From Interim to CFO: Finance recruitment across Property, Energy, Infrastructure and Manufacturing
At Investigo, our Accountancy & Finance recruitment team is built on specialist knowledge, proven expertise, and a genuine commitment to helping businesses find the right finance talent. To showcase the breadth of experience across our team, we’re running a series of Q&A features with our A&F experts.
We caught up with Simon Jobson, Associate Director, to hear his insights on the market, the challenges businesses face, and what makes a successful finance hire today.
Can you tell us about the area of Accountancy & Finance you and your team specialise in at Investigo?
We support both interim and permanent recruitment mandates, covering everything from non-qualified accounting roles through to senior appointments at Finance Director and CFO level. Our team of experienced consultants has a deep understanding of this market, which allows us to deliver consistently for clients across a wide range of requirements.
What types of clients do you typically partner with, and what are they looking for in finance leaders right now?
We primarily partner with businesses in the Property, Energy, Infrastructure, and Manufacturing sectors across London. Finance leaders are being asked to take on increasingly broad responsibilities - not only keeping on top of rising compliance and reporting requirements, but also driving change and improvement across their functions. The ability to implement new technologies, streamline processes, and improve efficiency both within finance and across the wider business has become vital.
What are some of the biggest challenges clients face when hiring finance professionals?
One of the biggest challenges right now is the high volume of counter offers for top-tier talent, which makes clear and consistent communication throughout the recruitment process absolutely essential. There’s also a noticeable skills shortage at the 4–5 year PQE level, with the impact of COVID in 2020 still affecting supply today. Additionally, with many organisations offshoring or outsourcing finance teams, businesses are finding it harder to source finance leaders who bring strong people management experience.
From your perspective, what makes a successful finance hire in today’s market?
Success starts with a clear brief and a realistic timeline. When businesses and recruiters commit to a transparent process, it helps eliminate expectation gaps and drives more efficient outcomes. Partnering with a recruitment team that not only understands your business, but also the technical expertise and personal skills required for success, makes a huge difference to the quality of hire.
What advice would you give to businesses looking to strengthen their finance leadership teams in the year ahead?
Start the recruitment process as early as possible, setting a clear and realistic timeline from the outset. Many businesses are also making use of professional interims – a great way to protect knowledge within teams and maintain momentum during periods of transformation.
Why should clients partner with Investigo’s Accountancy & Finance team for their finance recruitment needs?
Our track record speaks for itself. We’ve built long-term partnerships with clients by consistently delivering the right individuals for their business needs. The strength of our team, combined with our deep market expertise, means we’re able to provide both high-quality hires and valuable insights on market trends and salaries. This up-to-date knowledge helps clients make informed decisions and secure the right people for their teams.
At Investigo, we pride ourselves on being more than just recruiters – we’re trusted advisors who partner with businesses to build stronger finance functions.
