If you’re hiring into your finance team you’ll probably want pragmatic, evidence based advice in straight forward terms.
The modern job market is tough so if you want the best people or the best roles, this is how we can help to increase your chances.
Maybe your offers keep getting turned down, or you’re finding it difficult to attract the right talent? Or perhaps you’re trying to progress to the next level but can’t seem to get to interview stage?
Our business is run by qualified Finance Directors and experienced recruiters who can offer greater insight into how to overcome your challenges. For us, financial recruitment is not a numbers game.
Our story
1986
FD Yorkshire Limited is incorporated, providing part-time FD services to local businesses
1990s
Steady growth, with lots of businesses starting to appoint part-time FDs
2000s
New century, new branding – “FDYL”. Associate FD model grows
2010s
Finance team recruitment becomes additional service line to support growing clients
2016
FDYL merges with national recruitment consultancy Woodrow Mercer to create Woodrow Mercer Finance. Mixing recruitment expertise with FD advisory.
2020
Headstar is born. The management team of Woodrow Mercer Finance lead an MBO to launch a rebranded, finance-focused business.
Meet the team
James Roach
Managing Director
James initially joined FDYL in 2013 as a portfolio FD, joining the business on a full-time basis in 2014 to help launch the recruitment division. James led the MBO into Headstar in 2020 and combines his FD consultancy work with ongoing recruitment assignments. In his spare time, he enjoys things like cycling down the Death Road in Bolivia.
james.roach@headstar.co.uk
Natalie McGregor
Director
Having spent seven years with a blue-chip recruiter, Natalie has a strong track record in recruitment with experience of working across many sectors. She now specialises in the recruitment of Finance Directors. A keen runner and boxer, she has temporarily put her sporting pursuits to one side as she focuses her energies on her young family.
natalie.mcgregor@headstar.co.uk
David Clark
Director Senior Finance
David joined us in June 2017, having worked for Michael Page for 9 years. For the last 4 he was business manager within their interim finance division in West Yorkshire, where he recruited across all industry sectors. He will now continue to act as an interim specialist for senior finance appointments at qualified level across Yorkshire. David has built his reputation on a strong technical understanding of his clients and candidates needs, resulting in a high level of repeat business. Outside of work David is one of our sportier members of the team as a keen darts and poker player.
david.clark@headstar.co.uk
Jenny Martin
Associate Director Senior Finance
Jenny joined with 7 years of experience recruiting senior permanent appointments within both Accountancy & HR. Having spent time in both external agency and internal recruitment environments, she understands what everyone needs out of the recruitment process and makes sure everyone’s kept in the loop. Jenny specialises in placing Financial Controller and Finance Director roles. Jenny is one of those rare recruiters that actually does have a genuine interest in getting to know people. Developing long-lasting relationships comes naturally to her, meaning her candidates and clients come back to her time and time again. Outside of work, Jenny works hard to afford her adventurous and exotic holidays as she has an extremely long bucket list of places she’s still yet to explore!
jenny.martin@headstar.co.uk
Simon Webster
Part Time Finance Director & Recruitment Lead (Humber & South Yorkshire)
Simon has been a Portfolio FD since 2020 and has assisted the development of numerous clients in that time. He has spent many years at the board table in various other roles, looking after a variety of products along the way, from fish (born and raised in Grimsby – it had to be), to flowers to coffee. The focus for Simon is to drive our Humber region in the coming years. Outside of work, you’ll often see Simon chasing segments on Strava, whether cycling or running.
simon.webster@headstar.co.uk
Sue Moul
Part Time Finance Director
Sue is a highly experienced Portfolio Finance Director who specialises in supporting owner managed SMEs to develop and manage their business growth and stabilisation. A straight talking, hands-on pragmatist, Sue is equally at home guiding acquisitions and funding as she is developing and mentoring the finance team and being a Board advisor and confidante. In her spare time, Sue likes to keep active and can be found pounding the pavements with her local running club.
sue.moul@headstar.co.uk
Paul Warren
Part Time Finance Director
With over 20 years board level experience, Paul is well-versed with the situations facing privately owned businesses – from acquisitions to sales, and turnarounds to growth funding. Paul develops strong relationships with business owners and does not shy away from providing honest and pragmatic advice, believing that an FD should both challenge and support. Qualifying in the automotive industry, Paul has since worked across a number of sectors including manufacturing, construction, property, retail and engineering. In his spare time, Paul is a keen cricketer and golfer. When not playing sport, he likes nothing more than a long walk with his wife and dog followed by a glass of wine!
paul.warren@headstar.co.uk
Rachel Porteous
Senior Consultant – Part & Qualified Finance
Rachel began her recruitment career as a resourcer within the Security sector. She progressed into a 360, end-to-end recruitment role, sourcing and placing contact centre, sales and service industry candidates. Known for her positivity and great people skills, Rachel now specialises in part and qualified finance roles across the Yorkshire region. Outside of work, Rachel enjoys spending time with friends, eating out and is a devoted cat mum.
rachel.porteous@headstar.co.uk
Ross Wallace
Senior Consultant – Practice
With over 8 years’ experience in recruitment, Ross has earned himself a reputation for being mature, honest and pragmatic in his approach. Having spent the lion’s share of his career in the legal arena, he knows the value of being thorough. This – combined with his personable character – has made him a favourite with candidates and clients. Ross specialises in placing finance professionals at all levels into accountancy and advisory practices. Outside of work, Ross can often be found at the gym, cycling or getting out into the wild.
ross.wallace@headstar.co.uk
Olivia Egan
Senior Consultant – Senior Finance
Olivia joined us in 2018 initially to support purely on the candidate side. She quickly demonstrated her versatility though and became a firm favourite with clients, prompting a promotion to Consultant in 2020. Olivia specialises in placing the best talent into businesses and in her spare time is busy being a new Mum!
olivia.egan@headstar.co.uk
Alex Law
Senior Consultant – Senior Finance
Alex joined us in January 2021 with four years’ finance recruitment experience across all sectors. With an easy to like personality and a reputation for being a professional, diligent and honest recruiter, he has grown a great network of clients and candidates. Building on his experience across the transactional market, Alex now specialises in senior finance roles. Outside of work, Alex can usually be found hard at work in his vegetable garden or at Valley Parade cheering on Bradford City.
alex.law@headstar.co.uk
Katy Ashdown
Manager – Senior Finance Interim
Katy joined Headstar in Spring 2023 with over 14 years’ experience of the finance recruitment market. Specialising in senior interim finance roles, she works with clients across West and North Yorkshire. Katy believes in open and honest recruitment and prides herself on developing strong and lasting relationships with both her clients and candidates. Outside of work, Katy is a keen walker and can often be found hiking in the Dales. She is also a big foodie and loves to cook!
katy.ashdown@headstar.co.uk
Jade Goodman
Senior Consultant – Senior Finance
Jade joined Headstar in 2023 with over 10 years’ experience as a successful delivery consultant, working across multiple sectors and industries. Using market mapping to identify the best finance talent available, Jade’s focus is on expanding and strengthening the Headstar talent pool, developing strong relationships with candidates and clients along the way. Away from work, Jade loves spending time with family and friends, is a devoted cat mum to Orange, otherwise known as O and loves travelling, naming India as her favourite place so far.
jade.goodman@headstar.co.uk
Sam Goodwin
Marketing Manager (on maternity leave)
With over 14 years’ experience in marketing for industry-leading companies, Sam is responsible for implementing our marketing strategy. A jack-of-all-trades, she is equally comfortable organising our events, coordinating PR and developing our website, as she is designing our marketing collateral and ensuring everything stays ‘on brand.’ Outside of work, Sam enjoys spending time with her friends, watching movies and singing along to musical theatre shows. She is also a keen writer and recently published her debut novel.
sam.goodwin@headstar.co.uk
Georgia Dutton
Operations Manager
Georgia makes things happen across the Headstar office! Since joining the business as an apprentice in early 2019, Georgia has developed into her role as Operations Manager, while gaining varied knowledge and experience within different areas of the business. Charged with maintaining the integrity of our systems, she also looks after our onboarding and supports our consultants with their various day to day activity. During her spare time Georgia likes hiking, painting and when not at work she can also be found on a dancefloor!
georgia.dutton@headstar.co.uk
Samantha Dobney
Finance Manager
Sam joined us in 2015, and after a short break to raise her family, returned in 2020 to head up our finance department. An outstanding finance professional and a stickler for detail, Sam keeps us all on track. Sam’s understanding of the business and great rapport with candidates and clients means that our financial systems run like clockwork. It’s no wonder that we keep Sam under wraps!
sam.dobney@headstar.co.uk
Katrina Wells
Finance Assistant
Working alongside Sam, Kat handles the contractual side of the business and supports clients and contractor candidates. Practicing what we preach, we only hire the best finance people and Kat is living proof of this! A keen walker, Kat can be seen most mornings out with her 3 dogs.
kat.wells@headstar.co.uk
Neil Muffitt
Board Advisor
With more than 25 years experience around board room tables, Neil believes that objectivity and an ability to challenge the status quo are essential for effective FDs. Since retiring as Chairman in Spring 2023, Neil continues to provide sound advice and guidance as a Headstar Board Advisor.
neil.muffitt@headstar.co.uk
Rob Walker
Board Advisor
With a career spanning over 25 years in the recruitment sector, Rob brings a wealth of experience in building, leading and scaling recruitment businesses. Rob’s advisory role is to assist the Board in optimising the business structure and explore opportunities to drive further growth.
rob.walker@headstar.co.uk
