Finance · CFO
Chief Financial Officer executive search.
Retained CFO search for FTSE, PE-backed platforms and regulated financial services businesses.
What the role is
A short definition.
A Chief Financial Officer is the accountable finance leader — commercial finance, treasury, tax, controls, and, in listed environments, investor relations and audit committee interaction. In PE-backed businesses the CFO is the sponsor’s primary operational point of contact and the executive most accountable for the value-creation plan alongside the CEO. In regulated financial services the CFO holds SMCR responsibilities and interacts directly with the PRA/FCA on matters of capital, liquidity and financial resilience.
Core responsibilities
What we assess candidates against.
- Commercial finance leadership — budgeting, forecasting, cost-base management, capital allocation
- Treasury, tax and cash management across jurisdictions
- Financial reporting to the board, audit committee and (in listed environments) shareholders
- Regulatory engagement in regulated firms — PRA/FCA on capital and liquidity, HMRC on corporate tax posture
- In PE-backed businesses: sponsor coordination, quarterly reporting, exit preparation
- M&A leadership on both buy-side and sell-side transactions
When to run this search
Typical triggers.
On the transition from a founder or first-hire CFO to a scale CFO; on a PE acquisition where the incumbent finance leadership is not the right profile for the value-creation plan; ahead of a listing, sale or major transaction; on a change of CEO where the executive team is being reset; when an existing CFO moves on.
How we search
The specific approach we take.
Every CFO mandate begins with clarity on exit type (in PE-backed businesses), listing timeline (in pre-IPO businesses), or transaction pipeline (in acquisitive private companies). The right profile depends on that context. Candidate pools include sitting CFOs at comparable businesses, Deputy CFOs ready for the top seat, and, for regulated environments, former CFOs of adjacent regulated firms or senior regulator alumni. Every mandate is retained, led personally by a partner, and shortlists are typically 3–5 named candidates with our written assessment of each.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a CFO and a Finance Director?
“CFO” typically indicates the board-facing accountable finance executive with statutory responsibilities; “Finance Director” is often the equivalent role in smaller businesses or an operational role reporting to a CFO in larger businesses. We calibrate against client usage.
Do you handle CFO searches for PE-backed businesses?
Yes. PE-backed CFO search is a distinct specialism requiring prior value-creation-cycle experience and comfort with sponsor governance. We run these under our Sponsor Coverage practice.
Can you support regulated financial services CFO searches?
Yes. Regulated CFO appointments require understanding of the SMCR framework, PRA/FCA expectations, and pre-approval processes. We advise on candidate profiles likely to pass regulatory pre-approval and coordinate with the client’s regulatory counsel.
How long does a CFO search take?
Twelve to sixteen weeks brief to accepted offer is typical. Regulated searches involving pre-approval or listed-company searches involving shareholder / Audit Committee consultation can run longer.
How is CFO compensation structured?
Base, cash bonus, and in listed environments LTIP or restricted stock. In PE-backed businesses the LTIP is typically replaced with a management equity stake tied to exit — increasingly at 0.5–2.0% ratchets in mid-market platforms. Total compensation in London is up 15–25% over the last twenty-four months at the mid-market level.
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