Meet Our Principals: Eloise Benn

What do you do at Altima?

I am a Principal at Altima. This role covers a broad range of tasks and responsibilities and is ever-changing on a daily basis. My primary responsibilities include driving strategy across a search, managing and supporting candidates through a process, and managing relationships with our clients, including providing weekly updates.

At Altima, it is also important for all roles in the delivery function to stay close to the data and research this creates a constant opportunity to develop ecosystem knowledge and remains an important part of my daily role. 

As a Principal, we also manage and support Senior Associates and Associates - working closely together on their day-to-day, but also on their overall development. 

How did you find your way into executive search?

Having completed an MA in Classics at the  University of Liverpool and deciding that academia wasn’t a path I wanted to continue following, I looked to join the world of work in London, always knowing this is where I wanted to end up post-degree.  After several conversations with recruiters, I was introduced to the world of executive search. Candidly, a sector I didn’t know existed, but soon found out was an opportunity for me to work within research, something I had always enjoyed through my studies, but also spend my days meeting and speaking with new people, on a global scale. 

After many years within the space, it became clear to me that I wanted to become a true specialist within one specific area of executive search - and searches for the role of the CFO was one I always enjoyed the most - not to jump ahead to the next question too soon, but this is primarily down to the impact a CFO has within a business, and I would go as far to say, is the most important hire a Founder/CEO can make in the overall successful outcome of any growth journey.

What do you think is the biggest misconception about the CFO seat?

That the biggest impact a CFO can have is on the operational side, focusing solely on end-to-end finance. Fundamentally, the CFO should have the biggest strategic impact on a business. Being a true business partner not only to the CEO but the rest of the senior leadership team, is a critical role for any CFO to play if they are going to truly make an impact. 

This is especially true when joining an earlier-stage growth business. It is absolutely important for a CFO to play a significant role in building out systems and processes, scaling an FP&A and/or controlling function, and making sure the general financial health of the business is in order - but where we see the true impact in the CFO role, is the ability to guide not only the CEO/founder but investors in strategic growth, whether through M&A, fundraising or an event. It is also important for the CFO to play more of a day-to-day strategic role within a business. 

What advice would you give to founders looking for a CFO in today’s market?

Don’t underestimate the importance of a strategic mindset and consider your CFO may not necessarily be what you’d traditionally look for on paper. Many founders think they need a CFO who has 20+ years of experience, and sometimes overlook someone who has gained all the relevant experience and exposure but has not yet held a CFO title. Some of the greatest impact from CFOs that we’ve seen over the past 3 years has come from a finance lead who has come from an investment banking background, or held multiple VP Finance roles, and is now ready to take that step into a CFO position. 

Also, think about what you truly need today in a CFO - is this someone to take you through an event in 3-5 years? Very often, the CFO you need today isn’t the CFO to take a company through an IPO in 5 years. 

What’s the biggest win you’ve had at Altima to date?

The appointment of a CFO at a UK-based marketplace valued at over $1bn, and watching the impact that CFO has had on the business in just over a year… raising over $200m in VC funding and building out and scaling a world-class finance function. 

What advice would you give to someone looking to join the Altima team?

Altima is not only an executive search firm, but an advisor - this is one of the benefits in working for a specialist company, that you build market and ecosystem knowledge and this leads to helping founders not only hire the CFO they want, but the one they need. 

Be open to always learning - no matter what role you hold within Altima, everyone is constantly striving to develop, learn and grow their knowledge. It is a privilege to work for a company where values and culture are at the forefront of everything we do, and where even those with 20+ years of experience are humble and also looking to grow and learn. Altima is a truly collaborative business, and within a very short period, will help anyone willing, to significantly grow their knowledge and abilities within this space.

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