Finance leaders below the CFO line — often the better hire at Series A–B.
We place VP Finance, Director of Finance, and Head of Finance leaders at scale-ups that need mature finance leadership but aren't yet ready to commit to a full CFO. Often the right hire pre-Series C.
The vp of finance market — the honest version.
VP Finance is one of the most misunderstood roles at the Series A–C stage. Founders often jump from Controller directly to CFO and leave a 12-to-18-month gap where the company needed a VP Finance instead. A strong VP Finance runs FP&A, owns board materials, partners closely with the CEO on fundraise prep, and builds the function that the eventual CFO hires into. Our VP Finance searches calibrate explicitly for stage — we won't place a CFO-in-waiting where the company actually needs an execution-heavy VP Finance, and vice versa.
What we actually screen for.
Every vp of finance candidate goes through a structured technical screen conducted by an ex-engineer recruiter before you see their profile.
- FP&A rigor — models they authored, forecast accuracy, board materials produced
- Close discipline — month-end close time, close-ops they've owned
- Investor materials — board decks, fundraise support, diligence responses
- Team building — Controllers, senior analysts, and managers they hired and retained
- Stage fit — have they operated at your stage, or only at larger / earlier
- CEO partnership — references from former CEOs on judgment calls and disagreement
How we run a vp of finance search.
Days 0–3
Intake + stage alignment
Clarify whether this is a permanent VP Finance or a CFO-runway hire.
Days 3–18
Targeted sourcing
Candidates whose last role matches your stage and industry. 40–80 mapped, 12–20 conversations.
Days 18–28
Shortlist + back-channels
4–6 candidates with written assessments and off-list references.
Days 28–42
Interviews + offer
Multi-round with CEO, board observer (if relevant), and outside auditor where appropriate.
Real salary bands across our three markets.
- Pakistan (multinationals / remote int'l)
USD $80K–$180K + equity
- Canada
CAD $200K–$360K + equity
- United States
USD $260K–$520K + meaningful equity
Titles we place under this role type.
- VP Finance
- Head of Finance
- Director of Finance
- SVP Finance
- Senior Finance Leader (pre-CFO)
VP of Finance hiring — questions we hear.
Depends on stage, fundraise timing, and your current Controller strength. At Series A–B with a solid Controller, VP Finance is often the better call. At Series C+ or 12 months from IPO, CFO is usually right. We'll tell you at intake which we recommend and why.
Ready to run this search?
Submit a brief and a senior recruiter will reply within 24 business hours with a proposed timeline, calibrated fee structure, and sample profiles.
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