Case Study: Exclusive Recruitment of 12 Senior Finance Roles for a Leading Oxfordshire PLC

Team: Senior Finance Team
Client Relationship Managed By: Nathan Freestone

Background

A leading Oxfordshire-based PLC embarked on a transformative programme to modernise its financial and operational frameworks under new leadership. This significant initiative required the recruitment of senior permanent finance professionals to provide strategic leadership and deliver long-term value across key areas, including reporting, commercial insight, and compliance.

Nathan Freestone had fostered and developed a strong relationship with this client over several years, establishing a deep understanding of their business needs and culture. This foundation was instrumental in securing Wade Macdonald an exclusive mandate for this critical recruitment project.

The organisation sought to fill 12 critical permanent positions:

  • Three Finance Directors (FDs): To lead divisional financial strategy and performance.
  • Group Reporting Manager: To ensure accuracy and compliance in group-level financial reporting.
  • Six Finance Business Partners (FBPs): To drive commercial decision-making and operational finance support.
  • Two Tax Managers: To oversee complex compliance challenges and implement tax-efficient planning strategies.

To ensure a structured and efficient process, the recruitment was staged, beginning with the Finance Directors to establish leadership and direction before focusing on the remaining roles.

Brief

The client provided Wade Macdonald with an exclusive mandate to deliver high-calibre, permanent professionals capable of driving the transformation forward. This approach allowed for a tailored, phased recruitment process aligned with the organisation’s evolving priorities.

Methodology

Utilising all members of the Wade Macdonald Senior Finance Team, a collaborative and targeted recruitment strategy was carried out:

  • Detailed Planning: Worked closely with the client to prioritise recruitment stages, starting with the Finance Directors to establish leadership, followed by the Group Reporting Manager, Finance Business Partners, and Tax Managers. Comprehensive role briefs were developed to ensure clarity and precision.
  • Dual Sourcing Strategy: Leveraged our trusted network of finance professionals while conducting a targeted market search using LinkedIn Recruiter and specialist platforms to identify the strongest permanent candidates in the market.
  • Comprehensive Screening: Each candidate was assessed through competency-based and technical interviews to ensure alignment with both technical requirements and the company’s culture.
  • Structured Process:
    • Shortlists for each role were presented by the end of week two.
    • First interviews took place in week three.
    • Second-stage interviews, often including presentations, were completed in week four, with offers extended promptly thereafter.

Outcome

By phasing the recruitment process, Wade Macdonald successfully secured exceptional permanent candidates for all 12 roles. The Finance Directors established the leadership framework for the transformation, while the Group Reporting Manager, Finance Business Partners, and Tax Managers brought expertise that ensured the programme’s long-term success.