Pivotal First-in-Finance hire: Finance Director for PE-Backed Music Rights Startup

Client Overview – PE-Backed Music Rights Startup

Our client, a fast-growing, private equity-backed music rights startup, was seeking their first in-house finance hire, a pivotal Finance Director role.

With ambitious plans to double revenue and headcount within 12 months, they needed a finance leader who could:

• Manage end-to-end finance operations
• Oversee relationships with private equity backers
• Lead investor relations and strategic financial planning

The search was challenging due to the niche talent pool, few UK-based candidates combined music industry expertise with private equity experience.

Key Challenges & Role Evolution

The initial plan was to appoint a Head of Finance or Financial Controller, supported by a part-time CFO.

However, following a consultation with Talentedge, the brief evolved into a mid-level Finance Director role, designed to:

• Handle strategic responsibilities including PE relationship management and investor relations
• Oversee operational finance – accounting, income tracking, and revenue assurance
• Grow into a CFO role within 12–18 months, aligning with budget constraints and long-term goals

This shift in approach ensured the hire would combine strategic gravitas with a willingness to manage the hands-on aspects of a finance function in a scaling business.

Our Approach – Targeted first-hire search

We combined our specialist network with proactive headhunting to identify six high-calibre candidates.

Our search targeted individuals with:

• Music or entertainment industry finance experience
• Exposure to private equity reporting and governance
• The flexibility to manage both strategic and operational finance work
• The ambition to step into a CFO role in the near term

The Outcome – Rare combination of skills secured

The client ultimately appointed a headhunted Finance Director who:

• Had the gravitas to manage C-suite and investor relationships
• Was comfortable rolling up their sleeves to oversee accounting and reporting
• Brought a rare blend of music industry knowledge, corporate finance expertise, and investment banking background

This efficient, collaborative process resulted in a seamless hire that:

• Met every requirement in the evolved brief
• Positioned the finance function for future scalability
• Established a solid foundation for the company’s ambitious growth plans

Both the client and candidate were thrilled with the outcome.