Executive Search
Retained search for Controller, VP Finance, and CFO. Led personally by a CFO-turned-recruiter who knows what the board will ask, what the lenders will want, and what the team needs.
CFO-led · 15+ years in finance leadership.
Why retained
A leadership hire deserves a dedicated search.
Contingent recruiting works for volume. It does not work for the one role that decides whether your numbers can be trusted. A retained engagement means one firm, one accountable lead, a defined process, and a shortlist built for your situation rather than pulled from a database.
- CFO-led. Every executive search is run personally by a former CFO, from brief to close.
- Peer credibility. Finance leaders take the call because the person on the line has done their job.
- Direct sourcing. The best candidates are not applying anywhere. We go to them.
- Written assessments. Each shortlisted candidate comes with a structured evaluation against your scorecard.
The process
Six steps. No black box.
Discovery and brief
Interviews with the CEO or owner, board members where relevant, and key peers. We document the business situation, the mandate, and what success looks like at twelve months.
Scorecard and calibration
A scorecard covering technical range, leadership, stage experience, and industry fit. You approve it before outreach begins.
Research and outreach
A mapped target list and direct, confidential approaches. Weekly reporting on who we have spoken with and what we are hearing.
Assessment
In-depth interviews by a former CFO, including scenario discussion of the challenges specific to your business.
Shortlist, references, offer
A short list with written assessments, structured references with former supervisors, and a defensible compensation benchmark to structure the offer.
Onboarding follow-through
We stay engaged through the first months, with check-ins on both sides. The placement is complete when the leader is effective, not when the contract is signed.
Roles
The seats we search.
- Chief Financial Officer
- VP Finance
- VP Controller
- Corporate Controller
- Group Controller
- Director of Finance
- Head of Tax
- Director of FP&A
- Director of Internal Audit
Situations
Where we are most useful.
- Founder-led companies hiring their first true finance leader.
- Private-equity-backed businesses upgrading the function after a transaction.
- Companies preparing for an audit, a financing, a sale, or an IPO.
- Cross-border groups needing a leader fluent in U.S. and Canadian requirements.
- Succession, whether planned or sudden. Interim leadership available while the search runs.
Terms
- Retained engagement with a fee schedule agreed up front and set out in an engagement letter.
- Defined scope, timeline, and reporting cadence.
- Guarantee terms and off-limits commitments in writing.
Start the conversation.
Tell us about the seat, the situation, and the timeline. We will tell you honestly whether a retained search is the right tool and what it would involve.
Let's talk about your next hire — or your next move.
One conversation with someone who has sat on both sides of the table.