Retained CFO Executive Search for Finance & Accounting Roles
If you’re here, chances are you’re not just trying to fill a role…you’re trying to protect your business.
Hiring the wrong CFO, Controller, or senior accounting leader is expensive, distracting, and slows growth. As a retained executive search firm specializing in finance and accounting, Strategic CFO® helps business owners and CEOs make confident, long term hiring decisions for their most critical financial roles.
We operate as a CFO executive search and executive recruitment firm built around one principle: your business comes first, not a recruiter’s commission.
Find the CFO and Financial Leader Your Business is Lacking
The average tenure of a CFO is estimated to be 3 to 5 years. Some experts estimate that the CFO turnover rate has only increased over the past few years. This phenomenon has occurred due to the computerization of the financial function, a volatile economy, and the rapid increase in the rate of change in businesses today.
With that in mind, CFO executive search is often a hit or miss. Most CEOs hire several CFO/Controllers before finding the right fit. Unfortunately, this can result in diverting the management team’s focus away from running the business and, ultimately, the company loses the momentum for growth. Hiring a bad fit is a productivity killer.
This is why companies increasingly turn to specialized CFO executive search firms and finance executive search partners. Not just to fill a role, but to reduce the risk of a costly mis-hire.
Is There a Better Way to Approach CFO Executive Search?
You know that hiring a CFO who complements your culture and has the skills required to achieve your targeted growth from the get-go eliminates the wasted effort and lost profits from a bad hire.
Utilizing our CFO Retained Search process allows you and your team to focus on what matters most: growing your business. We will find the right long-term solution for your company.
There are numerous CFO Retained Search firms in the marketplace. Unfortunately, their culture is a sales culture. The focus is on filling the position as soon as possible, then moving on to the next transaction. The end result is that the client picks up the pieces when the hire goes bad.
There is a saying: “Hire in haste, regret in leisure.” We feel that the window of opportunity for hiring the right CFO is more than a 30-day wonder. By actively recruiting, developing long-term relationships with CFOs, and maintaining active networking efforts, a retained search firm like Strategic CFO™ is in the best position to hire the right financial leader.
We Assess Your Needs and Evaluate the Organization
As consultants (not recruiters) our perspective allows us to assess your business, leadership team, and culture to determine the appropriate level and caliber of CFO or financial management professional your organization truly needs.
We Participate in Interviews
We pre-screen candidates as part of the CFO executive search process and participate in all interviews to help facilitate objective, informed evaluation and better hiring decisions.
We Help You Close the Deal
We provide guidance on structuring a competitive offer, negotiating with the candidate, and preparing the offer letter. Strategic CFO™ also completes reference checks to help reduce hiring risk.
Strategic CFO is a Different Kind of Executive Search Firm
We are different from traditional staffing firms as our firm is run by accountants. Also, we’re not simply salespeople making placements, we believe in training our people and having monthly follow up and coaching with our staff.
- Controllers
- Accounting Manager
- Accountant
- CFO
If the CFO steers the company strategically, then the Controller manages the internal financial function to ensure the CFO can steer forward. This is a very important role. A Controller must have the following:
- An accounting degree
- Preferably their CPA
- At least 10 years of accounting experience
They typically report to the CFO or business owner.
An Accounting Manager must have the following:
- An accounting degree
- CPA or non-CPA
- At least 5 years of accounting experience
They have full responsibility for the accounting cycle. In addition, they supervise staff in the accounting department. They report to the Controller, CFO, or business owner, depending on the size of the business.
An accountant fits into the following profile:
- Accounting degree or equivalent
- Non-CPA
- At least 5 years of accounting experience
They understand basic accounting principals and are good users of Quickbooks (or other accounting software). This person is usually a person that has moved up from an AP clerk or AR clerk. This position reports to the Accounting Manager or Controller. But in a small company, they may report to the business owner.
CFO requirements are:
- At least 3 years as a CFO, must have more than 15 years of total working experience
- Accounting or Finance Degree or MBA
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA) – Preferred but not required
Why Companies Choose Strategic CFO for Retained Search:
- Deep Financial Expertise: We’ve sat in CFO and senior finance leadership roles we’re hiring for. We know how to spot real talent, leadership judgment, and red flags during a CFO executive search.
- Strategic Alignment: We help define the role’s responsibilities and success criteria based on your growth goals, business complexity, and finance leadership needs.
- Quality over Quantity: You get vetted, qualified, culturally aligned candidates — not a flood of resumes.
- Time-Saving Process: From sourcing to screening and interviews, we handle the details so you can focus on choosing the best fit.
- Long-Term Value: Our goal isn’t just to fill a seat. It’s to find a financial leader who can elevate your business.
For organizations that need support beyond retained search, Strategic CFO also provides outsourced accounting solutions and consulting services including interim CFO, CEO, & controller support, restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, and accounting department efficiencies.
Hear from our client, Marshall Hoffman, President and Founder of Steel Supply LP, discussing how Strategic CFO™ helped him find the right fit for his company.
