Finance Recruitment. Done Differently.
Founder-led finance and accountancy recruitment across the North West.
You work directly with Neil or Abbie.
30+
Years Combined Experience
Bury, Greater Manchester
Serving the entire North West
Built by Two. Focused on You.
Whitaker Smith Recruitment was founded by Neil Whitaker and Abbie Smith, bringing together around 30 years of finance recruitment experience across the North West.
We recruit across the entire finance function, from transactional and part-qualified professionals through to Financial Controllers, Finance Directors and CFOs.
As business owners, we personally manage every assignment. There are no handovers, layers of account management or unnecessary red tape. Clients and candidates deal directly with the people responsible for delivering the result.
Direct Access
You deal directly with Neil or Abbie throughout the entire process — no account managers, no handovers.
North West Specialists
Strong regional networks across Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Cheshire, Merseyside and Cumbria.
Transactional Finance → CFO
Complete coverage across finance and accountancy, from junior appointments to executive leadership.
Honest Advice
Realistic guidance on salaries, availability, market conditions and the strength of the brief.
Finance Recruitment Built Around Your Business
Every finance appointment is different. We take the time to understand your business, the position you are recruiting for and what the right person needs to deliver.
Because Whitaker Smith is founder-led, you work directly with the person delivering the assignment. There is no account manager handing the recruitment process to someone else.
We provide permanent, interim, fractional and executive-search solutions across the complete finance function.
What you can expect
- Direct access to the business owners
- A genuinely tailored search
- Strong North West finance networks
- Permanent, interim and fractional recruitment
- Retained, exclusive and contingent solutions
- Honest market advice
- Carefully selected and properly briefed candidates
- No generic CV shortlists
Considering Your Next Move?
Whether you are starting your finance career, working towards qualification or considering your first Finance Director or CFO position, we provide straightforward and honest advice.
We work with businesses across the North West, ranging from owner-managed SMEs and growing private companies to private equity-backed organisations, large groups and established corporates.
We take the time to understand what you want from your next move, rather than trying to fit your experience into whichever role happens to be available.
Our promise to you
- Honest and straightforward career advice
- Confidential conversations
- Roles matched to your actual experience and ambitions
- Clear information about the opportunity and employer
- Interview preparation and constructive feedback
- Support throughout the offer and resignation process
The people behind every placement
When you work with Whitaker Smith, you work directly with Neil or Abbie — from the first conversation through to completion.
Neil Whitaker
Director
Senior & Executive Finance
Neil has more than 15 years' experience recruiting senior finance professionals across the North West. He personally manages senior, confidential and retained assignments, working closely with business owners, CEOs, boards and private equity investors.
Abbie Smith
Director
Transactional, Part-Qualified & Qualified Finance
Abbie specialises in transactional, part-qualified and qualified finance appointments. She works with both candidates and clients throughout the recruitment process, providing a personal and straightforward service without unnecessary handovers.
Let's Talk
Whether you are looking to recruit, considering your next career move or simply want some honest advice about the North West finance market, speak directly with Neil or Abbie.
Contact directly
- Alexander House, Bury, Greater Manchester
- [email protected]
- [email protected]
Office hours
| Monday – Friday | 09:00 – 17:00 |
| Saturday – Sunday | Closed |
Prefer to speak directly?
Call Neil or Abbie directly — they'll pick up.