Biocatalysts (coaching) - Leigh Lawry Accountancy

The Challenge

To coach and mentor the existing Financial Controller to become an effective and influential Finance Director.

Background

Biocatalysts is a company employing ~60 people and has an annual turnover of ~£9m. They are a leader in the biotechnology industry and export their product around the world.

The Financial Controller had been a long serving employee (11years) within the company, having started as a Finance Assistant, before progressing to Assistant Accountant and then subsequently Financial Controller 7 years ago. Historically, their development had been via Interim Finance Directors and the Vistage executive coaching and leadership development programme. Despite this progression, the Managing Director did not feel they were ready to progress and was unsure if this could happen within the next two years.

Approach

Perform a 360o evaluation to identify current strengths and weaknesses of candidate
Evaluate the Finance Director role and the associated desired skills
Create a development plan and associated timelines
Set expectations and progression plans with Financial Controller
Set development tasks and provided routine feedback

Outcome

Within 6 months, the Executive Board and Managing Director agreed significant change had occurred and they were ready to assume the position of Finance Director.
All resolutions were passed, and they were in position one year after starting the coaching programme.

Benefit

Confident leader developed
More effective contribution in meetings
Developed an ability to persuade, manage and influence others
Strategic capability enhanced
Able to manage difficult conversations
Greater control, discipline and accountability instilled throughout their team
Better operational knowledge and understanding of how to select the right lean management tools to implement improvement programmes