. Both individuals were exceptional, and the decision was genuinely difficult, which was testament to the quality of candidates identified and the thoroughness of the search process.

I would have no hesitation in recommending Shearer Associates for senior finance recruitment assignments and would happily work with Clare again on future appointments."

Five Lessons for Businesses Recruiting a Finance Director:

1. Get clear on cultural fit

2. Speed matters

3. Salary isn't everything

4. Passive candidates are often the strongest

5. Work with specialists who know the market

Looking for a Finance Director?

If your business is planning to recruit a Finance Director, Financial Controller or any Senior Finance hire, we'd be happy to discuss your plans. Whether you're replacing an existing leader or creating a new position to support growth, our finance recruitment team has the experience and network to help you secure the right appointment.

Call us on : 01242 374 277

email us on : info@shearerassociates.co.uk