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.

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COMMON INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

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​Interviews can be daunting experience; in order to perform to the best of your ability a cool head and thorough preparation are key to your potential success. Whilst it is virtually impossible to predict just what an interviewer will ask you on the day, there are a handful of common questions that are most likely to crop up. We take a look at what these are, why the interviewer will be asking you this question and what the best answer is for you to give.

Tell me about yourself

What the interviewer is looking for:

Your ability to tell them concisely why you are a good fit for the role on offer and how you might fit into the existing team

Best answer:

Keep it relevant – they are looking for a potted history of your work history and achievements to date as well as why you are looking to make a move

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

What the interviewer is looking for:

Nobody is perfect and it is important that candidates and employees can realistically appraise their own skills and abilities

Best answer:

Evidence your strengths with genuine examples and select a weakness which demonstrates how you have made – or intend to make – improvements in this area

Where do you see yourself in five years?

What the interviewer is looking for:

An idea of your goals and ambitions and how you can grow with the role available; they want you to demonstrate a commitment to the company and what you realistically hope to achieve with them

Best answer:

Marry up your own personal career ambitions with the objectives of the company and indicate how you can see yourself progressing within the role and how your contribution will be of benefit to your employer

Are you a team player?

What the interviewer is looking for:

That you can demonstrate that you know the importance of team work and can understand how your contribution benefits and impacts on your colleagues

Best answer:

Describe a specific situation where you can illustrate the value of team work –for example, where people had to come together for different departments, had a particular problem to solve or implemented a solution to an ongoing challenge. Ensure you can talk about your role within the team and the benefits of working with others.

Why should we hire you?

What the interviewer is looking for:

Someone who understands the skills and attributes that they have and can relate these to the position available

Best answer:

You need to stand out from the other candidates to focus on specific skills and experience which will demonstrate not only your ability to deliver in your role but give the interviewer an insight into your character, values and enthusiasm for the opportunity

Why do you want to leave your current employer?

What the interviewer is looking for:

Deliver a well-thought through, reasonable response as to why you have decided the time is right to make the move. This is not the time to bad-mouth your current employer – many industries can be quite close knit and it won’t do you any favours.

Best answer:

Focus upon your professional ambitions and desire for a new challenge – ensure that these are realistic and relevant to the stage that you are at in your career. Also bear in mind that how these fit with the length of time in your current job – have you changed roles frequently or have you been with one company for a considerable length of time?

Is there anything you would like to ask me?

What the interviewer is looking for:

Someone who has given consideration to the company that they are looking to join and the potential role available

Best answer:

Focus upon the future of the business, how the role you would be doing could develop and what contribution you will be making. Try to avoid asking questions about salary and benefits – whilst relevant you don’t want to come across as someone who is more interested in the perks than the role itself.

 

Sharp Consultancy specialises in the recruitment of temporary, interim and permanent finance professionals.  With offices in Leeds and Sheffield our highly experienced team of consultants recruit for positions throughout Yorkshire and beyond. CONTACT UStoday to talk with one of our team about your next move.