New investors, new challenges
Our client, a family-run environmental consultancy, had secured next stage Private Equity investment to take their business forward and begin the scale-up process. This funding meant the company now had a board of investors to support growth and, as a result, was set to go through a period of change, taking it from a small family business to a mid-sized consultancy.
Recruiting to make change happen
For many businesses going through change after securing funding, new expertise is often required to balance commercial reporting with established systems and processes, or support employees through organisational change carefully and sensitively.
Jennifer Brooks, Senior Account Manager, CJ. Talent says: “When a company secures investment via Venture Capital or Private Equity, recruitment will often be a high priority even during the period of transition. It has to be a careful balance of positive change vs identifying management expertise gaps and responding accordingly.”
In most cases, this expertise tends to be required on an interim or part-time basis to implement systems, set up departments or drive change. With employees in place to support growth, the need for a senior-level Director, Consultant or Manager, is to focus more on strategic input, implementation and mentoring.
CJ. Talent for the best candidates
The consultancy approached CJ. Talent with a view to start putting such changes in motion by hiring a flexible Financial Director and HR Director to establish policies and procedures and prepare teams for growth.
This was a period of significant change for the consultancy and its employees. The transition from a more ‘informal’ and collaborative family business to a team or department-led structure was significant, so it was crucial the right candidate had the ability to balance the established with the new, whilst being aware of, and sensitive to, cultural change.
Continued Brooks, “We’ve had a number of clients hire a CFO on a part-time basis because it would be less intimidating for the team, while still delivering the expertise that’s required. We understand these challenges and know the best flexible financial director candidates to make this happen.”
CJ. Talent successfully placed an FD, on a full time basis, with one day per week working remotely, and was also involved in sourcing an HR Director. Both have been extremely successful at driving change and establishing policies, procedures and reporting lines.
Concluded Brooks, “The reason we were so successful with the environmental consultancy was down to the fact that we have the experience to know and understand both the significant and the nuanced changes to business requirements that come with Private Equity investment. This is what makes us stand out as a Private Equity recruitment consultancy.”
Contact us to find out how we can find the right talent to help your business grow.
