What a vice-president does
A vice-president leads a major function, such as sales, operations, finance, human resources or marketing, and sits on or reports to the executive team. They set the strategy for their area, build and lead its managers, own its budget and results, and contribute to decisions that affect the whole organization. Hiring at this level shapes your company for years, because a vice-president's choices about people and priorities ripple through every team below them.
Vice-president candidates are typically employed, successful and selective about their next move, so a search depends on direct, discreet outreach and a clear account of the opportunity. Finch identifies candidates with comparable functional leadership and scale, then assesses strategic thinking, executive presence and team-building in depth. Where a designation matters, such as a CPA for a finance leader, we confirm it with the issuing body. References with peers, executives and direct reports round out our assessment.
Typical responsibilities
- Set strategy, goals and plans for the function in line with company direction
- Lead, develop and hold accountable the managers and teams in the function
- Own the function's budget, performance measures and results
- Contribute to executive decisions on growth, investment and risk
- Represent the function to the CEO, owners or board
- Build relationships with key customers, partners or industry bodies
Qualifications and credentials
- Senior leadership experience in the relevant function, often at director level or above
- Experience at a company of similar size, complexity or growth stage
- Proven results in building teams and delivering strategy
- Designations relevant to the function where required, such as a CPA through CPA Ontario for finance or the CHRL from HRPA for human resources
- A university degree; a graduate degree such as an MBA is often valued
Who hires a vice-president
- Mid-sized and growing private companies
- Manufacturers, distributors and logistics companies
- Technology and professional services firms
- Healthcare and non-profit organizations
- Private equity-backed businesses
Where we recruit vice-president candidates
We fill vice-president 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
- Functional results they personally led, with clear evidence
- Scale and complexity of the teams and budgets they managed
- Strategic thinking, tested through discussion of real decisions they made
- Fit with your CEO's or owner's leadership style and company culture
- Professional designations, verified with the relevant body where applicable
Interview questions to ask
- What were the most important decisions you made in your current role, and how did they turn out?
- How do you assess a team you inherit, and how quickly do you make changes?
- Tell me about a time you disagreed with your CEO or owner. How did you handle it?