The blog
Insights
What a buyer or lender sees in your finance function before a process starts
Most boards think scrutiny starts when the data room opens. It doesn't. Here's what buyers and lenders read in your finance function first, and why the CFO hire often comes too late.
The hiring mistake PE-backed boards keep repeating
When a CFO hire fails in a PE-backed business, the cause is rarely the candidate. More often, the investor, CEO and Chair never agreed what the CFO was for.
Retained vs contingent search: what you're actually buying
Contingent search feels safer because you only pay if you hire. But on a successful CFO hire the fee is usually much the same. What differs is what you get for it.
CFO salaries in PE-backed businesses: what to expect in 2026
When PE investment arrives, expectations on the finance function accelerate immediately. Here's a clear breakdown of what CFO compensation looks like in PE-backed UK businesses in 2026 — base, bonus, equity and the real cost of the hire.
The Rise of Women Angel Investors — and Why It Matters for UK Growth
A recent report from Beauhurst highlights a quiet but meaningful shift taking place inside the UK’s early-stage investment ecosystem: the rapid growth of women angel investors.
At first glance, this might look like a diversity story.
But look a little deeper and it becomes something far more significant — a signal about how capital, innovation, and leadership are evolving across the UK economy.
UK Private Equity in 2025: Not a Slowdown — A Selection Event
Periods of market adjustment are often described in terms of decline:
fewer deals, slower momentum, weaker sentiment.
But the UK equity market in 2025 tells a more interesting story.
Do I need Private Equity experience to work in a Private Equity-backed business?
Do I need Private Equity experience to work in a Private Equity-backed business?
The hidden risks of not having a finance leader during a transaction
Is your Finance Director actually holding the business back? Let’s talk.
“It’s better to be a lion for a day than a sheep your whole life.”
— Elizabeth Kenny