We help companies appoint senior finance talent. We conduct CFO searches and we support CFOs who wish to hire for their team.
How we help you appoint high performing finance talent
We treat our clients and candidates as individuals, not numbers on a database. From our first conversation with you, our aim is to be considered a true business partner and trusted adviser. Freshwood is 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. Likewise, we engage with candidates beyond their CV, taking the time to understand their story so far, career aspirations, strengths, and values.
We deliver recruitment solutions on a Permanent, Interim and Fractional basis. 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 partner with companies throughout the UK, across all industry sectors.
Please don't hesitate to contact us to discuss your specific requirements or the market in general.
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.
Retained Search
We work with clients on a retained basis for permanent appointments. This means we are engaged exclusively for the duration of the project and our professional fee is paid in instalments, at mutually agreed stages.
We begin by investing the time to understand our client's business model, culture and specific leadership needs. We do this via thorough discovery sessions with key stakeholders to define the ideal candidate profile.
We map the market, build a targeted longlist of prospects and we begin our discreet approach work. We provide regular progress updates, we screen shortlisted candidates in depth and we provide detailed reports on each candidate. We operate a zero 'off limits' policy, so our clients can be confident that we have scoured the entire market.
Our Partners manage the entire process, from initial briefing through to completion.
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.
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.
Some companies we've worked with
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
City skyline
Blurred Lines
Birthday Sparks
Fashion Magazine
City skyline
Blurred Lines
Birthday Sparks
Fashion Magazine
City skyline
Blurred Lines
Birthday Sparks
Fashion Magazine
Some kind words from our clients
A selection of testimonials
Financial Controller
"We instructed Freshwood on a role that we have historically found difficult to fill. We worked very closely with them, developing a full job description and person specification.
They are very knowledgeable and were able to advise us on the best recruitment strategy, to identify the successful candidate. It was not easy search but they found us the perfect candidate!"
Group HR Director - PE Backed Media Group.
MashIt-
“Amazing service. Can’t wait to find out what’s next!”
"Throughout the search Freshwood invested time to make sure that they understood my requirements, our business and our culture.
They demonstrated their knowledge and experience by presenting a timely shortlist of extremely strong and relevant candidates, from which I was able to select our UK FD."
CFO - Omnichannel Retail.
FabuFit -
“Not sure what I did before discovering this Product. It’s super!”
"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 Freshwood to be knowledgeable, easy to work with and focused on delivery. Would definitely use them again."
Group Finance Director - Travel Plc.
YesSuits 
Slide title
"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."
Partner - UK Private Equity Firm.
Button-
Slide title
"We recently had the pleasure of working with Freshwood to fill two senior roles in our Finance team. Their deep knowledge of the finance industry was evident throughout the process and enabled them to authoritatively challenge us to broaden our view, which ultimately helped us find the right fit for our roles.
What truly set them apart was their ability to source high-quality candidates who not only matched our technical requirements, but also aligned with our company culture, which was hugely important to us."
Partner - International Consulting Firm.
Button
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.