A mid-market PE firm sought Laidlaw Associates’ support in assessing a CFO candidate for a high-growth consumer goods business. The role required someone who could not only strengthen financial controls but also act as a strategic partner to the CEO during a significant scaling phase.
Our assessment combined personality and ability tests with an in-depth behavioural interview. This revealed a candidate with exceptional analytical strength alongside a naturally direct communication style that would complement the CEO’s more informal approach. The assessment highlighted particular strengths in value-creation focus and problem-solving, balanced against development needs in stakeholder management within a relationship-oriented culture.
We provided specific recommendations for integrating the candidate successfully, including structured mentoring to enhance team development capabilities and guidance on adapting communication style for different stakeholders. 18 months post-appointment, the CFO has successfully implemented more robust financial processes whilst building strong relationships across the business. Our detailed onboarding recommendations helped accelerate their effectiveness, particularly in balancing analytical rigour with the company’s people-focused culture.