Health and Life Sciences
Elevating Financial Leadership in a highly regulated Environment
Context
Our client, a prominent player in the medical device space, faced a critical challenge: the replacement of their Corporate Controller. This role was not only pivotal for the organization’s financial health but also presented an opportunity for the selected candidate to evolve into a national leadership position under the mentorship of the Vice President of Finance. Based outside of Montreal, the organization operates within a global reporting framework, necessitating a candidate who could navigate the complexities of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) while adapting to a matrix-driven organizational structure. The urgency of this mandate was underscored by the highly regulated nature of the sector, which added layers of complexity to the recruitment process.
Challenges
The recruitment landscape for finance leaders, particularly controllers, is fiercely competitive. Our clients specific requirements made the search even more challenging. The role's location outside of Montreal, combined with the need for expertise in IFRS and experience in a global matrix organization, narrowed the pool of suitable candidates. Additionally, the organization’s reliance on an older, custom-made ERP solution posed unique challenges for both the client and potential candidates, who needed to be adaptable and innovative in their approach to financial reporting. These factors necessitated a refined value proposition to attract top talent while ensuring alignment with the organization's culture and operational needs.
our approach
Fauve adopted a strategic and collaborative approach to address these challenges. By leveraging our close relationship with our clients leadership team, we gained deep insights into the organizational culture—both its strengths and areas for improvement. This understanding allowed us to communicate the human aspect of the company effectively, emphasizing the mentorship and development opportunities available to the new Corporate Controller. We focused our search on candidates from matrix-driven organizations who demonstrated a track record of progressive growth in complex, heavily regulated environments. This targeted approach ensured that we not only identified candidates with the right technical skills but also those who would thrive within our clients unique corporate culture.
The impact
The results of our recruitment efforts were significant. The selected candidate brought a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to our clients finance team. Their expertise in financial reporting and analysis led to a marked improvement in the business unit's reporting performance. The finance team was able to close monthly accounts more efficiently and accurately, providing greater clarity to both country and global leadership regarding the state of operations.