Vacancy : Chief Finance Officer
Come and join the crew...
Sladen Consulting is bursting with energetic, talented, and passionate people. People who want to make a difference in others and the world in which we live. Would you like to join our crew?
At a truly exciting and changing time for Sladen we have an opportunity to welcome a new Chief Finance Officer to our adventurous Sladen family. Do our five guiding beliefs (the Sladen Way) resonate with you? Are you looking for a role with a company that takes every opportunity to make a positive impact in this ever-changing world? Then this could be the role for you!
Find out more about Sladen here on our website and if you get that warm feeling when reading about us, then we would love to hear from you. If you don’t have a background in consultancy – it doesn’t matter, if you don’t have a background in leadership development – it doesn’t matter, if you don’t have a background in coaching – it doesn’t matter. What does matter is that you bring the whole of you to the workplace.
Success in the role means that you do need to bring the ability to: manage multiple stakeholders, have amazing commercial and business acumen, be used to working at Board level, ensuring fiscal compliance, and definitely a ‘roll your sleeves up’ attitude. But, the most important aspect is a great sense of humour! This is a non-negotiable!
Why the opportunity?
The company has been trading since 2005 founded by Richard Colley and his wife Julie. It enjoyed a very successful trading history, then a strategic conversation in 2018 meant a change of pace and direction. Richard decided he would like to really grow the organisation and wanted to ensure the Sladen legacy would continue. With this in mind he started the search for a very special business partner to work with him. Enter Sonja Skopp, our CEO. Sonja was appointed in 2021 as business partner to Richard and latterly became CEO. As the company was growing the need for a CFO was apparent and in 2020 our current CFO was appointed. There was already a shared history, trust and knowledge and although no experience of being an internal CFO, it was a partnership that has worked superbly for both Sladen and the CFO.
The company has been growing ever since and in 2024/25 turned over £3m with a view to continue growing at circa 10% – 20% year on year. This current year is likely to see a turnover of £4m of delivered work for our clients. This delivery is worldwide for global organisations mainly, but not solely, in the pharmaceutical and life sciences sector.
The current role has evolved into a hybrid of multiple roles (as happens in a small, growing consultancy) with many hats being worn concurrently. This has served us well but now is the time for change for both parties. We seek an CFO who will lead Sladen into the next phase of growth.
Curious to know more?
A bit about the role of Chief Finance Officer
- Acting as a member and strategic advisor to the Board, driving the strategic planning and performance of the business
- Drive sustainable growth by shaping and executing financial strategies that balance growth with sound financial discipline
- Leading the finance team and ensuring the motivation and development of staff
- Preparing, reporting and clearly communicating financial information to non-financial colleagues
- Have excellent commercial and general business awareness and ensuring there is a good understanding of our client base and the sectors in which we operate
- Ensuring financial compliance
- Preparing, managing and monitoring annual budgets and making sure that there is proactive monitoring to ensure operational/financial trends and issues are clearly highlighted and communicated early
- Managing risk and ensuring strategic goals are on track
- Ensuring a comprehensive understanding of technology and how it’s use impacts the Company
- Develop and continuously refine financial processes, systems, and reporting structures that support transparency, efficiency, and informed decision-making across the business
And…….having fun!
Is it you we're looking for?
A bit about our ideal Chief Finance Officer
- You must have a financial qualification (ACCA, ACA or CIMA)
- Ideally you will have experience of the consulting sector
- Excellent communication and leadership skills
- Brilliant written and verbal communication
- Ability to work in a fast-paced growing business with the skills to meet deadlines and manage a wide variety of tasks simultaneously
- The ability to cope with ambiguity and complexity including dealing with tax legislation of multiple countries to ensure compliance wherever we trade
- Strong team player with a client centric approach
- A can-do attitude is essential
- Ability to be curious, analytical and problem solve and make decisions based on data
- A ‘twinkle in eye’, an easy smile and a great sense of humour is a must!
Doing our bit to save the world
We believe talk is easy and it’s actions that count. Using the ‘earning to give’ rationale we work hard to make a profit that we can put a healthy slice of straight into our Butterfly Fund. The Fund aims to support organisations around the world who are furthering the cause of our chosen UN Sustainability Goals: ‘Clean water and sanitation’ and ‘Life below water’.
How can the Butterfly Fund help these organisations? Well, our strengths lie in engagement, change management and creating movements – which is exactly what is needed to turn the world around. Using our core skills of coaching, facilitating, teaching and consulting we want to create the change-makers of tomorrow. To nurture influential and successful individuals who together will contribute to building a sustainable and thriving planet.
The biggest way Sladen can play it’s part, is to focus on working with our ‘Sladen family’ to galvanise action and create a multiplier effect through our clients, partners and relationships.
So, do you want to work for an organisation that walks the talk? An organisation that measures it’s performance against the triple bottom line: People, Planet, Profit?
Best read on then ……………..
Location - Remote
Our working policy is ‘work where you do your best work’. We focus on outcomes not how we get there! Our ideal Chief Finance Officer will be based in the UK, however, other locations would be considered.
We do expect all employees to join us at our team meetings, which are a valuable time for us to see our colleagues face to face. These take place typically 3 times a year near our HQ in Hathersage in the English Peak District (and a beautiful place it is too!). In addition, as a Board member there are at least 3 face to face meetings a year. Some may coincide with the team meetings and some not. We also have a German office in the Frankfurt area. And occasional overseas travel will be required as part of the role.

What's next?
We would love to hear from you whether it is to answer any questions you might have about the company, or the role. Please feel free to send us your CV or write to us expressing your interest.
Our desire is for someone to join us in this role as soon as possible, so please get in touch today.
Ikigai

According to a recent Gallup measure, half of U.S. employees (51%) are watching or actively seeking a new job, continuing a recent upward trend.
Statistically speaking, every second one of you who is reading this blog will find themselves in this very situation.
So, what can you do to (re)-discover the intrinsic sense of fulfilment that you can gain from doing work that fits your purpose?
This question is talking right to our “sweet-spot” here at Sladen, as our passion is to help build a sustainable environment in which people are happy at work and live a more fulfilled life.
Let’s break this big and potentially life-changing question down into digestible components:
What is purpose?
And how do you find it?
Purpose is an inner compass and conviction in which you believe above all else. It is the one thing that provides orientation even in times of high uncertainty.
To discover your purpose, Ikigai is a method that we have successfully used with clients and for ourselves.
Ikigai is a Japanese concept that explores the intersection of what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for.
So, take some time to reflect and uncover your purpose in life. What did you find?
Why What How

We love Simon Sinek’s ‘Golden Circle’ and regularly use it when talking about why Sladen exists, how we do what we do, and what we do in Sladen-land.
What does Sladen Consulting mean to you?
The importance of SPACE

Imagine this is your SPACE!
Having a few days off this week, Sonja Skopp was reminded of how important it is to her to have SPACE to herself and give SPACE to others.
SPACE for her is mental.
TIME to do things within or outside work that you can focus on and do as short or as long as you want in this given moment. Be present and in the here and now.
This is where she sees herself or her team come up with new ideas, have thinking time, make unique marks and do something fresh or different. Outside of our normal boundaries and the famous ‘box’.
And SPACE for her is physical.
ROOM to do exercise, read, enjoy music, listen to others, be creative in a spacious place. Let body and mind wander and wonder.
Or feeling the air, the wind, the sun and the stars outside in the woods or in the open country. Only the sky is the limit.
Holding the SPACE for us as Sladen Consulting also means creating and maintaining an environment where participants feel safe, listened to, respected, and supported, allowing them to engage fully, express themselves openly, and explore their thoughts and emotions without fear of judgement or pressure.
(Tribute to Matthias Lenssen who Sonja took a workshop in ‘Facili-taping’ with a couple of weeks ago. More to come here. Stay tuned!).
2024 Olympics

Wow! The Olympics! It’s exhausting just watching! And so inspiring.
Every 4 years we never fail to be amazed by the talent, skill, passion, commitment and teamwork it takes individuals and teams to reach the podium. Let alone the incredible logistics, creativity and dedication behind the scenes to deliver the Olympics so we can all enjoy watching and cheering from our armchairs.
And we love how the different disciplines can connect and appeal to different generations, with the established sports running alongside the new kids on the block.
Not forgetting the global reach! As our Sladen family and clients are spread around the world we love to support the many nations that we feel so close to through our work.
Now, it’s time to catch our breath before the Paralympics starts later this month.
Our wonderful Finance Director, Rosemary Tomlinson, shared a great energiser with us this week – If you were called upon to go to the Olympics tomorrow to compete, which sport would you choose to have a go at? And which is the one sport you would not want to even try?! This really got us thinking. She is off to the velodrome. What sport would you be taking part in, or avoiding?!
Happiness as a Strategy

Sladen family member Karina Leyser Cordeiro recently attended a business congress where the theme was “Happiness as a Business Strategy”. Sounds great!
While the idea of happiness as a strategy is intriguing, the real takeaway for her was the importance of intentionality.
Intentionality means having a clear purpose aligned with your actions. It’s about being fully present and engaged in every task, striving for excellence, and making conscious choices that drive sustainable growth.
Why is intentionality so important? Our brains often default to autopilot mode, especially in routines. While efficient, this autopilot mode can prevent us from being truly present and select the best course of action. To cultivate intentionality, we need to be mindful of this autopilot and find ways to break free — through conscious pauses, mindfulness practices, and seeking new challenges.
For leaders, intentionality is even more crucial, influencing everything from giving feedback to building trust. It’s the key that unlocks happiness and success.
How does intentionality show up in your life? How can you cultivate it? Let’s turn off autopilot, be present in our actions, and discover the success and happiness that await.
Interacting with curiosity

Whenever we at Sladen Consulting go into initial conversations about a new project, there is one thing – above all others – that we bring to the conversation: curiosity.
We are all born with a tremendous amount of curiosity, it is the basis for children to learn and grow. But routine, responsibilities, and expectations can reduce curiosity until we tend to do things “like we have done them before” or “to be on the safe side”.
By doing that, by being indifferent rather than switching our curiosity on, we run the risk of missing out on asking questions, seeking answers, and being inspired by each other’s thoughts and observations.
When we approach life with a curious mindset, every experience becomes an opportunity to learn and grow – for everyone involved in the interaction.
Curiosity is a superpower and the gateway to lifelong learning.
So, we are curious…what are your tips to nurture your inner curiosity?
Get in touch, share your messy problems

Things are starting to quieten down now here in Sladen-land after a very busy first half of the year. This is an annual theme as clients, associates and the Hub start to take well-deserved breaks. We know that when September comes around it will be all-hands-on-deck again as we kick off the busy last quarter of 2024.
Holidays are imperative to keep our mental and physical health intact, but kicking back and switching off is sometimes easier said than done. If there are challenges or issues that sit heavily on our shoulders, those pesky intrusive work thoughts can just keep popping into our heads, when we should really be thinking about which book to read or where the next sangria is coming from!
But never fear, we have a solution. Before you head off for your summer break, why not take advantage of our mid-year hiatus to get ahead of the game. Come and have a coffee chat with us and share your ‘messy problems’. Get all those niggles, gripes and issues out of your head and leave it all behind for us to work on while you are off.
What can we help you with? Go on, pick up that phone.
Summer Hub Huddle - Oxford

Our ONEHub team have just returned from a very special couple of days away together, making the most, as always, of our rare and precious face-to-face time. We travelled to Oxford and back to the 1920s for our first evening to celebrate our teamwork, resilience and achievements made so far in 2024. What a party it was!
The next day we set sail to try out…punting (with a picnic)! Great for team building, taking it in turns to punt, and most of all, having fun. A few of the team even went for an unplanned dip – those photos are not for sharing!
Our final evening coincided with the Euros semi-final. Our German and Brazilian team-mates were backing us all the way!
Now it’s back to work as usual, but feeling even more energised, connected and looking forward to our next reunion!
Take care of the small things
A simple message this week from Richard Colley, please watch the video to find out more – we never know where he is going to turn up next!
Focusing on the basics, the small things, really can make a difference to team performance (and you really don’t want to end up on a yacht in distress).
https://vimeo.com/998096898?share=copy