10 CAREER NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS THAT YOU NEED TO

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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Getting a new role or securing a promotion are amongst the most common resolutions that people make to themselves at the start of the year. If you want to give your career a boost in 2020, take a look at our top ten resolutions that you should aim to keep in order to get ahead.

1.Speak up!

Don’t just assume that your boss knows that you are keen to take on new responsibilities or move onto the next level. Seize the initiative and ask to sit down with your manager and outline your career goals so you can both put in place a plan for you to achieve them.

2.Put it in writing

Make sure that you are fully prepared for your appraisal or review but putting down the key points that you want to communicate in writing. Take time to read over your job description and look back over previous performance reviews and highlight your key achievements so you can confidently explain why you think you are ready to make the next move.

3.Address any issues head on

Your boss may have reasons as to why you haven’t been given new responsibilities; rather than stewing about what these might be, look to find out what these are and what you can do in order to address these? By asking what you need to do in order to justify a promotion you will demonstrate that you are keen to make improvements as well as enable you to have a clear set of objectives to work towards.

4.Take the opportunity to learn

As well as looking at what training programmes could be available to you through your current employer, check out local colleges and online training providers to see what opportunities there are to challenge yourself and expand your knowledge. As well as professional development, taking part in workshops or classes related to your interests outside of work will also demonstrate to your boss or future employer your commitment to continual learning.

5.Dress for success

We all know the importance of dressing well for an interview but you shouldn’t let your standards slip once you have established yourself with your employer – especially when you are aiming for a promotion! Freshen up your look by updating your work wardrobe and if you are looking to take a step up take note of at others who are already at a similar level and look to emulate how they are expected to dress.

6.Make time to network

Whilst putting in the hours and taking on additional responsibilities can help you get recognised by your superiors, one of the most effective ways to improve your career prospects is to brush up on your networking skills. There are a host of networking opportunities and events ranging from industry conferences to one-to-one lunches so build time into your schedule to attend those which will be most suitable.

7.Don’t hide behind technology

It can often seem easier to send an email or a text rather than pick up the phone or have a quick chat with a colleague but if you are serious about improving your career prospects now is the time to get to know the people that you work with better and allow them to see more of what you have to offer. Discussing matters face to face will enable you to demonstrate your communication skills as well as letting others see how you handle certain situations.

8.Follow up your interview

Potential employers are keen to bring people into their teams who they can see are passionate and enthusiastic about the opportunity to join the company. Make sure you follow up any interviews with a brief email thanking your interviewer for their time and make reference to particular aspects of the role which you feel most interested you and reiterate any skills or experience which best demonstrate your suitability for the role.

9.Spring clean your social media accounts

Potential employers can find out a wealth of information about you from your social media activity so take a good look at what your online profile says about you. Make sure that your Linkedin account is bang up to date with your most recent achievements and think carefully about what aspects of your life outside of work you choose to share on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

10.Find a mentor

If there is someone in your field that you admire don’t be afraid to approach them and see if they would be willing to share some of their time and mentor you in a particular aspect of your career. Similarly you could look to offer your skills and talents to others whom you think could benefit from your knowledge and in doing so will enable you to add further strings to your own bow.

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 US today to discuss your recruitment needs with a member of our team.

10 CAREER NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS THAT YOU NEED TO KEEP

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