At Elevate Search, we specialise in connecing exceptional Finance and Transformation talent with forward-thinking organisations. With deep expertise across core finance leadership, commercial finance, FP&A, Financial Reporting, Transformation and change, we deliver a tailored and impactful recruitment experience built on insight, integrity, and genuine partnerships.
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Our mission is simple: To elevate the recruitment experience for both employers and candidates. We focus on building long-term relationships, understanding business challenges, and creating lasting placements that drive commercial performance and operational success.
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We understand that modern finance and transformation functions operate at pace and demand a unique blend of technical, strategic and interpersonal skills. Our work spans PE-Backed, FTSE, and high-growth SME environments, where we help clients secure the talent needed to influence, lead and deliver change, Whether you're scaling, restructuring, or strengthening your finance capability, Elevate Search is here to support you every step of the way.
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Our Values:
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â–¹ Integrity
We operate with honesty and transparency, building trust with our clients and candidates.
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â–¹ Excellence
We are committed to delivering high quality recruitment solutions through insight, expertise, and attention to detail.
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â–¹ Collaboration
We partner closely with organisations and individuals to ensure shared success and long term impact.
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â–¹ Innovation
We continuously refine our approach to stay ahead of industry demands and deliver a modern, efficient recruitment experience.
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Elevate Search was founded by Jim Smith after more than twenty years recruiting within Finance and Transformation across both large organisations and boutique firms. This experience has given him a clear understanding of how different businesses hire and the importance of genuine relationships. Integrity, professionalism, and a people first approach sit at the heart of everything we do.
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Our Experience:
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We have supported PE backed companies, FTSE groups, accountancy firms, and SMEs, within the Finance & Transformation arena, we deliver tailored recruitment solutions to UK businesses.
Our work spans permanent and interim, Finance Leadership, FP&A, Commercial Finance, Financial Control, Transformation and Change This gives us a strong understanding of modern finance teams and the talent required to drive performance.
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Why Choose Elevate Search?
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Expertise:
Specialists in Finance and Transformation recruitment with more than two decades of experience.
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Personalised Service:
A tailored, relationship led approach for every client and candidate.
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Proven Success:
A consistent record of successful placements and long term partnerships.
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Support Throughout:
Clear communication and honest advice from first conversation to final placement.
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At Elevate Search, we are committed to helping businesses build stronger finance functions and supporting professionals as they progress their careers. Our aim is to provide a recruitment experience built on trust, expertise, and long term impact.
Our Founder
James R Smith (Jim) is the founder of Elevate Search, bringing over 20 years of specialist recruitment experience. His career began in the travel industry, where a passion for people and service naturally led him into recruitment. Since then, Jim has built a diverse career working across multiple sectors, business sizes, and geographies.
Growing up with a father in the Royal Air Force, Jim attended schools across Europe and lived in Nova Scotia, Canada, for six years. This international background shaped his love of travel, culture, and exploration, interests that still define him today.
Jim’s recruitment career accelerated when he joined a global agency and became a specialist Finance recruiter within the Public Practice market. He later moved into Commerce and Industry recruitment, partnering with FTSE 100 organisations and high growth SMEs, placing roles from Accounts Payable Clerks through to CFOs.
He then joined a boutique recruitment firm, supporting multiple specialisms and playing a key role in business growth. This combination of global and boutique experience enabled Jim to become an adaptable, relationship driven, and commercially aware recruiter. Although his core expertise lies in finance recruitment, his natural ability to build trust has allowed him to support clients across a wide range of business functions.
Over the years, Jim has successfully recruited across every area of the finance profession including public practice, part qualified and qualified finance, temporary and permanent hiring, senior leadership, and specialist transformation and change roles. This breadth of experience has given him a truly rounded understanding of how Finance and Transformation functions operate, evolve, and impact organisational success.
Across his career, Jim has supported a significant number of candidates and built long standing relationships, many of whom still keep in touch today. His LinkedIn recommendations highlight his honesty, commitment, and genuine care for the people he supports.
Jim is known for his ethical approach and belief that recruitment is fundamentally about people. Treating candidates with respect, understanding clients’ needs properly, and operating with integrity are the principles at the heart of how he works.
Founding Elevate Search is the realisation of Jim’s ambition to build a high performing recruitment business that genuinely puts clients and candidates first. He believes that without candidates, recruiters are nothing, and he takes pride in supporting their careers and celebrating their success.
Outside of work, Jim is a devoted single parent to his son, Oscar, and a passionate petrolhead who can often be found riding his Ducati through the English countryside.
Ethical, driven, and relationship focused, Jim is a trusted recruitment partner to both clients and candidates. Whether you are hiring senior talent or planning your next career move, his experience and dedication ensure you are in very safe hands.