Robert Cavendish Leadership Advisory
Client Journey

I Need a Leader.

Fractional, interim and permanent C-suite placement for FCA and PRA-regulated financial services firms. Fast, precise, and sector-specific.

The Situation

Why firms come to us.

Cost of Delay

The leadership gap is costing you now

A critical role is vacant, or held by someone stretched beyond their brief. Every week without the right person carries a cost: delayed decisions, team drift, regulatory exposure, and lost commercial momentum.

Cost of a Mis-hire

You cannot afford to get the hire wrong

A mis-hire at C-suite level is not just expensive, it can set a business back by 12 to 18 months. You need someone who is right for the role, right for the culture, and right for where the business is going.

Pace

Traditional search moves too slowly

Retained search processes built for corporate timelines do not fit the pace of a challenger bank or PE-backed lender. You need a partner who can move quickly without cutting corners.

Specialism

You need expertise, not a generalist recruiter

The FCA and PRA regulated environment carries specific obligations. SM&CR accountability, fit and proper requirements, and sector-specific leadership norms mean you need a partner with deep domain knowledge.

Our Process

Six steps, one outcome.

01

Brief and Discovery

A structured conversation to understand the role, the business context, the culture, and the leadership gap. We define success criteria before we begin.

02

Market Mapping

We map the relevant talent pool across the FCA and PRA regulated landscape, drawing on our proprietary bench, referral network, and live market intelligence.

03

Candidate Engagement

Targeted, confidential outreach to passive and active candidates. Every conversation is conducted with discretion and an understanding of what motivates senior leaders to move.

04

Assessment and Shortlist

Structured competency and cultural fit assessments. We present a curated shortlist, not a longlist, with evidence-based rationale for each recommendation.

05

Client Interviews and Decision Support

We coordinate and facilitate the interview process, provide briefing materials, and act as a sounding board throughout the decision-making period.

06

Offer, Onboarding and Aftercare

We manage the offer process, support onboarding planning, and follow up at 30, 60, and 90 days to ensure a successful landing.

Service Models

Fractional, interim, permanent.

Model
Fractional
Timeframe
Ongoing part-time
Day Rate / Fee
Day rate / retainer
Best Fit For
Where full-time headcount is not justified but senior capability is needed consistently
Model
Interim
Timeframe
3 to 12 months
Day Rate / Fee
Day rate
Best Fit For
Bridge cover during transition, transformation, or vacancy, deployed within days
Model
Permanent
Timeframe
Full-time hire
Day Rate / Fee
Retained search fee
Best Fit For
Long-term strategic hire where cultural fit and tenure matter as much as capability

Portfolio retainer: ongoing access to Robert Cavendish advisory and bench capability across multiple functions or hires. Structured as a monthly retainer.

Ideal Client Profile

Where we do our best work.

Firm Type
Challenger bank
Typical Situation
Scaling past initial authorisation, needs CFO or CRO with regulated growth experience
What They Need
Fractional or permanent search; FCA-literate candidates only
Firm Type
Specialist lender
Typical Situation
PE-backed, heading toward Series B or exit, interim CEO or COO bridge needed
What They Need
Rapid deployment; track record in regulated lending environments
Firm Type
EMI / Fintech
Typical Situation
Preparing for PRA authorisation or FCA variation, needs compliance-credible leadership
What They Need
Fractional MLRO, CCO or CRO; SM&CR-aware candidates
Firm Type
PE-backed FS firm
Typical Situation
Portfolio company under transformation mandate, requires operator with sector depth
What They Need
Interim or fractional model; EBITDA-focused, FCA-literate
Firm Type
Established regulated lender
Typical Situation
Succession gap, underperformance, or leadership lift needed ahead of audit cycle
What They Need
Permanent search or interim cover; board-ready candidates
Case Studies

Three anonymised mandates.

FRACTIONAL CFO — CHALLENGER BANK

Bridging a Finance Gap During a Critical Funding Round

Situation
A digital-first challenger bank approaching Series B had no permanent CFO in post. The interim FD lacked the investor credibility needed to lead the round.
Deployment
Fractional CFO placed with regulated deposit-taking and VC-backed fundraising experience within 12 days. Three days per week across four months.
Outcome
Series B closed on schedule. Fractional CFO subsequently joined the board in a permanent NED capacity.
INTERIM CEO — PE-BACKED SPECIALIST LENDER

Stabilising Leadership Through an Acquisition Integration

Situation
PE-backed specialist lender lost its CEO suddenly during a post-acquisition integration period. Board needed experienced operational leadership within two weeks.
Deployment
Interim CEO with FCA-regulated lending and PE portfolio management experience deployed within nine days from the pre-qualified bench.
Outcome
Integration completed within the original 90-day timeline. Firm subsequently appointed a permanent CEO through Robert Cavendish.
PERMANENT CRO SEARCH — EMI

Building the Risk Function for FCA Full Authorisation

Situation
E-money institution preparing for FCA full authorisation needed a permanent CRO to build the risk framework from the ground up.
Deployment
Permanent search targeting SM&CR Senior Manager experience and fintech risk framework build-out background. Three candidates shortlisted within five weeks.
Outcome
Appointed CRO led the firm to full authorisation within the target window. Risk framework cited by the FCA as a benchmark in supervisory correspondence.
“
Nick did not send us a longlist. He sent us three people, all of whom we would have hired. That kind of precision only comes from someone who genuinely understands the sector.
CEO, PE-backed challenger bank, confidential
“
We had worked with two other search firms before calling Robert Cavendish. The difference in quality of conversation, and candidate, was immediately obvious.
Chair of the Remuneration Committee, FCA-authorised specialist lender, confidential
“
The fractional CFO Robert Cavendish placed with us effectively co-led our funding round. She was the right person at exactly the right moment.
Founder, Fintech, Series B, confidential

Ready to Find the Right Leader?

Book a 30-minute confidential call with Nick Smith. No obligation, just a focused conversation about your leadership need.

Book a Call
Or email nick.smith@robertcavendish.co.uk