Strong financial management is crucial to business success
It’s why employing the right finance staff – especially at senior levels – is essential
RG Duncan’s history by founder Roy Duncan
Hi, I’m Roy Duncan founder of RGDuncan. After an entrepreneurial start to my work life and then a career in business and finance, I set up RGDuncan in 2004 to provide a high quality bespoke finance recruitment service targeted towards businesses recruiting for senior finance roles such as finance director, financial controller and finance manager. My success in this area is underpinned by my empathy with the candidates, whom I interview and employers who instruct me, gained from many years of experience managing business and finance functions in different sectors and turnovers. How I got here has been the culmination of my earlier career which I would like to share with you.
My journey began in Banff, Scotland, where I left school in the mid-seventies to join my dad in his garage. Excited about business and entrepreneurial, I played a leading role along with my parents and brother in expanding this profitable business over the next 13 years to include taxi and coach hire, and a haulage division. During that time I learnt how to manage the business, along with bookkeeping and accounts, job costing and pricing, investment appraisal and perhaps most important of all; cash management. However hiring and developing staff and providing high levels of customer service were also skills that came naturally to me.
By the time I was 30, I decided to take a sabbatical from the business to catch up on my education. Over the next 4 years, I gained my BA in Accountancy and Finance, a Post Graduate Diploma in Management Studies, and a Diploma in Marketing. I then decided to leave the business and relocate to London where I qualified as a Chartered Certified Accountant.
Over the next 10 years, I held a number of senior finance roles which included finance manager, financial controller, and finance director, and ultimately a spell as CEO of an 8 outlet specialist art book retailer. My business and financial skills expanded as I was involved with setting up accounts functions, recruiting, training and managing staff, management and statutory accounts preparation, financial modelling and budgeting, working capital optimisation, and running the finances of both distressed and growing companies. I also gained experience of recruiting staff for finance as well as operational and managerial roles.
By now I had over 20 years of experience of business and finance, professional qualifications along with an interest in people, and a continuing passion for good customer service and adding value. At this point my entrepreneurial spirit returned and I saw a gap in the market for a specialist finance recruiter with a unique offer based on value and quality.
Whether you are recruiting someone to manage your company finances or you want to secure a new role, I look forward to applying my skills, knowledge, and experience to ensure you reach your goal.
Our Approach
While technology is a useful tool, there are no short cuts – nothing replaces getting to know people or putting in care, effort and expertise. Our personal, highly tailored approach works in the best interests of both clients and candidates – and is particularly important for ensuring the right people for senior positions.
Three principles are key: