The right finance hire can completely change the trajectory of your business. They don’t just manage the numbers – they shape the decisions that drive them. A great finance leader strengthens margins, spots inefficiencies before they become problems, and provides the strategic clarity that turns ambition into execution.
The wrong one? They’ll keep the lights on, but you’ll be stuck in “business as usual” – missing the insights, leadership, and commercial edge that fuel growth. Progress slows. Opportunities slip. The finance function becomes reactive instead of proactive, and suddenly, the numbers are being reported instead of driven.
So how do you make sure your next Finance Manager, Financial Controller, or Finance Director isn’t just technically competent, but genuinely transformative? It starts with knowing what to look for – the qualities that separate a steady pair of hands from a strategic leader. The difference isn’t on the CV; it’s in how they think, act, and influence.
Here’s what separates a capable finance hire from a transformative one.
They Ask the Right Questions
The best finance hires are relentlessly curious. They don’t just report numbers – they challenge them. When something shifts in the P&L, they don’t just accept it at face value; they dig until they understand what’s driving it. Why has margin tightened? What changed in customer behaviour? Which assumptions no longer hold up?
That curiosity is what separates a good operator from a genuine partner to the business. Instead of waiting for instructions, they ask questions that uncover opportunity – helping you make sharper, faster, and more confident decisions.
It’s not about being difficult. It’s about thinking commercially. The right finance hire uses curiosity as a tool to challenge the status quo, test assumptions, and ensure decisions are grounded in reality, not routine. And that mindset doesn’t just protect the business from risk – it pushes it forward.
They See the Bigger Picture
Strong finance professionals don’t view their work as a set of numbers in isolation. They understand that every line in a report represents something real – a customer decision, a supply chain challenge, a market shift, or an operational constraint. They connect those dots naturally, and that’s what makes their insight valuable.
When a finance leader truly understands the commercial drivers of your business – how sales cycles move, what drives margin pressure, how customer behaviour evolves – their advice becomes more than technically accurate. It becomes actionable. They know when to focus on efficiency and when to push for growth. They can balance short-term performance with long-term strategy because they see how all the moving parts interact.
This is the kind of finance hire who doesn’t just close month-end; they help shape next quarter. Their numbers tell a story that informs strategy, not just compliance. And in a leadership meeting, they’re not the person repeating updates on “where we are” – they’re the one influencing where you go next.
They Take Ownership
The strongest finance hires act like leaders long before they have the title. They don’t wait to be told what to do, and they don’t hide behind the safety net of “that’s not my job.” Instead, they step forward, take responsibility, and see challenges through to completion. When a decision has consequences, they own them. When things go wrong, they’re the first to analyse what happened and find a solution – not the first to look for someone else to blame.
That mindset creates confidence. Leaders trust people who deliver on what they say they will, who take accountability for results, and who care about the outcome as much as the process. This kind of accountability builds influence. When finance professionals consistently demonstrate their reliability, their input carries more weight in board discussions, investment decisions, and strategic debates. They stop being seen as a support function and start being viewed as a critical partner in the growth of the business.
They Simplify the Complex
Your finance hire should make your life easier, not harder. The best finance professionals take complex data, intricate accounting details, and technical nuance, then translate it into something everyone in the business can understand and act on. They bridge the gap between financial detail and commercial decision-making.
That skill is more valuable than it looks. In fast-moving businesses, clarity creates momentum. When numbers are presented in a way that non-finance stakeholders can actually interpret, decisions get made faster, strategy becomes sharper, and alignment improves across teams. It’s what ensures finance isn’t just understood, but acted upon.
Finance leaders who can simplify complexity don’t just make life easier – they make the business smarter.
They Balance Speed and Accuracy
In finance, precision is non-negotiable – but so is pace. The best finance hires understand how to balance both. They know when accuracy is critical and when progress may matter more than perfection. It’s that balance that keeps the business agile, without exposing it to unnecessary risk.
That doesn’t mean cutting corners. It means knowing which details matter most, and where precision adds value versus where it just delays action. This ability to prioritise – to move fast while staying credible – is what builds trust across the leadership team.
Ultimately, great finance hires help businesses stay one step ahead. They protect integrity without stifling momentum, ensuring that the company moves decisively, but never recklessly.
They Embrace Technology
The strongest finance hires don’t just adapt to new tools – they actively seek them out. They understand that automation isn’t about replacing people; it’s about freeing them to do higher-value work. When a finance professional spots opportunities to simplify manual processes or streamline reporting, they’re not just saving time – they’re creating space for better analysis, insight, and strategy.
A forward-thinking hire will question outdated systems, challenge inefficiencies, and bring ideas for improvement. They’ll know when to automate, when to integrate, and how to use technology to improve accuracy and decision-making. Whether it’s implementing smarter forecasting tools or simplifying how data flows across departments, their mindset is always about progress, not maintenance.
They Have Drive and Ambition
Complacency is the quiet killer of progress. The best finance hires are driven by curiosity, growth, and the desire to make a real impact – not just to meet expectations, but to raise them. They’re the people who want to know what’s next: how the business can improve, how they can contribute more, and how they can continue developing both personally and professionally.
A great finance hire won’t accept “this is how it’s always been done.” They’ll spot inefficiencies, challenge outdated processes, and bring fresh thinking that saves time and money. They’re proactive about learning, open to feedback, and genuinely invested in helping the business move forward.
Ambition in finance isn’t about ego; it’s about momentum. You want people who bring energy, ideas, and intent – who see the potential in the numbers and have the motivation to turn that potential into progress.
They Stay Cool Under Pressure
Finance isn’t always smooth sailing. Deadlines clash, audits loom, cash flow tightens, and the unexpected happens more often than anyone would like. The best finance professionals don’t crumble when that pressure hits – they steady the ship.
A strong hire keeps perspective when things get messy. They understand that in high-stakes environments, calm thinking is a competitive advantage. Instead of reacting impulsively, they assess, prioritise, and act with clarity. That composure not only leads to better decisions, it also sets the tone for everyone around them.
In a growing or fast-changing business, that steadiness matters. When others start to panic, the right finance leader brings focus, structure, and confidence – qualities that keep projects moving and teams aligned. Pressure reveals a lot about character, and in finance, the people who stay calm are the ones you can trust when it counts most.
Final Thought
When you’re hiring finance talent, it’s easy to focus on technical skills. But the candidates who’ll really elevate your business bring a blend of curiosity, commercial understanding, leadership, and adaptability.
At We Do Group, we find and secure finance professionals who’ll do more than fill a role – they’ll make a tangible impact on your growth.
