A global consumer products and brand merchandising agency (the Agency) faced an unexpected financial leadership gap during a critical growth phase. Cherry Bekaert’s Recruiting & Staffing Services delivered immediate temporary support and a long‑term permanent solution, stabilizing operations, strengthening financial leadership and positioning the Agency for continued success.
When Growth Outpaced Financial Leadership
As the Agency navigated rapid growth, internal operations came under increasing pressure, leaving its financial and accounting (F&A) team overextended. Initially, the Agency sought short term support to stabilize accounting operations for an overwhelmed controller. When that controller unexpectedly departed — with no other senior financial leader in place — the Agency faced an urgent leadership gap and heightened operational risk.
From Immediate Support to Strategic Hiring
Cherry Bekaert’s Recruiting & Staffing Services team engaged quickly, pivoting from consulting support to a temporary‑to‑permanent controller search. This approach allowed the Agency to stabilize operations immediately while evaluating a long‑term leadership solution. Rather than relying on a standard job description, Cherry Bekaert worked closely with the Agency’s chief operating officer to define what success in the role truly required.
With no senior F&A leadership in place, Cherry Bekaert Management Consultant Director Dale Grossman applied an advisory‑driven approach, leveraging his CPA and executive finance background to:
- Clarify the Agency’s true controller needs
- Prioritize responsibilities in the absence of a CFO
- Design a realistic, sustainable role aligned with the organization’s growth
At the same time, Cherry Bekaert deployed a senior accounting consultant to support book cleanup, complete reconciliations, and manage a high volume of transactions.
Although the initial temporary placement transitioned into a permanent role, it later became clear that the position was unsustainable due to unforeseen health circumstances. Cherry Bekaert honored its placement guarantee and immediately re‑engaged.
Rather than conducting a cold search, the team leveraged its connected internal network to identify a new candidate with:
- Proven accounting leadership experience
- Strong cultural alignment
- The ability to thrive in a fast‑paced environment
Stability Restored. Confidence Rebuilt.
The new permanent placement delivered positive outcomes for both the controller and the Agency. The engagement:
- Stabilized accounting operations during a leadership transition and critical year‑end period
- Secured a capable, long‑term controller aligned to the Agency’s needs
- Reduced operational risk during a period of rapid growth
What began as an urgent staffing need evolved into a trusted, ongoing relationship. Cherry Bekaert remains positioned to support the Agency as it continues to scale, addressing future accounting and finance talent needs while providing broader tax and advisory guidance.
Why Cherry Bekaert Recruiting & Staffing Services
Clients turn to Cherry Bekaert’s Recruiting & Staffing Services when they need more than resumes. Our team delivers:
- Speed and flexibility across interim, temp‑to‑hire, and permanent searches for A&F, HR and IT roles, allowing organizations to stabilize quickly while planning confidently for the future
- Advisory‑led recruiting insight, grounded in deep accounting and finance experience, that helps leaders define the right role, scope responsibilities, and reduce hiring risk
- Accountability at every stage, including standing behind placements and re‑engaging when business needs evolve
- A long‑term relationship supported by a connected firm, bringing visibility, collaboration and insight across the entire organization — not siloed teams or transactional searches
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