We help companies appoint exceptional finance talent. We conduct retained CFO searches and we act for CFOs who wish to recruit a team.

Over the last 50 years, we have acted for companies of all shapes and sizes across multiple industry sectors. Whether our clients are backed by investors, privately held, family owned or publicly listed, we are skilled at assessing candidates’ technical ability, cultural fit, motivation and leadership qualities. 


What we believe sets us apart from many of our competitors, however, is our personal approach and the high level of attention we give to our clients and candidates. 


Each recruitment project is unique, and we adopt a strategy and approach which is bespoke to each appointment, ensuring we successfully meet the requirements of the brief. It’s for these reasons we believe clients work with us on a repeat basis. 

Experts



Our Expertise

We focus exclusively on the finance function.   


How we help you appoint high performing finance talent

We treat our clients and candidates as individuals, not numbers on a database. We are attentive, responsive and take great pride in our work. From the very first conversation with our client through to successful completion, our aim is to be considered a true business partner and trusted adviser. A relationship with mutual respect, shared values and goal alignment.


We are not a high volume 'agency', so our clients can expect us to invest the appropriate time and resources, to ensure we understand the specifics of their requirements, their competitive market, company culture, challenges and opportunities.  This level of knowledge enables us to represent their business with accuracy and passion.  The result is a shortlist of suitably qualified and motivated candidates.   



Likewise, we engage with candidates beyond their CV, taking the time to understand their story so far, career aspirations, strengths, and values. This deeper insight allows us to make well-informed introductions, that leads to success for both parties. Our value lies in this personal and tailored approach, and is evidential relationships spanning 30+ years!


Our expertise ranges from:


• CFO for SMEs that are private, investor backed and family owned.

• Finance Directors for SMEs to Enterprise clients. 

• Financial Controllers, Heads of Function e.g. FP&A, Financial and Management Reporting.


Our service covers the permanent, interim and fractional market, and we partner with companies throughout the UK and across any industry sector.


Please don't hesitate to contact to discuss your specific requirements or the market in general.


Contact us to learn more

How we help you appoint high performing finance talent

There are numerous reasons why a recruitment project is successful. Identifying a list of prospective candidates who possess the appropriate skillset is only one aspect. Utilising LinkedIn, personal networks and a proprietary CRM, enables a firm of any size to build an long-list.  So how do we add value to a recruitment project?


Firstly we treat our clients and candidates as individuals, not numbers on a database. We are attentive, responsive and take great pride in our work.  From the very first conversation with our client through to successful completion, our aim is to be considered a true business partner and trusted adviser.  A relationship with mutual respect, shared values and goal alignment.  We are not a high volume 'agency', so our clients and candidates can expect us to invest the appropriate time and resources, to ensure we achieve a successful outcome, and importantly, a professional and hopefully pleasant experience. 


We help with the following positions on a permanent, interim and fractional basis.


  • CFO for SMEs that are private, investor backed and family owned.
  • Finance Directors for SMEs to Enterprise clients.
  • Financial Controllers, Heads of Function e.g. FP&A, Financial and Management Reporting.


We partner with companies throughout across the UK and across any industry sector.


Please don't hesitate to contact to discuss your specific requirements or the market in general.


Contact us to learn more

How we help you appoint high performing finance talent

There are numerous reasons why a recruitment project is successful. Identifying a list of prospective candidates who possess the appropriate skillset is only one aspect. Utilising LinkedIn, personal networks and a proprietary CRM, enables a firm of any size to build an long-list.  So how do we add value to a recruitment project?


Firstly we treat our clients and candidates as individuals, not numbers on a database. We are attentive, responsive and take great pride in our work.  From the very first conversation with our client through to successful completion, our aim is to be considered a true business partner and trusted adviser.  A relationship with mutual respect, shared values and goal alignment.  We are not a high volume 'agency', so our clients and candidates can expect us to invest the appropriate time and resources, to ensure we achieve a successful outcome, and importantly, a professional and hopefully pleasant experience. 


We help with the following positions on a permanent, interim and fractional basis.


  • CFO for SMEs that are private, investor backed and family owned.
  • Finance Directors for SMEs to Enterprise clients.
  • Financial Controllers, Heads of Function e.g. FP&A, Financial and Management Reporting.


We partner with companies throughout across the UK and across any industry sector.


Please don't hesitate to contact to discuss your specific requirements or the market in general.


Contact us to learn more

Our Expertise


We work with companies across most sectors.  Be they private equity / venture backed, private, family owned or publicly listed. 




Retained CFO Search

Senior Finance Roles

We begin a retained CFO search by investing the time to understand our client's business model, growth stage and specific financial leadership needs. We conduct thorough discovery sessions with key stakeholders to define the ideal candidate profile, including industry expertise, technical skills and cultural fit requirements.


We map the market, build a targeted longlist of prospects and we begin our discreet reach out work.  We provide regular updates so there are no surprises, we screen shortlisted candidates in depth and we provide detailed reports on each candidate.


We manage the entire process, from initial briefing through to completion. 

 

This is where we support the CFO with team build


 

Interim Solutions

Fractional CFO

Interim Professionals are invaluable for special situations that require immediate support by highly experienced individuals who have


 

When a company is not quite ready for a full time CFO. 


 

Our Approach

Retained Search




We work with clients on a retained basis.  This means we are appointed exclusively for the duration of the recruitment project and our professional fee is paid in instalments, at mutually agreed stages. 


 begin a retained CFO search by investing the time to understand our client's business model, growth stage and specific financial leadership needs. We conduct thorough discovery sessions with key stakeholders to define the ideal candidate profile, including industry expertise, technical skills and cultural fit requirements.


We map the market, build a targeted longlist of prospects and we begin our discreet reach out work.  We provide regular updates so there are no surprises, we screen shortlisted candidates in depth and we provide detailed reports on each candidate.


We manage the entire process, from initial briefing through to completion. 

 

EVERYWHERE

Our priority is that your needs are met, to your full satisfaction, every time. We work with clients on a retained basis.  This means we are appointed exclusively for the duration of the recruitment project and our professional fee is paid in instalments, at mutually agreed stages. 


 begin a retained CFO search by investing the time to understand our client's business model, growth stage and specific financial leadership needs. We conduct thorough discovery sessions with key stakeholders to define the ideal candidate profile, including industry expertise, technical skills and cultural fit requirements.


We map the market, build a targeted longlist of prospects and we begin our discreet reach out work.  We provide regular updates so there are no surprises, we screen shortlisted candidates in depth and we provide detailed reports on each candidate.


We manage the entire process, from initial briefing through to completion. 

 


Senior Roles that report to the CFO

We begin a retained CFO search by investing the time to understand our client's business model, growth stage and specific financial leadership needs. We conduct thorough discovery sessions with key stakeholders to define the ideal candidate profile, including industry expertise, technical skills and cultural fit requirements.


We map the market, build a targeted longlist of prospects and we begin our discreet reach out work.  We provide regular updates so there are no surprises, we screen shortlisted candidates in depth and we provide detailed reports on each candidate.


We manage the entire process, from initial briefing through to completion. 

 

Interim Professionals

We begin a retained CFO search by investing the time to understand our client's business model, growth stage and specific financial leadership needs. We conduct thorough discovery sessions with key stakeholders to define the ideal candidate profile, including industry expertise, technical skills and cultural fit requirements.


We map the market, build a targeted longlist of prospects and we begin our discreet reach out work.  We provide regular updates so there are no surprises, we screen shortlisted candidates in depth and we provide detailed reports on each candidate.


We manage the entire process, from initial briefing through to completion. 

 

Fractional CFO

We begin a retained CFO search by investing the time to understand our client's business model, growth stage and specific financial leadership needs. We conduct thorough discovery sessions with key stakeholders to define the ideal candidate profile, including industry expertise, technical skills and cultural fit requirements.


We map the market, build a targeted longlist of prospects and we begin our discreet reach out work.  We provide regular updates so there are no surprises, we screen shortlisted candidates in depth and we provide detailed reports on each candidate.


We manage the entire process, from initial briefing through to completion. 

 

How we help you appoint high performing finance talent

We treat our clients and candidates as individuals, not numbers on a database. We are attentive, responsive and take great pride in our work.

From the very first conversation with our client through to successful completion, our aim is to be considered a true business partner and trusted adviser. A relationship with mutual respect, shared values and goal alignment.


We are not a high volume 'agency', so our clients can expect us to invest the appropriate time and resources, to ensure we understand the specifics of their requirements, their competitive market, company culture, challenges and opportunities.  This level of knowledge enables us to represent their business with accuracy and passion.  The result is a shortlist of suitably qualified and motivated candidates, in a timely manner.   


Likewise, we engage with candidates beyond their CV, taking the time to understand their story so far, career aspirations, strengths, and values.

This deeper insight allows us to make well-informed introductions, that leads to success for both parties. Our VALUE lies in our personal and tailored approach, and is evidential by relationships spanning 30+ years!


Our expertise includes:


CFO for SMEs that are private, investor backed and family owned.

• Finance Directors for SMEs to Enterprise clients. 

• Financial Controllers, Heads of Function e.g. FP&A, Financial and Management Reporting.


We act for companies throughout the UK and across any industry sector, to deliver recruitment solutions on a Permanent, Interim and Fractional basis.


Please don't hesitate to contact to discuss your specific requirements or the market in general.


Learn More
Contact us to learn more



Some companies we've worked with

Contact us to learn more


Some kind words from our clients



Industry Focus

Technology





Consumer



Sustainability

Industrial

Travel and Leisure



Healthcare



Education


Business Services


Industry Sectors

Technology

Consumer

Sustainability

Nutrition and Well-being

Travel and Leisure



Healthcare

Education

Business Services

With a few kind words

We instructed Fiona on a role that we have historically found difficult to fill. We worked very closely with her, developing a full job description and person specification. She was very knowledgeable and able to advise us on the best recruitment strategy to identify the successful candidate. It was not easy search but she found us the perfect candidate!

Healthcare CFO

I have known Phil for a number of years. He successfully completed a search for our UK Finance Director position. Throughout the search Phil invested time to make sure that he understood my requirements, our business and our culture. He demonstrated his knowledge and experience by presenting a timely shortlist of extremely strong and relevant candidates, from which I was able to select our UK FD.

Retail CFO

Fiona led the search for a new Group Financial Controller.
I was very impressed with the whole process; given regular weekly updates, a very strong preliminary candidate list and saw some very good candidates, one of which we ultimately offered the job to.

 
I found Fiona to bevery knowledgeable, easy to work with and focused on delivery.  Would definitely use her again. 

CFO - Tech Manufacturing

We have worked with the team at Freshwood Group for a few years. Over that time they have really got to know & understand our business, culture and values which is always reflected in the candidates they introduce to us. They have worked hard to build a relationship with whole business and have always given us professional and timely service.  

VP HR, EMEA - Software (SAAS)

Phil led our search for a new CFO. I was very impressed with the whole process; given regular weekly updates, a very strong preliminary candidate list and saw some very good candidates, one of which we ultimately offered the job to.
 
I found Phil very knowledgeable, easy to work with and focused on delivery.  Would without doubt use him again. 

Group HR Director - Automotive

This was a tricky search from the off.  We needed to identify someone who could move quickly, had experience of an exit (ideally in a PE context) and who was willing to be based in a fairly remote part of the UK.  Freshwood were creative in their approach, stayed in regular contact and were quite prepared to challenge us when they felt it was necessary.  We successfully appointed a CFO, who supported the CEO in an exit process within 12 months. 

PE Investor - CFO in Support Services


We just work very hard for you.