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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​Why would you use Senior Interim Specialists to support your business

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Karen has over 20 years of recruitment of experience, including 18 years specialising within the Interim Accountancy and Finance sector, 10 of which she has spent at Sharp Consultancy.

We asked Karen for some insight into why so many clients and candidates trust us to get it right when needing an interim, and why organisations like yours should always consider using an Interim Specialist to support your business.

Are Interim Specialists Right for Your Business?

In the ever-changing landscape of accountancy and finance, interim specialists play an essential role in supporting organisations who need the right level of skills and experience, swiftly.

When might your organisation need an Interim Specialist?

  • Crisis – An unplanned gap in the team or an unexpected absence that needs attention ASAP

  • Change or Implementation – A process or period of change that creates a gap in the team, or a need for a specialist to lead new processes.

  • Specialist Projects – When embarking on projects of which you have no or little experience, interim experts can be hugely beneficial.

  • Long term planned absence – Gaps posed by long-term absences, such as maternity, sabbatical, secondment or similar can be navigated by using interim specialists.

  • Permanent hiring block– In this volatile economy, interim specialists give you the opportunity to trial a particular role within your organisation, enabling you to see if a hire will be crucial to your team’s success before employing a full-time specialist.

How do I hire an Interim Specialist?

First and foremost, at the centre of any hire is the person.

“Interim specialists are not the mercenary hires you may have been led to believe they might be! “

There is always a human element and that can present itself in many ways, whether that’s a delicate situation they are stepping into, or a team that needs to see a new addition as part of the collective. Interim specialists tend to come with the soft skills needed to bridge that gap quickly.

“To understand the interim market, I find you must live and breathe it. “

Our clients trust that we will not only find the right skillset, but also be able to work to the timescales they need, whilst utilising our extensive regional network and candidate pool to ensure the best fit.

Whilst there is an ever-growing range of nationally available candidates, the risk can far outweigh the reward if that candidate has not been met, interviewed, screened, and referenced. By strictly screening and knowing all of our candidates before they are introduced to a client, we ensure the fit is not just a generic one, but also a human one.

When I build an understanding of a candidate, I ask myself:
  • Can the candidate demonstrate the correct experience to succeed?

  • Will the team fit be right? Is the environment and culture a fit?

  • Are the expectations from both parties aligned?

Get this right and you are most likely to have a successful appointment.

I’ve spent years building strong relationships across both the client and candidate market. Not only do my candidates trust me, but my clients rely on me.

Remember

Some important things to remember when considering the benefits of interim specialists.

  • Costs – Whether it be short term, long term or on a fixed term contract, if you hire an interim, you know the cost and can budget effectively.

  • Commitment – Professional interim specialists will always have a duty of care, their reputation relies on it. If you hire for a specific project or period of time, you are very unlikely to not see completion, it’s just not in their nature.

  • Flexibility – If you don’t have the flexibility to respond to business-critical change in your existing team, Interim support gives you the ability to react quickly and efficiently.

  • Impact– One thing you can ensure when using an interim specialist is that they have seen plenty of different situations and environments, they will hit the ground running, and you won’t lose time with training, development, and on-boarding.

  • Skillset and expertise – If their experience says so, and they can demonstrate that they have, then they most likely can. Do you have that level of skillset within your current team? Or are you taking unnecessary risks by not utilising an interim specialist to bridge that gap?

  • Speed – From head count gaps, to notice period delays. If you need support, you probably need it now, and speed when hiring an interim specialist should not be taken lightly.

In Summary

The use of interim specialists should always be in your thoughts when planning or the unplanned occurs. Allowing your business and finance function to react quickly and effectively, by bringing in the right people at the right time, can make all the difference.

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.