Controllers who have run the monthly close and managed a small team are stepping into Finance Director seats. Some have CPA licenses and public accounting time. Others know the systems cold. Private equity sponsors look for CFOs who can stand in front of a lender, run a process, and produce clean numbers. The market rewards people who have done a raise or an audit before. Public company readiness, ASC 606 work, and board reporting all show up in a search. You may need someone who has held a license in your state or worked in your industry's margin profile.
Many employers write a list of credentials and wait. The search stalls early. A CPA filter alone can miss a strong operator who has been through a sale. A private equity backed CFO search often stalls because the board wants a big four background and the management team wants a builder. Those two profiles rarely come in one person. Hiring managers also delay when the controller is new or the audit is late. A clear reporting line, a real equity or bonus plan, and a short list of first year targets will bring better candidates to the table. The search moves faster when the job description names the systems, the team size, and the specific transactions ahead.
Titles we recruit
- Chief Financial Officer
- Finance Director
- VP Finance
- Corporate Controller
- Chief Accounting Officer
- Director of Financial Planning and Analysis
- Treasurer
- Divisional CFO
How candidates are assessed
We screen for the full close cycle. A candidate who has taken a company through a debt raise or an audit gets different questions than a candidate who has only reported to a CFO. For CPA roles, we confirm the license is active and check the state. We walk through their last three years: team size, systems, close timeline, board deck preparation, and any restatements or control gaps. Candidates complete a work sample or a case that mirrors your month end, investor package, or audit request list. Reference checks cover cash flow forecasting, banking relationships, and how they handled a missed covenant or a surprise variance.
Where we recruit for these roles
Northeast, Midwest, South, West, and every state in between. Popular cities include New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, Austin.