Director of Finance Recruitment
Connect with experienced Finance Directors who combine strategic thinking, operational expertise, and leadership capabilities to strengthen your financial management
Find Your Finance DirectorStrategic Financial Leadership at the Director Level
A Director of Finance serves as a critical bridge between operational finance and executive leadership. They bring strategic thinking to financial management while maintaining hands-on involvement in financial operations, reporting, analysis, and team development.
Our Director of Finance recruitment practice specializes in placing financial leaders for owner-managed businesses who need senior financial expertise without requiring a full CFO role. Finance Directors excel at executing financial strategy, leading finance teams, and providing the analytical insights that drive business decisions.
Director of Finance Responsibilities
Financial Reporting & Analysis
Oversee preparation of financial statements, management reports, and analytical insights. Ensure accuracy, timeliness, and actionable presentation of financial information to leadership and stakeholders.
Budgeting & Forecasting
Lead annual budgeting process, rolling forecasts, and scenario planning. Provide variance analysis and financial modeling to support strategic decisions and resource allocation.
Team Leadership
Build, develop, and mentor finance team members. Create structure, processes, and career development paths that enable team growth and high performance.
Process Improvement
Identify and implement efficiency improvements in financial processes, systems, and workflows. Drive automation, standardization, and best practices across finance operations.
Internal Controls & Compliance
Establish and maintain internal controls, ensure regulatory compliance, manage audit relationships, and implement risk management frameworks appropriate for business size and complexity.
Cross-Functional Partnership
Collaborate with operations, sales, and other departments to provide financial insights, support decision-making, and ensure alignment between departmental goals and financial objectives.
When to Hire a Director of Finance
Growing Beyond the Controller Role
Your business has outgrown a Controller-level leader and needs someone who can think strategically, provide business insights, and lead broader financial initiatives beyond transactional accounting and reporting.
Not Yet Ready for a CFO
Your company ($10M-$50M revenue) needs senior financial leadership but doesn't require a full CFO's focus on capital raising, M&A, or board-level strategy. A Finance Director provides the right level of strategic capability and operational involvement.
Strengthening the Finance Function
You need to elevate your finance team's capabilities—implementing better processes, developing team members, improving reporting quality, and establishing financial infrastructure to support future growth.
Supporting an Existing CFO
Your CFO needs a strong second-in-command to manage day-to-day finance operations, allowing the CFO to focus on strategic initiatives, external relationships, and board-level matters. A Finance Director complements CFO leadership effectively.
Specific Expertise Required
You need deep expertise in specific areas—FP&A, systems implementation, operational finance, or technical accounting—where a Director-level specialist can drive significant improvements.
What Makes an Exceptional Finance Director
Strategic & Analytical Thinking
Ability to see beyond the numbers to understand business drivers, identify trends, and provide actionable insights that inform strategic decisions and operational improvements.
Hands-On Leadership
Willingness to roll up sleeves and work alongside team members while providing leadership, mentorship, and development opportunities that strengthen overall finance capabilities.
Strong Communication Skills
Capability to translate complex financial concepts into clear, actionable information for non-financial stakeholders, fostering better decision-making across the organization.
Process & Systems Orientation
Experience implementing and optimizing financial processes, systems, and controls that create efficiency, accuracy, and scalability as the business grows.
Growth Mindset
Comfort with ambiguity and change, ability to build financial infrastructure proactively to support growth, and desire to continuously improve financial capabilities.
Cultural Fit for Owner-Managed Business
Alignment with entrepreneurial culture, comfort working directly with ownership, and ability to thrive in environments where finance is a business partner, not just a reporting function.
Director of Finance vs. VP Finance vs. CFO
Understanding the distinction between these roles helps ensure you hire the right level of financial leadership for your current needs and growth stage:
| Aspect | Director of Finance | VP Finance | CFO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical Company Size | $10M-$50M revenue | $25M-$150M revenue | $50M+ revenue |
| Primary Focus | Operational excellence & team development | Financial operations & strategy execution | Strategic leadership & external relationships |
| Reports To | CFO, VP Finance, or Owner | CFO or CEO | CEO or Owner |
| Team Size | 2-8 direct/indirect reports | 5-20 direct/indirect reports | 10-50+ finance organization |
| Hands-On Involvement | High - works on transactions | Moderate - reviews and approves | Low - strategic oversight only |
| Strategic Scope | Departmental & operational strategy | Financial strategy & planning | Enterprise-wide strategic leadership |
Many growing businesses hire a Director of Finance as a stepping stone to eventually adding a VP Finance or CFO as they scale. The Finance Director builds the foundation that supports future growth and more senior financial leadership.
Our Finance Director Recruitment Process
Needs Assessment
Understand your business, growth trajectory, current finance capabilities, and specific requirements for the Finance Director role including technical skills, leadership style, and cultural fit.
Candidate Sourcing
Leverage our network of finance professionals, industry relationships, and market knowledge to identify qualified Finance Director candidates with relevant experience and proven results.
Comprehensive Screening
Evaluate candidates across multiple dimensions: technical capabilities, strategic thinking, leadership effectiveness, cultural alignment, communication skills, and track record of building teams and processes.
Reference & Background Checks
Conduct thorough reference checks with former supervisors, peers, and team members to validate leadership capabilities, technical skills, and cultural fit.
Client Presentation
Present only the most qualified candidates with detailed profiles highlighting their experience, capabilities, and fit for your specific Finance Director requirements.
Offer Support & Onboarding
Assist with offer negotiations, facilitate smooth transition, and provide ongoing support during the first 90 days to ensure successful placement and integration.
Find Your Finance Director
Connect with experienced Finance Directors who can elevate your financial operations and support your business growth