The Client: A Renewable Energy Company Rebuilding from the Ground Up
A North American renewable energy organization with over $250 million in annual revenue was entering a new era. Following a major divestiture, the company was re-establishing itself as a standalone business, inheriting legacy systems and employees, while rebuilding its operations, brand, and infrastructure from scratch.
To meet ambitious timelines and establish stability from day one, the company partnered with ML6 Search + Talent Advisory to design and execute a targeted Accounting & Finance recruitment strategy. This collaboration would soon expand across multiple levels of the organization, from interim leadership to executive search and seasonal hiring.
The Challenge: Rebuilding a Finance Function While Scaling Rapidly
The client faced three distinct and time-sensitive hiring challenges that required both strategic thinking and executional speed.
1. Interim Director of Accounting
As the organization prepared to launch, it needed an experienced accounting leader who could establish core processes, oversee reporting, and ensure compliance from day one. With the finance function still taking shape, the interim hire needed to operate independently, provide strong technical expertise, and help lay the foundation for a scalable accounting infrastructure.
2. Confidential CFO Replacement
As the company evolved from system-building to growth and fundraising, it became clear that a confidential executive search was needed to identify a finance leader equipped to guide the next stage of expansion.
The ideal candidate would bring a strong track record in capital markets, investor relations, and strategic leadership, someone capable of serving as the financial face of the business and supporting its long-term objectives.
3. Seasonal Collections Roles
As business activity increased during the company’s busiest season, there was an immediate need to bring on additional support through four short-term Collector contract roles across Edmonton and Toronto. These positions required high-volume sourcing under tight timelines, ensuring that day-to-day operations continued smoothly and efficiently throughout the seasonal peak.
The Solution: Tailored, Multi-Level Recruitment Built on Trust
ML6’s Accounting & Finance recruitment team deployed a customized, multi-pronged strategy, combining speed, network strength, and deep market understanding to meet the client’s evolving needs.
Interim Leadership: Swift and Seamless
Within just 24 hours, ML6 identified and submitted a single, highly qualified candidate for the Interim Director of Accounting role. This professional possessed the technical expertise and leadership needed to stabilize the function immediately. The candidate was hired within a week and converted to a permanent team member after 90 days, providing lasting value.
“They needed someone who could walk in, take charge, and rebuild from day one; no handholding, no hesitation.
— Michael Lemmer, CEO, ML6 Search + Talent Advisory
Executive Search: Confidential and Targeted
When tasked with replacing the CFO, ML6 led a confidential, executive-level search in collaboration with the CEO and board. The successful candidate was sourced through a referral from a previous ML6 placement, showcasing the power of ML6’s long-standing relationships and reputation for quality.
“People don’t refer people who aren’t great, and this was a perfect example of how trust in our network drives results.”
— Michael Lemmer, CEO, ML6 Search + Talent Advisory
Results:
- 5 candidates submitted
- 3 shortlisted
- 2 interviewed by the board
- 1 hired (100% ML6-sourced)
- Timeline: 22 days from intake to signed offer
High-Volume Hiring: Fast and Scalable
For the seasonal Collections roles, ML6 moved quickly to meet operational deadlines:
- 4 candidates submitted within 6 days
- 3 hired from the initial shortlist
- Final hire secured within 16 days total
ML6’s ability to balance high-volume recruitment with precision screening ensured quality hires without delay.
The Outcome: From Day-One Stability to Long-Term Growth
What began as a critical launch-phase hire quickly evolved into a long-term partnership.
Over just 12 months, ML6 placed 17 finance professionals across interim leadership, confidential executive search, and high-volume contract hiring, each role solving an immediate need while strengthening the business for the future.
The Interim Director of Accounting set the tone. Submitted within 24 hours and hired within a week, the impact was immediate. Ninety days later, the role transitioned to permanent, anchoring the finance function during a pivotal rebuild.
As the company moved into growth and fundraising mode, ML6 led a discreet CFO search, delivering a board-ready leader with deep capital markets and investor-facing experience. The search was completed in just 22 days, giving the organization the financial leadership needed for its next chapter.
During peak season, ML6 also moved fast to fill multiple short-term Collector contracts across key markets, ensuring operations stayed fully staffed and uninterrupted when demand was at its highest.
The result wasn’t just successful placements; it was a finance team built to scale, backed by a recruitment partner trusted to deliver at every stage of growth across North America.
The Result: Building a Finance Function That Scales
From rebuilding a finance department from the ground up to managing a discreet executive transition, ML6’s Accounting and Finance recruitment expertise helped the client scale strategically and sustainably.
Through trust, speed, and precision, ML6 continues to serve as the company’s go-to recruitment partner, delivering talent solutions that evolve with the business.