Case Study 1: From Budget Constraints to Boardroom Success – Hiringa Finance Head for a Singapore Company Expanding into India

person wearing suit reading business newspaper

Setting the Scene

A Singapore-based company was ready to expand into India and needed a strong Finance Head to anchor its India operations. The role was pivotal—this person would be responsible for setting up financial systems, ensuring regulatory compliance, and serving as a strategic bridge between Indian operations and global leadership.

But there was one major hurdle: budget constraints.

The Challenge

The client’s initial budget didn’t align with Indian market expectations for a leadership finance role.

Key issues included:

Limited compensation: The budget was nearly 30% below market benchmarks for senior finance roles in Tier-1 Indian cities.


Cross-border experience required: Candidates needed exposure to both Indian regulations and global financial frameworks.


Speed vs. quality: The company wanted to move fast but wasn’t compromising on leadership quality.

How We Tackled It

1. Initial Advisory
We advised the client on the talent landscape and recommended either:

  • Increasing the budget
  • Or redefining the job scope

 

2. They opted to proceed without changing the budget.


3. Targeted Search with Constraints

Despite the limitations, we launched a curated search:

  • Pre-screened ~100 profiles
  • Conducted preliminary interviews
  •  Shared video recordings of top 10 candidates with detailed evaluations


4. Reassessment & Strategy Shift

After a month of limited traction (and parallel efforts by the client that yielded no success), they chose to revise the budget to meet market standards.

Re-Engagement with Precision

With an updated budget and clarity, we went back to market:


● Mapped over 250+ mid-to-senior finance leaders
● Prioritized candidates with experience in cross-border reporting and India operations
setup
● Delivered 5 top-tier profiles with interview recordings and insight reports


Client introduced an accounting simulation assignment to test real-world capabilities before final onboarding.

The Result

  • Successfully closed the position within 3 weeks after the revised brief.
  • The selected candidate had worked in an Outsourcing company (it was a must have requirement for client) and had Big 4 experience.
  • The client praised our structured process and has since hired 2 more leaders through us.

Outcome: Finance leader onboarded. Market entry stabilized. Retained client relationship
for long-term hiring.

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