Leading the finance function of an SBF 120 listed group requires a different skill set from managing the finance function of an LBO portfolio company three years from exit, structuring the finance function of a Series B scale-up, or taking over as CFO of a family-owned mid-sized company undergoing a transition in ownership. Our consultants qualify each position upfront based on the true nature of the expected role (transformation, structuring, day-to-day management or exit preparation), the existing governance structure (family board, audit committee, LP advisory board), and the dominant financial priorities of the current cycle (debt raising, refinancing, transformational acquisition or IPO).
CFO & FINANCE LEADERSHIP
CFO & Finance Leadership Recruitment
The Chief Financial Officer is a central member of the executive committee, responsible for financial performance, balance sheet structuring and the group's financing strategy. The CFO is involved in debt raising, M&A transactions, financial communications, investor relations and the transformation of finance organisations. Haussmann Executive Search supports boards, executive committees and shareholder funds in recruiting CFOs and their deputies in succession, strategic repositioning, capital transactions and scale-up situations.
There Is No One-Size-Fits-All CFO Profile
An Assessment That Goes Beyond the CV
We assess CFOs on their command of the balance sheet and P&L, direct experience of transformational capital transactions, proficiency in IFRS and relevant local accounting standards, relationships with statutory auditors and regulators, and their ability to lead financial communications with equity and debt investors. In LBO contexts, experience with a 100-day plan, cash generation and covenant management are key dimensions. In scale-ups, the ability to recruit and build a finance team in a fast-growing environment becomes critical.
Positions We Cover
- Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Group CFO
- Deputy CFO
- Group Finance Director and Finance Director
- Finance Director for a business unit, geographic region or subsidiary
- Deputy CEO – Finance and Executive Director – Finance
- Group Chief Accounting Officer
- Head of Finance Transformation
- Head of Investor Relations and Investor Relations Director
- Chief Financial Officer of investment funds and asset management companies (GP CFO)
Our continuous tracking of CFO career trajectories across the sectors in which we have longstanding expertise gives us an up-to-date view of genuine candidate availability and comparable talent pools for each target position.