How to Present Yourself to the Market as a Senior Finance Professional: Maximising LinkedIn and Other Key Strategies

Following on from last week’s article, "Senior Finance Job Market: Strategies for Success," where I discussed the current challenges senior finance professionals face, it’s clear that positioning yourself effectively in today’s market is critical. Whether you're currently in a role or between jobs, how you present yourself can significantly influence your chances of landing your next position. For senior professionals, it’s not just about visibility—it’s about being seen as engaged, relevant, and in demand.

Here’s how you can use LinkedIn and other strategies to enhance your professional brand and stand out in a competitive market.

1. Look Busy, Even if You’re Between Roles

If you’re between jobs, it can be tempting to display the "Open to Work" banner, but for senior professionals, this approach may not always send the right message. While it can increase visibility, research by Jobvite suggests that passive candidates—those not actively searching—are often viewed more favourably by recruiters, particularly for senior roles

Jobvite

Jobvite

These candidates are seen as selective, which implies they are in demand and potentially high performers.

Instead of displaying the banner, consider positioning yourself as a Finance Consultant or Advisor, even if you’ve been doing informal work. For example: "Finance Consultant – Supporting SMEs with financial planning and cash flow management." This helps fill gaps in your employment history while positioning you as an active professional contributing to the sector.

2. Use a Headline That Reflects the Roles You Want

Your LinkedIn headline is one of the most important elements of your profile, especially when you're navigating a career transition. To maximise your chances of being discovered by recruiters, ensure your headline reflects the roles you’re targeting. Use titles that match the positions you're seeking, such as: "Head of Audit", "Senior Risk Professional", or "Senior Tax Professional". This approach ensures your profile is consistent with the roles you’re applying for and makes it easier for hiring managers to find you in their searches.

3. Be Active on LinkedIn Without Directly Broadcasting Your Job Search

LinkedIn is a crucial platform for senior finance professionals, but there’s a subtle art to staying visible without openly stating you're looking for work. Instead of saying you're "seeking a new role," take a more nuanced approach: "I’m starting to have conversations about my next career move and am open to discussions about senior finance opportunities." This keeps you visible without giving the impression of desperation, which is especially important in senior positions.

Additionally, consider that CEOs and CFOs in thriving sectors might not be aware of the challenges other industries are facing. Displaying the "Open to Work" banner could inadvertently give the impression that you're out of touch with market dynamics or inactive, which may not align with how senior professionals should be positioning themselves.

4. Stay Engaged: Don’t Just Look Busy—Be Busy

Beyond appearing active, it’s essential to genuinely stay engaged. Consider offering pro-bono consulting, taking on interim projects, or mentoring junior professionals. These activities help keep your skills sharp and give you new content to share on LinkedIn.

For example, if you’re mentoring someone, post a reflection: "Mentored a junior finance professional on cash flow management—insightful to see their growth while learning from their fresh perspectives." This demonstrates your ongoing involvement in the industry, ensuring that your network views you as a key contributor.

P.S. If you're looking to offer your expertise pro-bono, why not consider joining a charity board? It’s a great way to expand your network, gain professional development, and give back. Check out www.trustee-connect.com , a social enterprise I co-founded.

5. Proactively Engage with Recruiters and Hiring Managers

Maintaining regular contact with recruiters is a smart move. Even if you’re not actively searching, sending a message like, "Hope you’re well! Just checking in to see what trends you’re noticing in the market," can keep you on their radar for upcoming opportunities.

If you are applying for positions, don’t hesitate to take it a step further: find the hiring manager or recruiter on LinkedIn, and send them a short, polite connection request or note. When paired with a well-aligned CV and LinkedIn profile, this direct approach can make you stand out.

6. Keep Your LinkedIn Profile Aligned with Your CV

One crucial aspect of presenting yourself well is ensuring consistency between your LinkedIn profile and CV. Hiring managers will cross-check both, and any discrepancies could raise red flags. Make sure your LinkedIn profile accurately reflects your achievements and expertise. Also, ensure you’ve filled out all available skill slots on LinkedIn to increase your chances of appearing in recruiter searches.

Presenting yourself to the market as a senior finance professional requires strategic visibility, engagement, and careful positioning. Avoid signals that could be misinterpreted and focus on demonstrating your continued relevance and value in the sector.

Offering Personalised Support to Senior Finance Professionals

Over the past 17 years, I’ve placed over 500 professionals into positions across tier-one banks, fast-scaling start-ups, and everything in between. Recently, I’ve been approached about offering more formal services and additional support. After careful consideration, I am now offering a limited number of one-to-one sessions for senior finance professionals. These sessions are tailored to include CV and social media reviews, market mapping, career guidance, and interview preparation.

If you’d like more information or to schedule a session, please get in touch in the strictest confidence at [email protected] .