What a general manager does
A general manager carries overall responsibility for a business, division or location. They set operating plans, manage profit and loss, lead department heads across sales, operations and finance, and make the day-to-day decisions that keep the organization on course. In owner-managed companies, the general manager often becomes the owner's most important hire, taking over leadership of the business so the owner can step back, focus on growth or plan a transition.
Because the role touches every part of the business, Finch looks for proven, broad leadership rather than strength in only one function. We screen candidates for profit-and-loss responsibility, experience at a similar scale and ownership structure, and the way they lead managers and staff. We assess their working style against yours, since a general manager who reports to an owner must build trust quickly. References with former owners, boards or executives complete the picture.
Typical responsibilities
- Develop and carry out annual operating plans and budgets
- Manage profit and loss and report results to owners or senior leadership
- Lead managers across sales, operations, finance and human resources
- Build key customer, supplier and community relationships
- Set priorities, policies and performance measures for the business
- Identify growth opportunities and manage business risks
Qualifications and credentials
- Senior leadership experience with direct profit-and-loss responsibility
- Experience in a similar industry, business model or company size
- Strong financial literacy, including budgeting, forecasting and reading financial statements
- A track record of building and leading management teams
- A university degree in business or a related field is common; an MBA is sometimes preferred
Who hires a general manager
- Owner-managed and family businesses
- Divisions or subsidiaries of larger companies
- Manufacturers and distributors
- Hospitality, retail and service businesses
- Companies owned by private equity or investor groups
Where we recruit general manager candidates
We fill general manager roles for employers across Toronto and the GTA, including North York, Scarborough, Etobicoke, Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, Mississauga, Brampton, Oakville, Burlington, Oshawa and Pickering, and for employers across Canada. GTA employers can meet us at our North York office by appointment.
What Finch checks before you meet a candidate
- Profit-and-loss results they were accountable for, discussed in detail
- Breadth of leadership across sales, operations and finance
- Experience reporting to an owner, board or parent company
- How they build and lead management teams
- Discreet references from former owners, executives and direct reports
Interview questions to ask
- Tell me about your first months in your last general manager role. What did you change first and why?
- How do you work with an owner who is used to making every decision?
- Describe a year when results were behind plan. What did you do to turn it around?