We help growing companies to appoint ambitious CFOs, and we support CFOs who want to hire their successor.



Executive Search, Interim Management and Fractional Experts.


Finance


Finance is where we all began our recruitment journey, and it remains at the heart of what we do. Finance is where we all began our recruitment journey, and it remains at the heart of what we do. Over the years, we’ve built deep expertise and trusted networks across the finance community and it’s where we do the bulk of our work. 


  • Permanent Assignments from Middle Management to CFO.
  • Interim Finance for business critical projects, skills gaps and transformation.
  • Fractional CFO - Also known as Portfolio or Part Time CFO.  Whilst these highly experienced finance leaders have stepped off the treadmill, they add huge value to less experienced FDs and early stage ventures.   


Finance


Finance is where it started for us and it remains at the heart of what we do.


Over the years, we’ve built deep expertise and trusted networks across the finance community and it’s where we do the bulk of our work. 


Chief Financial Officer


We identify CFOs who can deliver transformative leadership, drive financial performance, create sustainable value, and take businesses into the future.


With a minimal 'off limits' policy, we are able to produce highly robust and relevant shortlists, when others may have their hands tied. 



Future CFOs


We also help appoint senior finance leaders who report into the CFO; including Financial Controllers, Heads of FP&A, Group Finance Managers, and Divisional FDs.


These roles are critical to the strength and depth of the finance function, and we apply the same focused, high-quality search process, to secure candidates who combine technical strength with commercial insight.


Chief Financial Officer

We identify CFOs who can deliver transformative leadership, drive financial performance, create sustainable value, and take businesses into the future.


We work with PE-backed, privately owned, and small listed companies across most industry sectors.






Future CFOs

We also help to appoint Financial Controllers, Heads of FP&A, Group Finance Managers, and Divisional FDs.



These roles are critical to the strength and depth of the finance function, and we apply the same focused, high-quality search process, to secure candidates who combine technical strength with commercial insight.



Interim and Fractional Experts

Experienced, adaptable, and highly effective, interim and fractional leaders bring calm, clarity, and hands-on support when it’s needed most. Whether stepping in during a period of change, covering a leadership gap, or guiding a team part-time, they offer deep expertise without the long-term commitment.


Many of our fractional leaders act as mentors to founders and senior teams — providing strategic input, financial oversight, or operational guidance on a flexible basis.




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 a candidate's 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


How we help you appoint high performing finance talent

We are not a high volume 'agency', meaning our clients can expect us to invest the appropriate time and resources, to ensure we understand their requirements, company culture, challenges and opportunities. 


Our expertise includes:


  • CFO / FD search for private, investor backed, publicly listed and family owned companies.
  • Financial Controller, M&A, Heads of Function e.g. FP&A, Financial and Management Reporting.
  • Talent Advisory services for early stage, high growth companies.


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


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


Learn More

Interim

Finance

Freshwood provides interim finance professionals, typically for periods of change.  The experience and value that a professional interim can bring, will ensure business continuity during transitions, projects, or leadership gaps.


From Financial Controllers to CFOs, we deliver skilled, adaptable talent to meet your short-term needs. 





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Fractional CFO

The experienced Fractional (Portfolio / Part-Time) CFO has grown in popularity in recent years.  Generally they have taken a deliberate decision to leave their full time executive career, in order to support companies and boards with strategic financial leadership on a flexible basis. 


Whether guiding / mentoring a less experienced CFO or supporting a specific project e.g. M&A, we are connected to an extensive network of highly experienced CFOs.


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Clients we have worked with

We've been recruiting in finance for more than 50 years.


Assessing technical skills, cultural fit, motivation and leadership capability is where we excel.


We get to know our candidates in depth, by asking probing questions, challenging their answers and most importantly, we listen intently.


Experts

We've been placing accountants for over 50 years. Identifying the right experience, skillset, industry sector etc. is not the hard part. 


Assessing cultural fit, motivation and leadership skills is when we come into our own. We get to know our candidates by asking probing questions, challenging their answers and most importantly, we listen.

 


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


Some kind words from our clients



Interim and Fractional

Interim finance professionals provide experienced, short-term leadership during periods of transition, growth, or change—such as restructures, acquisitions, or maternity cover. They bring immediate impact, stability, and specialist expertise.


Fractional finance support offers part-time senior input, often on a weekly or monthly basis, ideal for SMEs needing strategic oversight without hiring full-time.




When you need immediate and highly experienced support.

Interim


Experienced professionals who step into leadership roles on a temporary basis, often during periods of change, crisis, or transition.


These individuals offer immediate impact, stability, and expert guidance, helping organisations navigate challenges such as restructures, rapid growth, or leadership gaps without the long-term commitment of a permanent hire. 

Fractional


Fractional experts bring senior-level expertise to organisations on a part-time or project basis. Ideal for businesses that need strategic input but not a full-time role, they offer flexibility and value.


Fractional specialists are commonly used in functions like HR, marketing, operations, and technology, supporting growth while managing costs efficiently.

When you need immediate and highly experienced support.

Interim


Experienced professionals who step into leadership roles on a temporary basis, often during periods of change, crisis, or transition.


These individuals offer immediate impact, stability, and expert guidance, helping organisations navigate challenges such as restructures, rapid growth, or leadership gaps without the long-term commitment of a permanent hire. 

Fractional


Fractional experts bring senior-level expertise to organisations on a part-time or project basis. Ideal for businesses that need strategic input but not a full-time role, they offer flexibility and value.


Fractional specialists are commonly used in functions like HR, marketing, operations, and technology, supporting growth while managing costs efficiently.

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

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. 

Private Equity Investor


We just work very hard for you.