Executive Search for Finance & HR
Where expertise, responsibility and personality must align.
NAKAMA fills C-suite and management positions as well as selected specialist roles in Finance & HR - for companies, private equity-backed businesses and investors across Europe.
Our strength lies in structured direct search. We define the candidate profile, map the relevant talent market and engage qualified professionals through clear, individual and credible communication.
Executive Search in four steps
01
Search briefing and profile
We clarify the role, objectives, scope of responsibility and company context. Based on this, we develop a precise candidate profile and a robust search strategy.
02
Market mapping and direct approach
We map the relevant talent market, identify suitable candidates and approach them individually, discreetly and with a clear understanding of the opportunity.
03
Assessment and recommendation
We conduct structured interviews and assess experience, motivation and fit with the role and organisation. We present only candidates we can recommend with confidence.
04
Offer, appointment and integration
We support interviews, references, offer negotiations and the final decision - through to contract signature and, if required, during the subsequent integration phase.
When is Executive Search the right approach?
Executive Search is particularly worthwhile when
- a business-critical Finance or HR position needs to be filled,
- suitable candidates are not actively looking for a new position,
- a search needs to be conducted confidentially,
- a new position first needs to be defined precisely,
- specific functional or entrepreneurial experience is required,
- a wrong hire would have serious financial or organisational consequences.
For a position that is meant to make a lasting impact, presenting as many profiles as possible is not enough. What matters is identifying the person who fits the role, the environment and the next stage of the company’s development.
Why NAKAMA?
- Functional specialisation. Finance & HR are not arbitrarily chosen search areas. Our expertise is rooted in first-hand professional experience across Finance, Accounting, Tax, HR and Talent Acquisition.
- Experienced assessment. More than 25 years in Executive Search and Recruiting, combined with over 20,000 interviews, enable us to assess experience, motivation and personal fit with confidence and context.
- Personal responsibility. We deliberately handle only a limited number of engagements at any one time. This keeps communication, market approach and candidate assessment consistent throughout the entire process.
- Technology used with judgement. We use AI selectively in research, outreach and administrative process management. This improves efficiency, reach and process quality while complying with the GDPR and the EU AI Act.
A specialised database. An up-to-date view of the market.
Our search does not start from zero. Years of specialisation have enabled us to build an extensive database of Finance & HR specialists and executives, supported by an established network across the European market.
For every engagement, we combine this access with current market research and structured direct search. This allows us to reach both established contacts and new candidates across the relevant talent market.
Our network opens doors. Systematic market mapping ensures that the search is never limited to existing contacts.
Executive Search for Finance
- CFO and senior finance leadership
- Finance Director and Head of Finance
- Accounting and consolidation
- Financial controlling and FP&A
- Tax and treasury
- Audit, risk and compliance
- Finance transformation
Executive Search for Human Resources
- CHRO and HR Director
- Head of HR and People & Culture
- Talent Acquisition and Recruiting
- HR Business Partnering
- Compensation & Benefits
- Organisational development and HR transformation
We assess more than what appears on a CV. We understand what the successful candidate must deliver in the role.
Direct approach with clarity and relevance
Senior professionals and executives rarely respond to generic approaches. A compelling direct approach explains why the opportunity matters, the business challenge it addresses and why it is relevant to that particular individual.
Our approach is built on
- a precisely defined engagement,
- thorough research and systematic market mapping,
- individually tailored outreach,
- credible and respectful communication,
- a confidential and dependable process.
This is how an initial contact becomes a serious conversation about the opportunity.
A clear brief. Clear responsibility.
We conduct Executive Search as an exclusive retained engagement.
The fee is invoiced in three agreed instalments: at the start of the engagement, upon presentation of qualified candidates and on successful completion.
Frequently asked questions
Which positions does NAKAMA fill through Executive Search?
NAKAMA fills demanding specialist and leadership positions at C-level, management and expert level in Finance & HR.
How long does an Executive Search engagement take?
The duration depends on the position, the market and the availability of suitable candidates. We agree a realistic timeline and the individual project milestones with you transparently at the start of the engagement.
What is the difference between Executive Search and contingency recruitment?
In Executive Search, the company commissions a search partner exclusively with a clearly defined search brief. The fee covers the complete process: from market analysis, identification and direct approach through structured interviews and assessment to support with the selection decision.
The agreed fee is invoiced in three instalments. In contingency recruitment, by contrast, a fee normally becomes payable only once a candidate who has been introduced is hired.
NAKAMA conducts Executive Search on the basis of a retained project fee, not on a contingency basis.
What is a candidate shortlist?
We present only candidates we have personally interviewed and selected, whose professional experience, motivation and fit we have examined, and we give clear reasons for every introduction. We call this presentation of candidate profiles the shortlist.
How does NAKAMA use AI in Executive Search?
AI supports research, market analysis, outreach and administrative processes. Personal assessment, interviews and recommendations remain entirely with NAKAMA.
Does NAKAMA conduct international searches?
Yes. We conduct Executive Search engagements across Europe and approach suitable candidates across national borders.
It starts with a good conversation.
Let's talk about the position you need to fill, the responsibilities it carries and what the right person should achieve within your organisation. Together, we will clarify how NAKAMA can best support your search.