When is the Right Time to Moves Jobs | Sharp

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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Starting to search for a new role is one of the biggest decisions you will make. For some, it may be very clear that the time has come to move on but for many, there could be a number of different factors to take into account before polishing up your CV and searching for that dream next move.

It can often take time to reach the conclusion that a new role is what you need – some people take between 12 months and two years before taking the steps to make the change. Whilst it may be good to take time to think through your options and not take drastic measures to having had a bad day at the office, it is also beneficial to consider if there is something which is holding you back and making you stay in a job you no longer enjoy such as opportunity for progression.

Have you got your feet well and truly under the table?

Your current role may be well within your comfort zone, you know what you are doing and you are getting paid a good salary. But it may no longer offer you any sort of challenge and as a result your heart just isn’t quite in it anymore. You are comfortable – but whilst it may seem like the easy option just to carry on, long-term you could find that you become increasingly dissatisfied with your position, your confidence will decrease and that dream role you have always wanted gets further and further out of reach.

What if you make the wrong decision?

This can be particularly tricky, especially if you are not majorly unhappy in your current role but you know that to take the next step in your career a change will be necessary. It’s worth having a chat to a specialist recruiter who can work with you to understand what you want to achieve in the longer term and can help map out the steps that will help you to achieve your goals.

Do you think that you would be letting your boss or colleagues down?

Loyalty is an important quality and one which is highly valued by employers and employees alike. Your boss may have given you a great opportunity or supported you in the past however if when you look ahead you cannot see that there is anywhere else for your to go, it could be time for you to look elsewhere. It is always difficult to leave behind your team members – particularly if you have worked with them for a long time and consider many of them to be friends. You might also feel guilty that your departure could be unsettling or add to the workloads of others but remember, nobody is irreplaceable and by leaving you may open up new opportunities for others.

Could you be jumping out of the frying pan into the fire?

What if my next job is no better than the one I’ve got? It is always beneficial to look at what you don’t like about your current position and try to separate aspects of the role itself with what you feel about the company and the people you work with. You might find that you enjoy the work that you are doing but a different organisation would be a better fit for you culturally; alternatively there could be elements of your current job where you would like to develop more in-depth knowledge and you should look to seek out opportunities within specialist areas.

Do you have time to look for a new job?

Searching for a new role can be extremely time consuming and potentially difficult to find opportunities to attend interviews around your current employment. Research which recruitment experts specialise in your sectors – they will work hard on your behalf and prove to be a useful conduit between yourself and potential employers.

What if you are rejected?

Are you put off applying for a new position just in case you don’t get it? It’s only natural to not want to experience rejection but instead of letting that hold you back, make sure you do your research into what the role involves and prepare careful responses to demonstrate your knowledge and experience. Put yourself in a practice interview situation to hone your skills – particularly if it has been a while since you applied for a position – and bear in mind that interviews are a two-way process so it is as much about you finding out if the opportunity and the company is right for you.

It is worth arranging an informal appointment with an experienced recruitment consultant who will be able to discuss with you the range of opportunities available and offer you confidential career advice which can help you come to the right decision.

Sharp Consultancy specialises in the recruitment of temporary, interim and permanent finance and accountancy professionals. With offices in Leeds and Sheffield our highly experienced team of consultants recruit for positions throughout Yorkshire and beyond. CONTACT US today to find out more.

WHEN IS THE RIGHT TIME TO MAKE THE MOVE?