The Challenge
The CFO of a fast-growing consumer products company announced plans to retire in five years. Known for its fantastic, high-performing culture, the company preferred to promote from within. However, succession planning revealed the current team members would not be qualified for the role in time.
Unable to fill the position internally, the firm reached out to Alliance. Through detailed discovery, Alliance recruiters determined the company needed someone with much more experience than was scoped. The organization also realized that in trying to protect its culture, it had been overly hesitant in the search.
The Solution
Alliance helped the company recalibrate the job description, competencies, and compensation to attract top candidates. Because the organization had outgrown its infrastructure, it required a candidate skilled in sophisticated analysis, strategy, and building out a financial planning and analysis department.
The new VP of Finance also needed consumer products experience, comfort with ambiguity, strong business acumen, and, most importantly, the ability to grow into a CFO position within 5 years.
Alliance quickly built a search campaign targeting top financial talent and developed a slate of candidates who rapidly progressed through a rigorous interview process, meeting the executive team and presenting a case study.
The Outcome
With Alliance’s help, the company hired a true “A player.” The candidate brought experience from a top consumer products company and other well-respected organizations. He also had an elite university degree and strong cultural alignment.
The new hire is now building out an FP&A team, working on ad hoc projects, and evaluating M&A targets alongside the CFO. The client expressed confidence that, with continued development, the new employee will be ready for the CFO position within 5 years or less.