The Penny Group, Finance Director.
One of the fastest growing, independently owned, advice businesses in London. Partway through a buy-and-build strategy, buoyed by strong organic growth, the board recognised now was the time to bring in a dynamic FD to help navigate the next stage of growth.
In the ever-evolving landscape of London’s growing advice sector, our client confronted a significant challenge – the recruitment of a Finance Director with a unique skill set. The candidate had to embody strategic thinking, seamlessly function at the board level, and adeptly address the hurdles of a scaling SME with a can-do attitude and a resource-conscious approach.
Importantly, they needed more than financial acumen; a profound understanding of broader business functions and operations was imperative, integrating their role into the company’s overall success. Furthermore, the chosen candidate had to exhibit exemplary stakeholder relationship skills, taking ownership of strategic connections crucial to the company’s growth.
Acknowledging the distinctive search criteria, Signia, through our premium service, Exec Finder, embarked on a mission to identify a Finance Director with not just financial expertise but a strategic mindset and a hands-on approach suited for a scaling SME.
It was widely agreed that direct experience within a regulated advice business was ‘nice to have’ but not a pre-requisite therefore the mapping and engagement process needed to be expansive and cross-industry.
Our comprehensive engagement process garnered significant interest which allowed us to run a detailed qualitative qualification process to only present the most suitable and engaged candidates for the position.
Signia curated a shortlist of 4 individuals who aligned with the nuanced requirements.
Ultimately, Jenny Morton emerged as the ideal candidate, distinguishing herself for her strategic thinking, can-do attitude, and strong commercial acumen. Her professional training and experience in practice, coupled with direct Financial Services experience proved to be ideal for the requirements of The Penny Group.
