Leaders Insight - with Chris Lewis, CFO at

Meet our Transactional Temps and Interim Specialists

Why is it that so many people and businesses in Yorkshire trust and rely on Sharp Consultancy to support their temporary and interim financial recruitment strategies? Sharp Consultancy is Yorkshire’s largest, most experienced and best-connected independent company committed exclusively to financial recruitment. We’re the true specialists. Unlike so many other firms, financial recruitment is all we do - so we’re probably the most focused and knowledgeable company in the region. And in Yorkshire, no other specialist Temporary and Interim Finance Recruitment team enjoy as many years of combined finance sector experience. Therefore, both our Transactional Temps and Interim Specialists divisions are the most knowledgeable in the region. Karen PitchforthKaren Pitchforth has over two decades of recruitment experience, dedicating more than half of that to Sharp Consultancy and is pivotal to our Interim Specialist division. Dedicated to South Yorkshire businesses, Karen has a vast network of part-qualified, fully qualified, or qualified by experience interim finance specialists in the region.Karen's Company ProfileKaren's LinkedIn ProfileColin MolyneuxColin Molyneux’s career spans almost 25 years and now in his second stint with Sharp Consultancy has been a key component in our Interim Specialist division. His expert focus on sourcing and placing Qualified Interim professionals across West Yorkshire and has a concrete commitment: whether it’s days or hours, he’ll meet your deadlines. Colin's Company ProfileColin's LinkedIn ProfileStuart DouglassStuart Douglass has been an integral part of our Interim Specialist division since 2016, building on a career spanning over 25 years. He focuses exclusively on senior interim roles within West and North Yorkshire and covers Part Qualified, Qualified by Experience and Qualified requirements. His deep understanding of the finance market means he is a trusted advisor to many clients. Stuart's Company ProfileStuart's LinkedIn ProfileDeanna CrosbyDeanna Crosby has established herself as a leading Transactional Temps expert in South Yorkshire. She focuses predominantly on the Barnsley, Doncaster, and Rotherham areas supplying variety of Transactional Temps including, Finance/Accounts Assistants, Credit Controllers, Sales and Purchase Ledger Clerks and Payroll. Dee provides a rapid response to meet her clients’ needs. Deanna's Company Profile Deanna's LinkedIn ProfileLiam O'FlahertyLiam O'Flaherty has over 20 years of finance recruitment experience. Now in his fifth year with us, Liam specialises in Transactional Temp recruitment throughout West Yorkshire. His deep understanding of the local market, combined with his consultative approach, ensures that both clients and candidates receive unparalleled service and support. Liam's Company ProfileLiam's LinkedIn ProfileTom TurnerTom Turner is now in his sixth year in recruitment, and entering his 3rd year with Sharp Consultancy, where he has quickly established himself as the go-to transactional temp specialist in the Sheffield market. Covering all aspects of transactional finance, Tom is the person to find the right fit when it comes to temp Finance Assistants, Accounts Payable Clerks, Accounts Receivable staff and payrollers. With shrewd judgement, he makes precise recommendations.Tom's Company Profile Tom's LinkedIn ProfileSo, with circa 100 years of combined Transactional Temps and Interim Specialist recruitment experience, and more than a third of that within Sharp Consultancy itself, the real question is not why is it that so many people and businesses in Yorkshire trust and rely on Sharp Consultancy to support their temporary and interim financial recruitment strategies? But more why would you choose to go anywhere else? Our aim is to earn your trust by providing a superior experience. To discuss how Sharp Consultancy assist you and your business speak to one of these leading experts in their field on 0113 236 6300 or 0114 261 1700.

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Welcome to "Leaders Insight” the first in an insightful series that delves into the captivating professional lives of these Senior level professionals and showcase their multifaceted expertise to inspire the next generation of CFO’s.

We will delve into the stories of CFO’s from various industries and walks of life, shedding light on some of the challenges they have faced on their journey to becoming a CFO, how they feel the role might change over the next decade, what key skills and attributes the next generation of CFO’s will need and how future technology might impact the role of the CFO.

This first instalment is with Chris Lewis at Endless LLP. Chris is big 4 trained and has a wealth of experience at listed and private equity backed businesses. Chris started at Endless LLP in 2015 as Financial Controller and was promoted to the position of CFO in 2019. More recently, Chris has been promoted to Partner in April of this year.

1.Which of your earlier roles played the biggest part in your career development to becoming a CFO?

I think there were two roles. The technical grounding and people skills that I developed whilst training to be an accountant at PwC remain invaluable. The training programmes offered by the big 4 / top 10 are unrivalled in my view. Secondly, my time at Priory Group was a much more commercial role with a strong P&L focus – I don’t think I looked at a balance sheet in four years. I also reported into the Group Board monthly at a relatively young age. There was no hiding place and it really helped to develop my skillset.

2.What is the one thing you know now that you wish you knew as a newly qualified Accountant?

That it is acceptable to say that you don’t know the answer right now, but you will come back with the right answer shortly. Don’t pretend to know everything – nobody can.

3.How important to you was a mentor / mentorship in your career progression?

So important. You should never underestimate the value of somebody who is willing to sacrifice their own time to help you develop and progress in your career. My mentor at PwC was technically exceptional but, more importantly, experienced, and very wise. It helped a lot to have that sounding board and I try to offer that to my team now.

4.The role of a CFO has changed over the last decade. What further evolution do you see in the role of the CFO over the next 5 to 10 years?

The role is always evolving. I think the next 5-10 years will bring about two challenges. One of those will be people – employee expectation of employer will change dramatically in my view and helping a business to manage that will be crucial to the success of any CFO. The second challenge will be technology. Tech Stacks, Data Lakes/Warehouses and AI (amongst many other things) will play a huge part in the role of the CFO in the next decade. Today’s CFO is facing up to a generational shift in how the finance function serves the wider needs of the business.

5.What new key skills or attributes do you think the next generation of CFO’s are going to need to develop?

Exceptional IT literacy will become a pre-requisite in my view. My generation talks a good game but proficiency in Excel is just so 90’s. Certain core skills will always be important though – provision of quality MI and knowing the numbers inside out, carefully managing numerous stakeholder groups, being front and centre of the business, offering leadership and strategic guidance. They will always be key attributes and as night follows day, a trusted, versatile and highly competent CFO will always be critical to any Board.

6.Having become a CFO what do you “think of the view from the top” and how does it compare to what you thought it would be like?

It is the best place to be. Undoubtedly better than I anticipated. The CFO should be central to everything that is happening in the business and it means that no two days are the same. It’s fast paced, exciting, influential, and challenging all rolled into one.

7.What technologies will reshape the role of the CFO over the next few years?

See point 4. I suspect there are also technologies we’ve not yet heard of that will also reshape the role of the CFO over the next few years. The speed of technological progression is quite daunting. I used AI to create a bedtime story for my kids the other night…

8.What is the one single best piece of advice you would give to an aspiring future finance leader?

I’d say what I said when I was judging Young Accountant of the Year – never turn down an opportunity. For better or worse, it will provide you with valuable experience and, if nothing else, it’ll give you something to chat about whilst networking!

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 and see how we can help.