Sowena Group

Sowena Group, finance talent recruitment in the North West of England

Sowena Group is a recruitment firm specialising in finance and accounting profiles. Its activity is aimed at high-growth companies, private equity and venture capital-backed firms, SMEs and entrepreneurial companies. The company works alongside management teams —CEOs, founders, finance directors and hiring managers— to define talent acquisition strategies tailored to each organisation.

The firm presents itself as a private equity-backed company, which, according to its own account, has allowed it to embark on a new phase of long-term investment and sustainable growth. In that context, Sowena Group states that it has been selected as a finalist in the North West Business Awards.

Recruitment services

Its service catalogue is organised into four main lines:

• Executive Search: search for senior management profiles, such as chief financial officers (CFO) and finance directors, through a retained search model aimed at aligning leadership with the company's strategic objectives.
• Senior Finance Appointments: recruitment of senior finance professionals —financial controllers, finance managers and other key operational roles— in high-growth companies or those backed by private equity and venture capital. The firm notes that its data-driven approach typically resolves these processes within three to eight weeks.
• Newly Qualified: aimed at early-career finance professionals seeking to join ambitious companies in the aforementioned segments, with practical guidance and selected opportunities.
• Partnering with Private Equity: finance leadership recruitment for private equity-backed firms, with support for investment readiness and post-deal growth.

Working method and profiles served

The company describes a creative, ethical and data-led recruitment process, supported by networks and technology to uncover opportunities that, according to its presentation, do not usually appear through conventional channels. For candidates, it offers personalised support: understanding their career goals, cultural preferences and skills, and mapping out a career path tailored to their long-term aspirations rather than simply matching immediate qualifications.

Among the roles the firm expressly mentions are chief financial officer, finance director, financial controller, finance manager and other key operational roles. The company declares experience in placing these profiles across all sectors.

Origins and team

Sowena Group links its identity to its Cornish roots and a community approach that it sums up with the phrase 'One and All'. The firm was founded by Perran Cooke, who has more than a decade of experience in senior and executive search in the finance field. According to its presentation, Cooke has worked with senior leadership teams, private equity and venture capital investors and boards of directors to identify high-calibre candidates.

The team includes, in addition to the founder, John Hughes, Alex Mackenzie, Beth Harris, Marcus Polledri, Mackenzie Harrop, Jess Fletcher, Gemma Quaye and Leah Hill.

Published job openings

The site shows a jobs section with active processes. Among the visible examples are a pricing analyst position in Lancashire, with a salary range of £35,000 to £50,000 and full-time, for a B2B services company; a chief financial officer position in Cheshire, with a range of £120,000 to £150,000 and full-time, for a direct-to-consumer brand in West Cheshire; and a head of pricing position in Lancashire, with a range of £55,000 to £60,000 and full-time, for a private equity-backed manufacturing company.

Editorial and events activity

The firm maintains a blog with content on career paths and recruitment, with titles such as choosing between different types of finance director, the difference between contingent and retained recruitment, or the reasons why a senior finance hire leaves the company within twelve months. It also organises events, with separate sections for upcoming events and previous events.