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Insights for boards and senior leaders
The Executive Blog
Practical articles on hiring and leading at the top of a business: C-suite and board appointments, executive pay, fractional and interim leadership, and Senior Manager roles in FCA-regulated firms.
All articlesFCA and SMF rolesBoards and NEDsCEOs and MDsCFOs and finance leadersTechnology leadersFractional and interimHiring and successionPE and family offices
Guidance for boards and the people they appoint
Founders, chairs, investors and executives ask us the same questions again and again. When does a growing business need its first CFO or a full-time CEO? What should a COO earn? Is a fractional executive enough, or is it time for a permanent appointment? We publish our answers here, in plain English and grounded in the searches we run every week.
Articles are written by founder Adrian Lawrence FCA, a Fellow of the ICAEW, and our search team. They cover leadership hiring and succession, executive compensation and equity, board and non-executive appointments, private equity and family offices, technology leadership and Senior Manager Function appointments in regulated firms, and we update them when the rules or the market change.
For boards and investors, we cover how to scope a senior role, what to pay, how to assess candidates and take references, and when interim or fractional leadership makes more sense than a permanent hire. For executives, we cover interviews, offers and equity, notice and restrictive covenants, and the move from an executive career to a board portfolio. We also follow the regulatory changes that shape senior hiring, from the Senior Managers and Certification Regime to the UK Corporate Governance Code.
New to the topic? Start with one of our core guides, or use the search and topic filters above to find what you need.
Start here
Executive salary guide →What C-suite and director roles pay across the UK. What is a fractional executive? →How part-time C-suite leadership works and what it costs. CEO succession planning →A practical guide for UK boards. SMF roles guide →Every Senior Manager Function, and who needs approval.CFOs and finance leaders
Showing 13–24 of 80
Five Strategic Outcomes from Hiring a Fractional CFO QuicklyFive Strategic Outcomes from Hiring a Fractional CFO Quickly Understanding the Role of a Fractional CFO Defining a Fractional CFO A Fractional…Read more →
Why Fractional CFOs Are Ideal for Early-Stage FinTech CompaniesWhy Fractional CFOs Are Ideal for Early-Stage FinTech Companies The Rise of Fractional CFOs in FinTech The Evolution of Financial Leadership In…Read more →How a Fractional CFO Can Improve Your Cash Flow ForecastsHow a Fractional CFO Can Improve Your Cash Flow Forecasts Understanding the Role of a Fractional CFO Defining a Fractional CFO A…Read more →
Case Study – How a Fractional CFO Turned Around a SaaS BusinessCase Study – How a Fractional CFO Turned Around a SaaS Business Introduction Overview of the SaaS Industry Challenges The Software as…Read more →Why a Fractional CFO Might Be the Smart Choice Post-FundingWhy a Fractional CFO Might Be the Smart Choice Post-Funding Overview of Post-Funding Challenges for Businesses Securing funding is a significant milestone…Read more →The ROI of Bringing in a Fractional CFO for Short-Term GoalsThe ROI of Bringing in a Fractional CFO for Short-Term Goals Introduction to Financial Efficiency and ROI Understanding Financial Efficiency Financial efficiency…Read more →
Bridge the Finance Skills Gap – Hire an FD/CFO Who Adds ValueBridge the Finance Skills Gap – Hire an FD/CFO Who Adds Value Understanding the Finance Skills Gap The Evolving Business Landscape In…Read more →
Fractional CFO Turnaround: A Real CaseFractional CFO Turnaround: A Real Case Introduction to Fractional CFO Services Understanding Fractional CFO Services Fractional CFO services involve hiring a Chief…Read more →
Leveraging Fractional CFOs for Turnaround Finance StrategyLeveraging Fractional CFOs for Turnaround Finance Strategy Introduction to Business Recovery and Turnaround Finance Understanding Business Recovery Business recovery refers to the…Read more →
Fractional CFOs for PE-Backed BusinessesFractional CFOs for PE-Backed Businesses Introduction to Fractional CFOs Definition and Concept Fractional CFOs, also known as part-time or outsourced CFOs, are…Read more →
When You Need a Fractional CFO: Signs & TriggersWhen You Need a Fractional CFO: Signs & Triggers Understanding the Role of a Fractional CFO Defining a Fractional CFO A Fractional…Read more →
The Financial Controller’s Checklist for Business SuccessThe Financial Controller’s Checklist for Business Success The Role of a Financial Controller in Business Success Understanding the Financial Controller's Position The…Read more →Knowledge Centre
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Structured guides that bring the best material together by topic. See the full Exec Capital Knowledge Centre and our Insights.
About the Exec Capital blog
Exec Capital is a specialist executive search firm and one of the five specialist firms of FD Capital Group. We appoint CEOs, CFOs, COOs, CTOs, Managing Directors, commercial and HR leaders, non-executive directors and Senior Manager Function holders on a permanent, interim and fractional basis across the UK, from our offices in London and the West Midlands.
Hiring for your leadership team? See our executive search services and the C-suite roles we recruit. Looking for a role? Register as a candidate or browse live executive jobs.
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