Louise Shute

Celebrating International Women's Day with Louise Shute

​In celebration of International Women's Day, we continue our series by highlighting the inspiring journey of female leaders in finance who are making a significant impact throughout their career.In this installation we are thrilled to feature an interview with Louise Shute, the Chief Financial Officer of Hollybank Trust, a not-for-profit care provider dedicated to supporting individuals with complex needs. Since joining Hollybank Trust in 2019, Louise has been instrumental in driving financial sustainability, operational efficiency, and strategic growth. Her leadership goes beyond numbers, focusing on ensuring that every financial decision aligns with the organisation's mission to provide outstanding care. Join us as we dive into her career-defining moments, the traits that have contributed to her success, and her invaluable advice for the next generation of female finance leaders. ​1.Please can you provide a summary of who you work for and your current role?I am the Chief Financial Officer of Hollybank Trust, a large not-for-profit care provider that delivers specialist care and education to individuals with complex needs. Since joining in 2019, I have been responsible for overseeing finance, IT, estates, and HR, ensuring financial sustainability, operational efficiency, and a strong, well-supported workforce. My role is not just about numbers—it’s about making sure every financial decision supports the organisation’s mission. I work closely with the executive team and trustees to strategically plan for the future, secure funding, and drive initiatives that enhance the care we provide. This includes leading acquisitions, driving digital transformation, and optimising resources to ensure we remain sustainable and continue to deliver outstanding care in an increasingly challenging financial landscape.​2.What have been the one or two most defining moments in your career to date?A few pivotal moments have shaped my career and leadership style: Building a finance function from the ground up – One of my most challenging and rewarding experiences was setting up an entire finance team from scratch for a large care group. Bringing the finance function in-house, creating new systems, and ensuring financial stability in a complex organisation gave me invaluable leadership experience. Leading an acquisition – More recently, I successfully led the acquisition of a care business, ensuring financial due diligence, securing funding, and integrating the new business into our operations. This was a defining moment in navigating the complexities of growth while maintaining financial security. Driving digital transformation – Overseeing our transition to a nearly paperless organisation has been a major milestone. Introducing new financial, HR, and operational systems has made us more efficient and forward-thinking, ensuring we are well-equipped for the future. Beyond these, every year brings new challenges in the not-for-profit and care sector, where funding is tight, costs are rising, and financial sustainability is an ongoing battle. Navigating these challenges while keeping the organisation strong and adaptable is something I take pride in.​3.What are the most important personal traits, values or characteristics that, being a female finance leader, has really helped to contribute to your success?Leadership isn’t just about making decisions—it’s about bringing people with you. The qualities that have shaped my success as a finance leader include: Compassion and genuine interest in people – I care about my colleagues and take the time to listen, understand their perspectives, and create a supportive environment. Decisiveness and resilience – In finance, tough decisions need to be made. I can balance strategy with reality, ensuring we remain financially stable while protecting the organisation’s core values. Strong communication – Finance can sometimes feel like a separate world, but I ensure complex financial insights are communicated clearly to teams, trustees, and stakeholders so they can make informed decisions. Positivity, even in difficult times – The financial landscape for care providers is constantly evolving, and it’s easy to focus on the challenges. I believe in staying solution-focused and adaptable, ensuring we embrace change rather than fear it. A positive outlook helps to motivate teams, find creative solutions, and maintain momentum even during difficult periods. I wouldn’t say I’ve faced direct challenges as a woman in finance, but finance leadership remains a male-dominated space, especially at board level. Many women struggle with imposter syndrome, and I think it’s crucial to own your expertise, trust your ability, and bring your unique strengths to the table.​4.What is the one piece of advice that you would share with the next generation of female finance leaders as they look to build their careers?My biggest piece of advice is: do what makes you happy. You spend so much of your life at work—it’s essential to enjoy it. If you don’t, don’t be afraid to seek out something that challenges, excites, and fulfils you. Beyond that, a few key lessons I’ve learned: Be true to yourself. Work for organisations that align with your beliefs, morals, and values. Build a strong team. Surround yourself with capable, driven people—it will make all the difference. Keep learning. I haven’t had an official mentor, but I invest in seminars, courses, and networking to continuously grow. Finding a mentor or widening your professional network can be invaluable. Stay adaptable. Finance, technology, and the business landscape are evolving rapidly. Staying open to change and embracing new ways of working will set you apart. Above all, believe in yourself. Women often doubt their abilities more than men, but confidence comes from experience. Keep learning, keep leading, and don’t be afraid to step up and take your seat at the table.​Louise’s journey is a testament to her power of resilience, compassion, and strategic vision in leadership. Her dedication to Hollybank Trust's mission and her ability to navigate the complexities of the not-for-profit sector have set a remarkable example for aspiring female finance leaders. Her advice to stay true to oneself, build strong teams, and continuously learn resonates deeply, reminding us all of the importance of passion and adaptability in our careers. We hope her story inspires and empowers the next generation of women to pursue their ambitions with confidence and determination. While women are making strides in leadership roles, a significant gender gap still exists. In 2024, 36% of new CFO hires in FTSE 100 companies were female, a notable increase from 2023 when only 14% of new hires were female [1]. Despite this progress, women hold only 25% of CFO positions in the FTSE 100 [2]. These statistics highlight the ongoing need for greater gender diversity and support for women in finance. ​Looking for your next career move in finance or accountancy? At Sharp Consultancy, our expertise lies in matching your potential with the perfect temporary, interim, or permanent position. With a well-established presence in Leeds and Sheffield, our seasoned team of consultants extends their services across Yorkshire and beyond. Don't wait for opportunity to knock, reach out to us TODAY and let's chart your career path together.

Read article
Blog Img

THE IMPORTANCE OF ACHIEVING A BETTER WORK LIFE BALANCE

Back to Blogs

​Achieving a better work life balance is a key consideration for many job seekers – Sharp Consultancy’s 2019/20 Salary Survey highlighted its importance with employees ranking it as one of the main factors influencing their decision to seek out a new role.

One such person is Sharp Consultancy’s Karen Pitchforth who made the decision to return to work part time after maternity leave; we caught up with her to find out more about how she made the move.

“I’ve worked in recruitment for many years; I first entered in the industry in 2002 and started out recruiting doctors for a couple of years before becoming a Branch Manager for a regional commercial business in Wakefield.”

“I then joined a national recruitment business in 2006 – this was when I first started working in the senior interim finance market, the area that I specialise within now. I stayed there for seven years, gaining several promotions over the course of a few years.”

“I went on maternity leave in 2012 and, like many others, had several factors to take into consideration when it came to being a working parent. Following my maternity leave, I made the decision to return to work on a part-time basis and this resulted in me moving on from my employer at the time to join Sharp Consultancy in 2013 as a Senior Consultant specialising in Interim appointments.”

“My previous role had required me to split my time between managerial responsibilities such as developing and mentoring my team along running a busy recruitment desk so when I returned to work I was very confident that I would be able to make the transition from full time to part time a success. I was used to managing my time carefully to make certain that I had enough time to dedicate to my desk so by ensuring that my new role focussed solely upon this aspect, I knew what could be achieved during my three days in the office.”

“There are a few aspects that I feel have been hugely beneficial – both to myself and my employer – in making my role a success. From the outset it was important for me to maintain full control of my desk – I specialise in recruiting senior interim appointments across Leeds, Wakefield, Huddersfield and Halifax – and manage the process from start to finish. Ensuring that the service my clients and candidates receive is consistent is essential.  Remote access and flexibility have been crucial in order to achieve this and as a result I’m not relying on others to pick up my work if I’m not around.”

“As with many people working in recruitment, I am naturally a very driven individual – an essential quality for anyone working in a sales focussed role – so I ensure that the time I have in the office is used as proactively as possible.”

“I’ve always been ambitious – I still am – and there are career aspirations that I want to achieve. Whilst my children are young, working part time offers me the desired balance between work and family and although my goals have adapted to reflect this, I know that the opportunities are there for me to continue to move forward in my career.”

Karen Pitchforth is Executive Consultant specialising Senior Interim recruitment including part qualified and qualified accountants at all levels.