We are Specialists in Securing Senior Leaders
Founded by Chartered Accountants
We’re not generalists, we’re finance experts.
Our partners are Chartered Accountants with real-world experience in both practice and industry. This gives us unmatched credibility when advising on CFO and senior finance appointments.
Partner-Led, Always
Every assignment is led directly by one of our Partners.
No hand-offs, no dilution - just senior expertise, from first call to final placement.
Deep Access to Ireland’s Finance Leadership Network
Our candidate pool is built on long-standing relationships, not just databases. We know who’s ready to move, who’s ready to lead, and who aligns with your business strategy.
Discreet and Trusted
We specialise in sensitive, board-level mandates where judgement, confidentiality, and reputation are everything.
Psychometric & Leadership Assessment
We offer in-house DiSC profiling, 360° assessments, and access to tools like Hogan and Roche Martin to give clients deeper insight into behavioural fit, emotional intelligence, and leadership style, supporting better long-term hiring decisions.
Internal Candidate Management
We’re experts at running structured, fair processes that protect internal relationships and retention — even when internal candidates are unsuccessful.
Real Advisory Value
From compensation benchmarking to succession planning, we go beyond placement, helping clients make informed, strategic talent decisions.
Cross-Sector Expertise with a Finance Lens
Whether it’s a PLC, PE-backed scale-up, or professional services firm, we bring a nuanced understanding of sector challenges - always through a financial leadership lens.
Chartered Accountant Network
CAI members - 14+ years PQE for Mark, 16+ PQE for Niall. Deep credibility within the qualified accountant and finance leadership community in Ireland.
Personal Candidate Insight
We know the interpersonal strengths and reputation of the majority of our network, not just what is contained in a CV.
Cross-Industry Relevance
We maintain a strong candidate base across FS, industry, and PE-backed businesses. Many are also our clients, giving us full-circle insight.
Insight into Internal Talent
We understand internal landscape and will consider strong internal candidates with the same rigour, fairness, and discretion.
Active, Live Shortlist
We are regularly engaged in Executive C-Suite and senior accountancy and finance searches and maintain a live pipeline of active and passive candidates suitable for clients' roles.
24+ Years Recruiting in This Market
Niall has 14 years’ recruitment experience, with Mark bringing a further 10 years. Together, they offer 24 years of combined expertise
Understanding client needs and finalising the profile and process.
Work with the Board and current members of the team to identify potential candidates.
Longlist development, confidential engagement, and screening interviews of candidates.
Detailed profiles presented to the client, including candidate motivations, compensation expectations, and alignment to the executive search brief.
On-site support for client-led interviews. Assistance in narrowing down to finalist candidates and coordinating next-round logistics.
Psychometric testing, background checks, and technical or leadership assessments completed on finalist(s) with summary insights shared with the client.
Final interviews are conducted with the Board. Offer negotiation, appointment logistics, and onboarding coordinated by Darwin Hawkins Partners.