Hiring a part-time Finance Director can be a great solution for scaling businesses. It enables SME’s to have a experienced resource in a way that works for their budget, whilst at the same time offering flexibility to candidates.
Agora Talent introduced Finance Director Chantelle Gower-Jackson to VC Backed, Luxury Fashion Brand Roksanda in 2018. Roksanda were looking for an experienced Finance Director from the fashion space to help them through their next phase of growth. As with most SMEs, they were slightly constrained by budget, but weren’t willing to compromise on the level or quality of the hire. Chantelle was ideally looking for a part-time role in order to free up some time to study for a CIPD qualification, so a four day week solution was proposed.
We caught up with Chantelle several months after starting at Roksanda to ask her what she feels the benefits of a part-time arrangement are…
What were the key drivers behind you wanting to take on a part time role?
2 main reasons, I have a passion for HR and Business Psychology and want to start studying in this field. I have always wanted to expand my skill set beyond Finance and what better area to focus on than one that I’m genuinely interested in! The second reason is so that I have some flexibility & time to spend with my little boy who is 2 years old. I am ambitious and want a great career however at the same time family life is extremely important to me.
What do you feel the benefits are for an SME taking on a part-time FD?
I think it allows a business that might not be able to afford a full time FD the option to harness the skills and experience of a more senior finance professional in a way that works for the budget.
What are the main challenges of being a part-time FD?
You have to be extremely organised and focused. There is no time for relaxed lunches – every single minute that I’m in the office I’m working. You also need to be flexible with your employer – you will need to take calls on your day off/respond to emails. I try to be quite strict with this and spend 30min at the end of my day off scanning through urgent emails and responding. Its also very easy to be dragged into working a full time job when you are only paid for a part time role – you need to manage the businesses expectations so this doesn’t happen.
What can businesses and/or recruiters do to support people looking to work on a part-time basis?
At the moment I think that people are too scared to mention that they are looking for a flexible or part time role. There is this unwritten rule that if you ask for this you are not committed to the business and your career. Recruiters can play a key role in breaking these barriers down. Life is short, most of us want to find balance where we can work hard but still enjoy life – lets not be afraid to admit this.
Would you have any advice for other candidates looking to work on a part time basis?
Don’t be afraid to bring this up with recruiters. Some recruiters/businesses will push back. Don’t let this discourage you. Find a recruiter that is prepared to support you with this. Agora Talent were fantastic at listening to me and supporting my search for a part time role.
If you would like further information on part-time hires please contact the team on Info@Agora-Talent.com