Finance & Accounting

Hiring Strategic Finance and Accounting Leaders

Strong financial leadership is one of the most important drivers of business performance. Whether you’re hiring a CFO, a financial planning and analysis leader (FP&A) or a controller, each role contributes to how your organization plans, operates and grows.

These roles require professionals who can think strategically and communicate with clarity at every level of the business. Yet, despite their importance, finance and accounting leaders are some of the most difficult roles to fill.

The hiring process should reflect that level of importance, starting with clear alignment to your goals and ideal candidate profile. In this article, we explain the importance of each financial leadership position and how to match the right candidate with your organization’s most pressing needs.

Finding the Right CFO

A CFO helps chart the course of your company’s future. Whether you’re making a new hire or backfilling the seat, bringing on a CFO is one of the most strategic decisions an organization can make.

Before launching your search for a CFO, it’s important to determine business priorities and map out the interview process and compensation expectations. Transformative CFO candidates expect more than just a job description when you approach them about an opportunity. They want to see a company that’s clear on its future, unified in its strategy and prepared to move with purpose.

Today’s CFOs are trusted advisors to CEOs and board members, balancing financial stewardship with operational and strategic impact. In many organizations, the CFO is viewed as a peer to the CEO. In private equity-backed businesses, the CFO may serve as liaison with the fund, spending more time with the investors than the CEO.

In a private equity portfolio company, it’s important to find a CFO who can lead with urgency and navigate the unique reporting, governance and growth expectations that come with investor oversight. In these environments, CFOs are often responsible for preparing the company for an exit and must be comfortable operating at pace.

CFO compensation continues to evolve, and today’s candidates expect more than just a base salary. Competitive offers typically include short-term incentives and, increasingly, long-term equity or ownership opportunities.

The right CFO will bring financial rigor, leadership presence and long-term strategic thinking. Hiring one starts with clear expectations, strong alignment and a compelling offer.

Hiring a Business-Minded FP&A Leader

FP&A leaders have become essential partners to business leadership teams. In today’s environment, the role has evolved far beyond budgeting and forecasting. Strategic FP&A professionals drive decision-making and provide the insights needed to guide growth.

Whether you’re building a new FP&A function or expanding an existing one, identifying the right hire requires a clear understanding of how this role fits into your business strategy. The best candidates are not only technically skilled, but they are also business-minded, forward-looking professionals who know how to influence decisions and align stakeholders around the numbers.

The strongest FP&A candidates typically have experience working directly with executive leadership and can translate complex financial data into clear, actionable insights. Look for individuals who demonstrate cross-functional leadership and can operate comfortably across departments, while still owning the full end-to-end planning process. Those with CFO aspirations are best positioned for the role, as they tend to bring a broader, more holistic mindset to financial leadership.

The right FP&A hire can unlock new growth opportunities and elevate your company’s financial strategy. Finding that person starts with defining what success looks like and being prepared to move decisively once you identify the right fit.

Why Controllers Are Essential to Financial Health

Controllers provide essential oversight across finance and accounting functions and are often the stabilizing force behind accurate reporting, compliance and operational efficiency. But finding the right candidate can be challenging, especially in today’s tight labor market.

Wage inflation and shortage of new accountants and auditors have made experienced controllers increasingly difficult to recruit. To attract the right talent quickly, it’s important to understand why your business needs a controller and what problems you expect them to solve upon joining.

Before launching your search, take time to assess the structure and health of your finance and accounting function. If you’re struggling with timely close processes or find recurring errors, a controller can step in to lead the team and bring consistency. On the other hand, if your business is preparing for a transaction or recently underwent an acquisition, a seasoned controller can help standardize operations and bring reporting up to investor standards.

Controllers are especially valuable during periods of growth or integration. Whether you’re expanding through acquisition or scaling organically, they ensure that financial processes can keep pace with evolving business demands. And if there’s any risk of leadership turnover in your finance team, planning ahead with a strong controller can help avoid disruptions down the line.

Compensation is another critical factor as wages have increased in recent years, and more companies are now offering long-term incentives, including equity, as a part of the package. While this role may not always carry the same level of visibility as a CFO, it often requires a comparable level of ownership over the business’ financial health, and compensation increasingly reflects that.

The Takeaway

Every finance and accounting hire plays a critical role in shaping the future of your business. From high-level strategy to day-to-day accuracy, the right leaders bring clarity, control and confidence to your financial operations. Define what success looks like, move decisively and stay aligned, because when the right person is in place, finance becomes a true driver in value.