How to get on CFO headhunters’ radars and win your next role
Jul 2, 2024
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Learn career progression tips from Nick Gribbon and Laura Streather at Essenta in the finance industry. Topics include getting noticed by headhunters, transitioning to CFO roles in private equity, importance of behavioral competencies, referrals, and salary negotiation.
To become a CFO, showcase leadership behaviors and gain broad functional experience.
Transitioning to CFO in private equity requires demonstrating agility, adaptability, and leadership skills.
Emphasize tangible results, team-building capabilities, and industry acumen for impactful CFO career progression.
Deep dives
Career Progression Strategy for Finance Professionals
To advance in their careers, finance professionals aiming for higher roles, such as CFO, need to focus on gaining broad functional experience and showcasing leadership behaviors. Private equity firms have a high bar for quality and prior experience, so individuals aspiring for CFO positions must demonstrate technical competence and leadership skills, even if transitioning from roles like FP&A director. With private equity CFO supply relatively low, opportunities for advancement exist for candidates to show agility, results orientation, and alignment with business growth trajectories.
Considerations for Career Moves in Private Equity
Transitioning from large public companies to private equity-backed firms can be advantageous if candidates can demonstrate agility, adaptability, and results-driven approaches from their corporate background. Highlighting situational experiences, industry expertise, growth journey exposure, and leadership capabilities are crucial for career progression in private equity. Matching career moves with desired business trajectories, mentorship opportunities, and alignment with inspiring CFOs can lead to impactful career advancements.
Impacting Business Outcomes Through Leadership
Focus on career opportunities that allow for impactful transformations and leadership development. Emphasize tangible results, leadership agility, team-building capabilities, and alignment with best-in-class organizations when evaluating roles for CFO progression. Demonstrating adaptability, industry acumen, and impactful contributions will resonate with hiring considerations for senior finance positions.
Navigating Private Equity Dynamics in Career Growth
Private equity dynamics impact senior finance hiring, with demand driven by various factors beyond deal flow. Confidence in decision-making plays a key role in career transitions within private equity, driven by stakeholder expectations, rapid outcomes delivery, and situational complexities. Despite market fluctuations, private equity offers rewarding challenges for individuals seeking impactful roles and growth opportunities.
Nurturing Relationships with Headhunters and Building Career Trajectories
Establishing relationships with headhunters and leveraging networks can enhance visibility and opportunities for career progression. Engaging proactively with recruiters, highlighting impactful accomplishments, communication skills, and aligning career aspirations with search requirements are vital for successful candidate placements. Balancing professional engagement on platforms like LinkedIn and emphasizing career impact and industry expertise can strengthen career trajectories and executive search considerations.
We received a flood of FP&A and CFO questions from our audience (and FP&A Reddit). These and more are put to this this week’s finance headhunter special guests: Nick Gribbon,Senior Partner, Financial Officers Practice at Essenta, and Laura Streather, Consultant, Private Equity at Essenta, who run the finance headhunting section at the global executive search firm. Hear all the behind the scenes anecdotes and secrets to getting your next big FP&A or CFO job.
Connect with Nick Gribbon, Senior Partner, Financial Officers Practice at Essenta
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-gribbon-37349b1/
Connect with Laura Streather, Consultant, Private Equity at Essenta
https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-streather-451966137/
Shortage of Exit Private Equity CFOs and what you will need to fill the role
How to go from Director FP&A of a large public company to CFO of a PE-backed company
The importance of demonstrating “behavioral competencies of leadership” to pass the first screening
Getting exposure to the right industry – how important is it?
Getting to understand where you are going to have most impact in your next role
How important is the CPA?
What is the best way to get on headhunters’ radars?
What the headhunter interview looks like and is designed to accomplish for you and the recruitment firm?
The importance of referrals and how to play them to your advantage
How slow is the CFO job market?
Is being the CFO at a private equity-backed company right for you?
What can candidates add to CVs to stand out?
Salary bands and how to negotiate the most money
Salary inflation and how that impacts senior role
Will moving as CFO from a $100m to $1bn company automatically get you a higher salary?
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