The Strategic CFO – Leading Beyond the Numbers

Careerwise: Understanding behavioural assessments

Ben discusses distinguishing behavioural assessments from psychometric tests. They often come at the end of the recruitment funnel and involve direct observation of behaviour in scenarios simulating job roles. They can be group or individual exercises, online or in-person, and vary in complexity. Preparation includes understanding assessment criteria and company values. Resources include Ben's website [https://www.Sten10.com] and the Association for Business Psychology's site [https://www.abp.org.uk]

The Strategic CFO – Leading Beyond the Numbers

Recorded live at Finance Forum London, AB’s Editor-in-Chief Jo Malvern sits down with Chris Naisby, FCCA, CFO of Watergate Bay Hotel Limited, for a candid 15-minute conversation on leading with impact. Chris shares practical lessons from the top—how to align finance with commercial priorities, build real boardroom influence, and create value beyond the balance sheet. Expect straight talk, actionable insights, and leadership takeaways that resonate with finance professionals ready to think bigger and act faster.

Careerwise: is there such a thing as zero experience?

Neville emphasizes highlighting transferable skills and motivation on LinkedIn and CVs, using headlines to position oneself as an aspiring accountant or financial analyst. He suggests using the STAR method to describe projects and competencies. Neville advises including voluntary work, sports, and extracurricular activities to demonstrate relevant skills. He also recommends networking on LinkedIn, obtaining recommendations, and tailoring CVs to job descriptions. The key is to frame experiences effectively to showcase relevant competencies and personal qualities. Find out more about Neville's company on his website [https://www.cv-writers.org.uk]

Careerwise: Are you ready for an MBA?

Owan O’Sullivan, MBA admissions manager at Trinity Business School, Trinity College Dublin, explains MBAs are for those transitioning from technical roles to general management, offering a broad business education. Meanwhile, Siobhan Blackwell MBA FCCA, a director at TD Securities in Dublin shares her experience, highlighting the value of an MBA's immersive learning and diverse peer group. They discuss the ideal timing for an MBA and the importance of balancing career and personal life. Support systems are a key feature, as are scholarships and career services. An MBA can also offer interesting and unexpected opportunities for personal and professional growth. Siobhan Blackwell MBA FCCA, Director, Regional Head Business, Regulatory & Supervisory Management TD Securities. Siobhan's LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/siobhan.blackwell] Owan O’Sullivan, MBA Admissions Manager Trinity Business School, Trinity College Dublin. Find out more about Trinity's MBA programmes here [https://www.tcd.ie/business/programmes/mba/]

Careerwise: psychometric testing

Ben explains that psychometric tests measure personality, motivation, and reasoning skills, often used to predict job performance. These tests can eliminate up to 70% of applicants. Ben emphasizes the importance of understanding job requirements and the candidate's personality fit. He advises candidates to prepare, ask about test types, and not to cheat, as it can lead to rejection. He also mentions the potential use of AI in testing, which is still under experimentation. Find out more at his company website Sten 10 [https://www.sten10.com] Fort more about business psychology visit The Association for Business Psychology [https://www.theabp.org.uk] Ben's Bio: I am a Chartered Occupational Psychologist with 25 years’ experience and I am the founder of Sten10 an assessment design consultancy. Sten10 creates high quality and innovative psychological tests to provide insight into behaviour, motivation and personality in recruitment. I have over 25 years' experience working across all areas of Occupational Psychology, including being the Chair of the Association for Business Psychology. I and my team have designed thousands of psychometric tests and I am committed to demystifying the process and allowing people to perform at their best during the selection process.