CFO Network Quarterly Update – April 2025
The latest data for CFO and Finance Director appointments across Yorkshire and the East Midlands.
CFO Network Quarterly Update – April 2025
The latest data for CFO and Finance Director appointments across Yorkshire and the East Midlands.
CFO Network Quarterly Update – April 2025
This is one of the most fascinating quarterly analyses of CFO appointments that we have produced. Against a backdrop of geopolitical challenges and changing economics, most of our CFO community find themselves in more choppier waters than in recent times. We have spent more face time with the community of CFOs, investors and advisors to keep on top of the latest issues. Analysing the quarterly appointments helps us and is our contribution to our region finding their own pulse in these times.
Some of the headlines from the last quarter:
- 5% more CFOs and FDs have started new roles in our region than in the same quarter last year.
- 11% against the rolling past year figures.
- 12% for the current rolling year against the previous.
Positive news. However, our analysis of the pipeline for the next two quarters shows a decrease. Maybe not time to get the bunting out just yet.
Gender Diversity
The past quarter represents the strongest balance of male and female appointments that we have seen in over five years of preparing this analysis:
- 39% female and 61% male
Strongest Sectors
- Healthcare 13%
- Technology 11%
- Manufacturing & Engineering 30%
Other commentary
SECTORS
- Manfacturing & Engineering has always been the most prolific sector in every quarter
- The next 3 sectors have usually been healthcare, technology and energy.
- Professional Services is the rising sector for CFO and other C-Suite appointments. The consolidation of practices, exit planning and PE investment of legal, accounting, architect and recruitment businesses has seen the creation of boards across our region.
OWNERSHIP STRUCTURES
- Private Equity represents just over a quarter of appointments in the quarter.
- The frequency of fractional appointments in early years’ businesses continues to grow – VC and Angel backed businesses are increasingly opting to use their budget for very experienced CFO hires fractionally click HERE to read some of our recent articles with Mercia on this trend.
INTERIMS
- Demand for interims swings forward and back over very brief intervals!
- Demand dipped at the turn of the year but is showing early signs of returning.
- April changes in National Insurance will increase the focus on analysing whether engagement is inside or outside of IR35. (A debate that seems to never go away!)
Our Outlook
The data for CFO appointments can be one of the most insightful analyses of the headlines, trends and confidence of a region.
Analysing the total number for the past quarter can only suggest a positive appraisal. However, two other trends are evident in the background:
- A decline in the commencement of new campaigns.
- Some signs of existing roles being paused – either to accommodate a restructuring or to “allow a few more moths to see how markets pick up”
This is where the volume of conversations and events with advisors, investors, bankers and economists that we have attended gives us a wider perspective and the basis for our opinion for the immediate future:
- Some more sluggish performance in the traditional mid-tier of businesses.
- An increased focus on early-stage businesses with huge growth prospects – particularly in the technology and scientific sectors.
- Ongoing evolution of more CFO roles – incorporating more operational responsibility, risk management (and scenario planning) and tech strategies.
- The volume of pre-deal private equity appointments is starting to rise again.
- The corporate finance sector is busy at present. Investment coming into the region and strong performance for most of the PE funds within the region.
- There has been a larger representation of appointments in the £90-125,000 bracket this quarter – the lower quartile of reward.
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