Salaries and Costs
Executive pay in Cardiff varies by ownership model, growth stage, and sector. Finance Directors often sit in the £90,000 to £130,000 range in private SMEs, with bonuses and LTIP schemes shaping the total package. CTO and CIO roles can span £100,000 to £150,000, where product roadmaps and platform scale drive demand. HR Director roles often land between £70,000 and £100,000, with benefits and car allowances common. Interim executives are priced by day rate, with typical rates of £600 to £1,200 for CFOs, CTOs, and Transformation Directors on complex mandates. Recruiters and staffing agencies usually price executive search on a retained basis, with recruitment fees ranging from 25% to 33% of the first year’s salary, staged across research, shortlist, and completion. Contingent models appear on the head of function roles, though agency costs may shift with exclusivity. Clear terms on pay rates, expenses, and rebate windows help with retention and reduce backfill risk.
Qualifications
Executive search in Cardiff often prioritises chartered status and relevant licences. Finance leaders commonly hold ACA, ACCA, or CIMA. HR leaders may have CIPD Chartered Member status. Technology chiefs can present chartered engineer status or vendor credentials that align with the stack. Public sector and third sector appointments may need safeguarding awareness and governance training, with non-executive directors expected to evidence risk and audit exposure. Recruiters screen for board reporting experience, people leadership, transformation delivery, and stakeholder management, not only certificates.
Regional Or Geographic Variations
Cardiff draws senior talent from the city and the wider commuter belt. The M4 corridor links Newport, Caerphilly, and Bridgend, with Bristol within reach for cross-border candidates. Cardiff Bay hosts a mix of media and government-linked employers, and Cardiff Central keeps travel practical for hybrid contracts. Cardiff Gate Business Park and Capital Business Park provide access to logistics and back-office operations. These links affect notice periods, relocation, and interview scheduling, so recruitment agencies plan pipelines around peak travel and school terms.
Hiring Challenges
Tight leadership pools mean search firms invest in passive candidate mapping and referral networks. Competing offers and buybacks can slow time-to-hire, so employers need clear salary bands, defined reporting lines, and defined outcomes for the first 12 months. Retention risk rises when remote policies change at short notice. Recruiters handle expectation setting early, balancing on-site needs with realistic commuting patterns. Executive search partners keep shortlists diverse across background and sector, which supports culture fit and long-term workforce resilience.
Key Sectors Or Employers In The Region
Cardiff supports strong executive demand across fintech, media, higher education, healthcare, and utilities. Finance and shared service hubs drive the need for CFOs and Financial Controllers stepping into FD roles. SaaS and data-led firms look for CTOs and CPOs who can manage product and platform scale. Public bodies and charities seek CEOs and Directors with depth in governance and stakeholder fluency. Local employers lean on employment firms to reach talent that might not be active on job boards, with recruiters managing discreet approaches and NDAs.
Interim And Contract Options
Interim management helps during transformation, ERP rollouts, or investment rounds. Temp agencies and executive recruiters supply interims for three to nine-month assignments with clear deliverables. Day rates vary by scope, though £500 to £1,000 is common outside heavy turnaround. Contract work can bridge maternity cover or programme peaks. Employers should define milestones and handover plans. Candidates can register with an agency to access short-notice briefs and rolling extensions.
Regulatory Or Compliance Standards
Senior hires must provide evidence of right to work, references, and, in some cases, DBS checks. Finance and regulated roles may require FCA awareness and audit trail discipline. Data-driven teams need leaders who understand UK GDPR and information security controls. Recruiters guide both sides on compliance steps so offer timelines stay on track, with pre-employment screening staged to match notice periods.
Roles And Career Paths
Cardiff executive search covers CEO, MD, CFO, COO, CTO, CPO, and HRD roles, as well as divisional directors across operations, product, and transformation. Career paths often move from head of function into board level, or from consultancy into line leadership. Recruiters support succession planning, helping businesses find employees ready to step into number-two roles. Jobseekers gain advice on board papers, panel interviews, and case studies that evidence commercial impact.
Hard-to-Fill Positions
Scarce skills tend to cluster around data leadership, cyber, and large-scale transformation. Growth equity-backed firms competing on product speed often need a CTO or VP of Engineering with hiring pedigree and evidence of platform modernisation. Utilities and healthcare face demand spikes, requiring directors to balance compliance with service redesign. Executive search partners widen the net across South Wales and the South West, with relocation support and staged start dates used to secure acceptance.
Quick Facts And Frequently Asked Questions
What recruitment fees do executive search firms in Cardiff charge?
Retained search is commonly 25% to 33% of the first year’s salary, staged across the assignment.
Can I register with an agency for executive roles in Cardiff?
Yes. Candidates can register with an agency to access confidential briefs and interim work.
Do executive recruiters handle temporary and contract work?
Yes. Many agencies manage interim and fixed-term appointments with clear deliverables and day rates.
How long does an executive hire take in Cardiff?
Typical timelines run 6 to 12 weeks from briefing to offer, with notice periods extending the start date.
What impacts executive salaries in Cardiff?
Ownership model, growth stage, scope, and market scarcity drive salaries and packages.
Do agencies work with local employers outside central Cardiff?
Yes. Searches often cover Cardiff Bay, Cardiff Gate, Capital Business Park, and M4-linked towns.