Author name: Emma Cavina

Emma began her academic journey studying BSc at Wits Medical School before completing her B Com degree at Rhodes University. After travelling abroad, she entered the recruitment industry with a top recruitment firm, where she quickly became their top billing recruiter. With more than 26 years of experience and a background in both South Africa and London, Emma has built deep expertise in specialised IT and financial recruitment. She has been formally trained in both permanent recruitment and executive search, and has managed teams of up to 17 consultants. Her international placement experience spans Germany, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, France, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Botswana and multiple African countries. Emma brings a rare combination of insight, rigour and global perspective to every search she undertakes.

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The Biggest Hiring Mistakes Companies Make When Recruiting Finance Staff

Finance vacancies are often described in familiar terms. The business needs a Financial Manager, Accountant or Financial Controller. It lists a qualification, a system and a number of years of experience. Then it begins reviewing CVs.

Those details are useful, but they may not reveal what the employer actually needs. A Financial Manager appointed to strengthen controls in a growing business has a different mandate from one expected to work closely with operations on costing and margins. If the brief does not make that distinction, the selection process can favour the wrong evidence.

The Biggest Hiring Mistakes Companies Make When Recruiting Finance Staff Read Post »

How Finance Professionals Can Position Themselves for Leadership Roles

Finance professionals are often told to build leadership skills before pursuing a more senior role. That advice is reasonable, but it leaves an important question unanswered: what would actually show an employer that you are ready?

A management title is not enough. It may describe a role with broad authority or one with a narrow remit. Equally, a professional without direct reports may already have influenced important decisions, improved how a team works or taken responsibility for a complex finance process.

How Finance Professionals Can Position Themselves for Leadership Roles Read Post »

The Career Moves That Can Look Right Now – But Cost You Later

A higher salary, better title or exciting opportunity can make a new role difficult to turn down. But before you move, it is worth asking what that decision will add to your career two, five or even ten years from now.

When you look at a CV, you are not simply looking at a list of jobs. You are looking at a series of decisions. Why did this person leave? What did they gain from the move? Did their responsibilities grow? Did they broaden their experience? Did they build credibility within respected organisations? Is there a clear direction to their career?

The Career Moves That Can Look Right Now – But Cost You Later Read Post »

clock showing time to hire

How Long Does It Really Take to Hire a Finance Professional in South Africa?

From starting the search to having someone at their desk, the finance hiring timeline is often longer than employers expect.

When a Financial Manager, Accountant or senior member of the finance team resigns, one of the first questions is usually:

How quickly can we replace them?

Time to hire in finance can vary considerably depending on the seniority of the role, skills required and availability of suitable candidates. In South Africa, employers also need to factor in something that traditional time to hire figures don’t always show: the successful candidate’s notice period.

How Long Does It Really Take to Hire a Finance Professional in South Africa? Read Post »

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How to Negotiate Your Finance Salary Professionally

Should you accept the first offer?
Should you negotiate?
How much more can you reasonably ask for?

And perhaps the biggest concern: could negotiating cost you the job?

Salary negotiation does not need to be confrontational. Handled professionally, it is simply a conversation between a candidate and an employer about whether both parties can reach an agreement that makes sense. The important part is knowing what you are worth, understanding what is actually being offered and having a clear reason for what you are asking for.

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finance resume

Beyond the CV: What Experienced Finance Recruiters Look For

Two finance professionals can have almost identical CVs, yet one secures multiple interviews while the other is consistently overlooked. Here’s why.

For many finance professionals, updating a CV means adding a new job title, listing responsibilities and highlighting qualifications. While all of these are important, they are rarely what determines whether a candidate progresses to interview.

After placing finance professionals across South Africa for many years, one thing has become clear. A CV is far more than a summary of someone’s employment history.

Beyond the CV: What Experienced Finance Recruiters Look For Read Post »

CCMA as headline on a noteboard

Should You Take Your Employer to the CCMA? What Every Employee Should Consider First

Losing your job or facing disciplinary action is one of the most stressful experiences any professional can go through. If you believe you have been treated unfairly, it is completely understandable that your first instinct may be to consider referring the matter to the CCMA.

In some situations, that may well be the right decision. However, before taking that step, it is worth considering not only the legal position but also the long-term impact on your career.

Should You Take Your Employer to the CCMA? What Every Employee Should Consider First Read Post »

finance interviews

What Hiring Managers Really Look for in Finance Interviews

Preparing for a finance interview often begins with reviewing technical knowledge and revisiting past experience.

While this is important, it is only part of what determines success in an interview.

In practice, hiring managers are assessing a much broader set of qualities. They are not only evaluating whether a candidate can perform the technical aspects of the role, but also whether they can think clearly, communicate effectively and contribute to the wider business.

What Hiring Managers Really Look for in Finance Interviews Read Post »

specialist finance professional in office

Why Specialist Recruiters Deliver Better Finance Candidates

Hiring the right finance professional is rarely straightforward.

On paper, many candidates appear similar. Comparable qualifications, similar job titles and experience within the same industries. Yet in practice, the difference in capability, commercial awareness and overall fit can be significant.

This is where the recruitment process itself becomes critical.

Why Specialist Recruiters Deliver Better Finance Candidates Read Post »

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Psychometric Testing in Finance Hiring: Why Companies Need to Get It Right

Psychometric testing has become a standard part of many hiring processes, particularly for finance roles. When used correctly, these assessments can provide valuable insight into how candidates think, solve problems and operate in a professional environment.

However, not all psychometric tests are equal. And more importantly, not all are used effectively. In our experience, the difference between a strong hiring outcome and a missed opportunity often comes down to how well these assessments are selected and applied.

Psychometric Testing in Finance Hiring: Why Companies Need to Get It Right Read Post »

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