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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 25–36 of 80
What to Look for When Hiring a Financial ControllerWhat to Look for When Hiring a Financial Controller Introduction In today's dynamic business environment, the role of a financial controller is…Read more →
Inside a £100K+ Financial Controller Job Description: What Candidates Are Actually Looking ForInside a £100K+ Financial Controller Job Description: What Candidates Are Actually Looking For Understanding the Role of a Financial Controller The Strategic…Read more →
Hiring Your First Financial Controller? Here’s What Startups Get WrongHiring Your First Financial Controller? Here's What Startups Get Wrong The Importance of a Financial Controller for Startups Understanding the Role of…Read more →
The First 90 Days: What the Best Financial Controllers Focus OnThe First 90 Days: What the Best Financial Controllers Focus On Overview of the Role of a Financial Controller The role of…Read more →Hiring a UK Finance Director for international businessHiring a UK Finance Director for international business Introduction In today's globalized economy, the role of a Finance Director is pivotal, especially…Read more →
Hiring a UK-based CFO for Overseas OperationsHiring a UK-based CFO for overseas operations Introduction In today's globalized business environment, the role of a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) has…Read more →Building a Culture of Cost Awareness: Strategic Insights from Leading CFOsBuilding a Culture of Cost Awareness: Strategic Insights from Leading CFOs Overview of the Importance of Cost Awareness in Modern Businesses In…Read more →
Onboarding Financial Controllers: Navigating the First 30 Days with ConfidenceOnboarding Financial Controllers: Navigating the First 30 Days with Confidence The Importance of Effective Onboarding for Financial Controllers Understanding the Role of…Read more →
Can a CFO Be a Rockstar? Finance Leadership Lessons from the Music IndustryCan a CFO Be a Rockstar? Finance Leadership Lessons from the Music Industry The Evolving Role of the CFO Historical Context The…Read more →
Would You Trust an AI CFO? The Rise of Algorithmic Financial LeadershipWould You Trust an AI CFO? The Rise of Algorithmic Financial Leadership The Rise of AI in Financial Leadership Historical Context of…Read more →
The Future of Commercial Finance Director Recruitment: Trends and PredictionsThe Future of Commercial Finance Director Recruitment: Trends and Predictions Introduction In the rapidly evolving landscape of commercial finance, the role of…Read more →
Top 10 Reasons to Hire a Finance Director for Your Growing BusinessTop 10 Reasons to Hire a Finance Director for Your Growing Business Introduction In today's fast-paced and ever-evolving business landscape, the financial…Read more →Knowledge Centre
Go deeper with our guides
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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